title: 1979 Manchester City Council election
text: # 1979 Manchester City Council election
  
  Elections to Manchester Council were held on Thursday, 3 May 1979, on the same day as the 1979 UK general election. One third of the council was up for election, with each successful candidate to serve a three-year term of office, expiring in 1982, due to the boundary changes and "all-out" elections due to take place that year. The Labour Party retained overall control of the council.
  
  ## Election result
  
  Manchester Council Election Result 1979 :
  
  | Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Labour | 25 | 10 | 0 | +10 | 75.7 | 50.7 | 118,345 | +2.9% |
  | Conservative | 6 | 0 | 12 | -12 | 18.2 | 37.6 | 87,695 | -7.7% |
  | Liberal | 2 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 6.0 | 11.2 | 26,208 | +5.3% |
  | Ecology | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 641 | +0.3% |
  | Communist | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 278 | -0.1% |
  | Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 164 | +0.1% |
  
  After the election, the composition of the council was as follows:
  
  | Party | Seats | +/- |
  | - | - | - |
  | Labour | 63 | +10 |
  | Conservative | 33 | -12 |
  | Liberal | 3 | +2 |
  | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
  
  ## Ward results
  
  ### Alexandra
  
  Alexandra :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | R. C. Rodgers* | 4,864 | 58.8 | -1.1 |
  | | Labour | J. Cocker | 3,403 | 41.2 | +15.4 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,461 | 17.7 | -16.4 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,267 | 72.3 | +34.7 |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -8.2 | |
  
  ### Ardwick
  
  Ardwick :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | N. I. Finley* | 2,289 | 58.5 | -12.0 |
  | | Conservative | W. R. Swan | 1,310 | 33.5 | +7.2 |
  | | Liberal | J. Spittle | 315 | 8.0 | +4.8 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 979 | 25.0 | -19.2 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,914 | 62.3 | +34.6 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -9.6 | |
  
  ### Baguley
  
  Baguley :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | K. Robinson | 5,412 | 54.5 | -1.9 |
  | | Conservative | M. Malbon* | 3,693 | 37.2 | -6.4 |
  | | Liberal | P. G. Willams | 821 | 8.3 | +8.3 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,719 | 17.3 | +4.6 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,926 | 72.8 | +26.7 |
  | | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.2 | |
  
  ### Barlow Moor
  
  Barlow Moor :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | H. D. Moore* | 3,095 | 45.9 | -18.0 |
  | | Labour | J. H. Parish | 2,834 | 42.0 | +5.9 |
  | | Liberal | J. R. Marsden | 815 | 12.1 | +12.1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 261 | 3.9 | -23.9 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,744 | 68.0 | +35.6 |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -11.9 | |
  
  ### Beswick
  
  Beswick :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | K. Eastham* | 3,505 | 81.5 | +4.2 |
  | | Conservative | C. Hare | 796 | 18.5 | +2.1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,709 | 63.0 | +2.1 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,301 | 61.2 | +33.5 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +1.0 | |
  
  ### Blackley
  
  Blackley :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Eddie Newman | 3,936 | 48.3 | +3.7 |
  | | Conservative | H. P. Cummins* | 3,571 | 43.8 | -8.4 |
  | | Liberal | J. Ashley | 643 | 7.9 | +4.7 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 365 | 4.5 | -3.1 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,150 | 74.8 | +31.6 |
  | | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +6.0 | |
  
  ### Bradford
  
  Bradford :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | E. Grant* | 5,127 | 63.9 | +5.1 |
  | | Conservative | L. Hockey | 2,459 | 30.6 | -6.0 |
  | | Liberal | P. Hanmer | 440 | 5.5 | +5.5 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,668 | 33.2 | +10.9 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,026 | 69.7 | +36.4 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +5.5 | |
  
