Elections to Manchester City Council were held on Thursday, 13 May 1954. One third of the councillors seats were up for election, with each successful candidate to serve a three-year term of office. The Wythenshawe ward had been split into three, and two new wards (Baguley and Woodhouse Park) elected all of their councillors for the first time.
The Labour Party retained overall control of the council.Gloomy Tories hold the big inquest: Low poll, Manchester Evening News, May 14, 1954, p.4LABOUR TALKES FIVE TORY SEATS: WINS SIX NEW ONES, Manchester Guardian, May 14, 1954, p.4
Election result
PartyVotesSeatsFull CouncilLabour Party 120,036 (53.8%) 2.928 (65.1%) 12 88 (57.9%)Conservative Party 98,835 (44.3%) 2.915 (34.9%) 560 (39.5%)Liberal Party 3,753 (1.7%) 0.5 0 (0.0%) 4 (2.6%)Communist 562 (0.3%) 0.10 (0.0%) 0 (0.0%)
Full council
+ ↓ 88 4 60
Aldermen
+ ↓ 18 4 16
Councillors
+ ↓ 70 44
Ward results
Alexandra Park
All Saints'
Ardwick
Baguley
Barlow Moor
Benchill
Beswick
Blackley
Bradford
Burnage
Cheetham
Chorlton-cum-Hardy
Collegiate Church
Crumpsall
Didsbury
Gorton North
Gorton South
Harpurhey
Hugh Oldham
Levenshulme
Lightbowne
Longsight
Miles Platting
Moss Side East
Moss Side West
Moston
New Cross
Newton Heath
Northenden
Old Moat
Openshaw
Rusholme
St. George's
St. Luke's
St. Mark's
St. Peter's
Withington
Woodhouse Park
Aldermanic elections
Aldermanic election, 26 May 1954
Caused by the creation of Baguley and Woodhouse Park wards on 13 May 1954, requiring the election of two aldermen by the council.MUNICIPAL WARD SPLIT INTO THREE, Manchester Guardian, January 13, 1954, p.4
The following two were elected as aldermen by the council on 26 May 1954.CITIZEN No.1 URGES HELP FOR THE OLD, Manchester Evening News, May 26, 1954, p.7
PartyAldermanWardTerm expires Labour Emily Beavan Woodhouse Park 1955 Labour William Chadwick Baguley 1958
Aldermanic election, 2 February 1955
Caused by the death on 16 January 1955 of Alderman Sir William Kay (Conservative, elected as an alderman by the council on 3 March 1915).SIR WILLIAM KAY, Manchester Guardian, January 17, 1955, p.8CITY COUNCIL TOPICS, Manchester Evening News, March 3, 1915, p.6
In his place, Councillor John Sutton (Labour, Gorton South, elected 2 July 1936)GORTON ELECTION, Manchester Guardian, July 3, 1936, p.13 was elected as an alderman by the council on 2 February 1955.Four girls decide next Lady Mayoress, Manchester Evening News, February 2, 1955, p.1
PartyAldermanWardTerm expires Labour John Sutton Rusholme 1955
By-elections between 1954 and 1955
By-elections, 15 July 1954
Two by-elections were held on 15 July 1954 to fill vacancies that were created by the appointment of aldermen on 26 May 1954.Still for Labour, Manchester Evening News, July 16, 1954, p.7
Bradford
Caused by the election as an alderman of Councillor Emily Beavan (Labour, Bradford, elected 23 January 1936)MANCHESTER MUNICIPAL BY-ELECTION, Manchester Guardian, January 24, 1936, p.15 on 26 May 1954,CITIZEN No.1 URGES HELP FOR THE OLD, Manchester Evening News, May 26, 1954, p.7 following the creation of Woodhouse Park ward on 13 May 1954, requiring the election of an alderman by the council.MUNICIPAL WARD SPLIT INTO THREE, Manchester Guardian, January 13, 1954, p.4
Miles Platting
Caused by the election as an alderman of Councillor William Chadwick (Labour, Miles Platting, elected 1 November 1934)LABOUR'S DAY IN MANCHESTER MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, Manchester Guardian, November 2, 1934, p.12 on 26 May 1954,CITIZEN No.1 URGES HELP FOR THE OLD, Manchester Evening News, May 26, 1954, p.7 following the creation of Baguley ward on 13 May 1954, requiring the election of an alderman by the council.MUNICIPAL WARD SPLIT INTO THREE, Manchester Guardian, January 13, 1954, p.4
Gorton South, 24 March 1955
Caused by the election as an alderman of Councillor John Sutton (Labour, Gorton South, elected 2 July 1936)GORTON ELECTION, Manchester Guardian, July 3, 1936, p.13 on 2 February 1955,Four girls decide next Lady Mayoress, Manchester Evening News, February 2, 1955, p.1 following the death on 16 January 1955 of Alderman Sir William Kay (Conservative, elected as an alderman by the council on 3 March 1915).SIR WILLIAM KAY, Manchester Guardian, January 17, 1955, p.8CITY COUNCIL TOPICS, Manchester Evening News, March 3, 1915, p.6
In Brief, Manchester Guardian, March 25, 1955, p.16
References