Elections to Manchester City Council were held on Monday, 2 November 1896. One third of the councillors seats were up for election, with each successful candidate to serve a three-year term of office. The council remained under no overall control.THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, Manchester Guardian, November 3, 1896, p.8THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, Manchester Guardian, October 26, 1896, p.10
Election result PartyVotesSeatsFull CouncilConservative Party 13,385 (38.2%) 7.316 (61.5%) 348 (46.2%)Liberal Party 13,012 (37.1%) 3.79 (34.6%) 347 (45.2%)Liberal Unionist 1,306 (3.7%) 3.71 (3.8%) 7 (6.7%)Ind. Labour Party5,936 (19.4%) 9.10 (0.0%) 2 (1.9%)Social Democratic Federation 1,191 (3.4%) 2.00 (0.0%)0 (0.0%)Independent 203 (0.6%)N/A0 (0.0%)N/A0 (0.0%)
Full council
+ ↓ 2 47 7 48
Aldermen
+ ↓ 15 5 6
Councillors
+ ↓ 2 32 2 42
Ward results
All Saints'
Ardwick
Blackley and Moston
Bradford
Cheetham
Collegiate Church
Crumpsall
Exchange
Harpurhey
Longsight
Medlock Street
Miles Platting
New Cross
Newton Heath
Openshaw
Oxford
Rusholme
St. Ann's
St. Clement's
St. George's
St. James'
St. John's
St. Luke's
St. Mark's
St. Michael's
Aldermanic elections
Aldermanic election, 6 January 1897
Caused by the death on 24 December 1896 of Alderman George Clay (Liberal Unionist, elected as an alderman by the council on 15 February 1893).DEATH OF ALDERMAN GEORGE CLAY, Manchester Evening News, December 26, 1896, p.2CITY COUNCIL, Manchester Evening News, February 15, 1893, p.2
In his place, Councillor James Wilson Southern (Liberal, St. Luke's, elected 1 November 1884; previously 1877–83)THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, Manchester Courier, November 3, 1884, p.5 was elected as an alderman by the council on 6 January 1897.MANCHESTER CITY COUNCIL, Manchester Guardian, January 7, 1897, p.7
PartyAldermanWardTerm expires Liberal James Wilson Southern 1901
Aldermanic election, 20 January 1897
Caused by the resignation on 6 January 1897 of Alderman Sir Anthony Marshall (Conservative, elected as an alderman by the council on 9 November 1892).MANCHESTER CITY COUNCIL, Manchester Guardian, January 7, 1897, p.7ELECTION OF MAYORS, Manchester Guardian, November 10, 1897, p.6
In his place, Councillor James Tunstall (Conservative, Bradford, elected 2 November 1885)THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, Manchester Courier, November 3, 1885, p.5 was elected as an alderman by the council on 20 January 1897.MANCHESTER CITY COUNCIL, Manchester Guardian, January 21, 1897, p.9
PartyAldermanWardTerm expires Conservative James Tunstall 1898
Aldermanic election, 20 October 1897
Caused by the resignation on 6 October 1897 of Alderman John Mark (Liberal Unionist, elected as an alderman by the council on 30 October 1889).MANCHESTER CITY COUNCIL, Manchester Guardian, October 7, 1897, p.4MANCHESTER CITY COUNCIL, Manchester Guardian, October 31, 1889, p.7
In his place, Councillor John Richards (Conservative, Harpurhey, elected 2 November 1885)THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, Manchester Courier, November 3, 1885, p.5 was elected as an alderman by the council on 20 October 1897.ELECTION OF AN ALDERMAN, Manchester Guardian, October 21, 1897, p.4
PartyAldermanWardTerm expires Conservative John Richards 1901
By-elections between 1896 and 1897
St. Luke's, 11 January 1897
Caused by the election as an alderman of Councillor James Wilson Southern (Liberal, St. Luke's, elected 1 November 1884; previously 1877–83)THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, Manchester Courier, November 3, 1884, p.5 on 6 January 1897MANCHESTER CITY COUNCIL, Manchester Guardian, January 7, 1897, p.7 following the death on 24 December 1896 of Alderman George Clay (Liberal Unionist, elected as an alderman by the council on 15 February 1893).DEATH OF ALDERMAN GEORGE CLAY, Manchester Evening News, December 26, 1896, p.2CITY COUNCIL, Manchester Evening News, February 15, 1893, p.2
ST. LUKE'S WARD ELECTION, Manchester Guardian, January 12, 1897, p.8
Bradford, 2 February 1897
Caused by the election as an alderman of Councillor James Tunstall (Conservative, Bradford, elected 2 November 1885)THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, Manchester Courier, November 3, 1885, p.5 on 20 January 1897MANCHESTER CITY COUNCIL, Manchester Guardian, January 21, 1897, p.9 following the resignation on 6 January 1897 of Alderman Sir Anthony Marshall (Conservative, elected as an alderman by the council on 9 November 1892).MANCHESTER CITY COUNCIL, Manchester Guardian, January 7, 1897, p.7ELECTION OF MAYORS, Manchester Guardian, November 10, 1897, p.6
BY-ELECTION IN BRADFORD WARD, Manchester Guardian, February 3, 1897, p.5
Ardwick, 16 March 1897
Caused by the resignation of Councillor Dr. Robert Charnley Smith (Conservative, Ardwick, elected 22 September 1891)THE MUNICIPAL VACANCY IN ARDWICK, Manchester Courier, September 23, 1897, p.6 on 3 March 1897.VACANCY IN THE CITY COUNCIL, Manchester Guardian, March 4, 1897, p.12
THE ARDWICK WARD ELECTION, Manchester Guardian, March 17, 1897, p.4
Bradford, 19 August 1897
Caused by the resignation of Councillor John Hutt (Liberal, Bradford, elected 2 November 1885)THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, Manchester Courier, November 3, 1885, p.5 on 3 August 1897.RESIGNATION OF A CITY COUNCILLOR, Manchester Guardian, August 4, 1897, p.5
BRADFORD WARD ELECTION, Manchester Evening News, August 19, 1897, p.4
References