  ### Brooklands
  
  Brooklands :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | D. Healey | 4,554 | 48.1 | +4.9 |
  | | Conservative | D. Sumberg | 4,136 | 43.7 | -13.1 |
  | | Liberal | A. L. Algar | 777 | 8.2 | +8.2 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 418 | 4.4 | -9.3 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,467 | 74.9 | +34.1 |
  | | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +9.0 | |
  
  ### Burnage
  
  Burnage :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | H. Platt* | 3,872 | 46.3 | -14.3 |
  | | Labour | A. Lister | 3,604 | 43.1 | +3.7 |
  | | Liberal | G. Shaw | 885 | 10.6 | +10.6 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 268 | 3.2 | -18.5 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,361 | 74.6 | +37.0 |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -9.0 | |
  
  ### Charlestown
  
  Charlestown :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | G. Stringer | 3,802 | 51.2 | +2.8 |
  | | Conservative | J. Hood* | 2,974 | 40.1 | -5.1 |
  | | Liberal | E. V. Roberts | 648 | 8.7 | +5.2 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 828 | 11.2 | +8.0 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,424 | 76.7 | +32.2 |
  | | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +3.9 | |
  
  ### Cheetham
  
  Cheetham :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | S. Shaw* | 3,014 | 66.1 | -0.5 |
  | | Conservative | F. Meaden | 1,294 | 28.4 | -5.0 |
  | | Liberal | S. O. Mousah | 250 | 5.5 | +5.5 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,720 | 37.7 | +4.5 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,558 | 65.5 | +37.0 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +2.2 | |
  
  ### Chorlton
  
  Chorlton :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | C. Franks* | 4,244 | 51.0 | -11.0 |
  | | Labour | H. Brown | 2,979 | 35.8 | +4.7 |
  | | Liberal | J. Commons | 1,096 | 13.2 | +6.3 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,265 | 15.2 | -15.8 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,319 | 75.9 | +37.5 |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -7.8 | |
  
  ### Collegiate Church
  
  Collegiate Church :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Patrick Karney* | 1,531 | 63.6 | +0.5 |
  | | Conservative | S. R. Newth | 666 | 27.7 | -3.4 |
  | | Liberal | I. Wilde | 211 | 8.8 | +3.0 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 865 | 35.9 | +4.0 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,408 | 53.8 | +25.6 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +1.9 | |
  
  ### Crossacres
  
  Crossacres :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Ken Collis* | 5,577 | 60.1 | +0.6 |
  | | Conservative | A. Spencer | 2,348 | 25.3 | -4.0 |
  | | Liberal | H. Griffiths | 1,358 | 14.6 | +3.5 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,229 | 34.8 | +4.6 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,283 | 70.5 | +35.2 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +2.3 | |
  
  ### Crumpsall
  
  Crumpsall :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | F. W. Lever* | 3,615 | 47.0 | -6.9 |
  | | Labour | M. Harrison | 3,287 | 42.7 | +5.2 |
  | | Liberal | J. Cookson | 797 | 10.4 | +3.3 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 328 | 4.3 | -12.2 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,699 | 71.5 | +36.2 |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -6.0 | |
  
  ### Didsbury
  
  Didsbury :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | M. R. Crawford* | 5,415 | 56.4 | -11.6 |
  | | Labour | R. P. Ashby | 2,444 | 25.5 | +2.8 |
  | | Liberal | A. T. Parkinson | 1,738 | 18.1 | +8.8 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,971 | 31.0 | -14.3 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,597 | 76.8 | +32.3 |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -7.2 | |
  
  ### Gorton North
  
  Gorton North :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | P. Hildrew | 3,871 | 63.2 | +6.5 |
  | | Conservative | E. Leadbetter | 1,845 | 30.1 | -6.1 |
  | | Liberal | D. Nicholson | 411 | 6.7 | -0.4 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,026 | 33.1 | +12.6 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,127 | 73.2 | +35.5 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +6.3 | |
  
  ### Gorton South
  
  Gorton South :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | K. Franklin* | 3,662 | 61.1 | +5.7 |
  | | Conservative | D. Heywood | 1,905 | 31.8 | -8.4 |
  | | Liberal | J. Rhodes | 429 | 7.2 | +7.2 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,757 | 29.3 | +14.1 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,996 | 70.9 | +37.1 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +7.0 | |
  
  ### Harpurhey
  
  Harpurhey :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | R. F. Delahunty* | 2,802 | 64.6 | +2.1 |
  | | Conservative | J. Harding | 1,270 | 29.3 | -8.2 |
  | | Liberal | N. Towers | 266 | 6.1 | +6.1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,532 | 35.3 | +10.3 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,338 | 65.4 | +34.5 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +5.1 | |
  
  ### Hulme
  
  Hulme :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | W. Smith* | 3,562 | 68.6 | +11.1 |
  | | Conservative | N. P. Shand | 957 | 18.4 | +3.5 |
  | | Liberal | S. K. McClure | 499 | 10.6 | -3.7 |
  | | Communist | R. W. Gwilt | 174 | 3.4 | +1.3 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,605 | 50.2 | +12.8 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,192 | 61.6 | +32.2 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +3.8 | |
  
  ### Levenshulme
  
  Levenshulme :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Keith Whitmore | 3,180 | 36.6 | +14.5 |
  | | Labour | R. A. Reddington | 2,959 | 34.1 | -3.1 |
  | | Conservative | S. Alexander* | 2,544 | 29.3 | -11.4 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 221 | 2.5 | -1.0 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,683 | 72.2 | +33.8 |
  | | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +8.8 | |
  
  ### Lightbowne
  
  Lightbowne :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | P. A. Murphy | 4,358 | 55.2 | -0.3 |
  | | Conservative | V. E. Clare | 2,787 | 35.3 | -9.2 |
  | | Liberal | K. Osbourne | 743 | 9.4 | +9.4 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,571 | 19.9 | +8.9 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,888 | 74.8 | +31.8 |
  | | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +4.4 | |
  
  ### Lloyd Street
  
  Lloyd Street :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | A. S. Wood* | 4,449 | 56.0 | +2.8 |
  | | Conservative | M. L. Davies | 2,788 | 35.1 | -6.9 |
  | | Liberal | M. A. Plesch | 540 | 6.8 | +2.0 |
  | | Independent | A. H. Bradley | 164 | 2.1 | +2.1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,661 | 20.9 | +9.7 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,941 | 69.3 | +33.5 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +4.8 | |
  
  ### Longsight
  
  Longsight :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | J. M. Wilson | 3,837 | 60.3 | +6.2 |
  | | Conservative | G. Taylor* | 1,989 | 31.3 | -9.6 |
  | | Liberal | M. Amin | 534 | 8.4 | +3.4 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,848 | 29.1 | +9.7 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,360 | 66.8 | +32.4 |
  | | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +7.9 | |
  
  ### Miles Platting
  
  Miles Platting :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | P. Conquest | 3,193 | 76.8 | +0.5 |
  | | Conservative | J. Cartland | 737 | 17.7 | -0.4 |
  | | Liberal | J. A. Turrell | 228 | 5.5 | +5.5 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,456 | 59.1 | +0.9 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,158 | 62.0 | +38.0 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +0.4 | |
  
  ### Moss Side
  
  Moss Side :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | J. Wilner | 2,630 | 67.5 | -2.5 |
  | | Conservative | J. M. Goldsby | 888 | 22.8 | +4.1 |
  | | Liberal | D. Redford | 380 | 9.7 | -1.6 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,742 | 44.7 | -6.5 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,898 | 63.5 | +36.3 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -3.3 | |
  
  ### Moston
  
  Moston :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | C. McClaren | 4,179 | 46.3 | +1.5 |
  | | Conservative | G. I. Jones* | 3,958 | 43.9 | -11.3 |
  | | Liberal | M. Gradwell | 881 | 9.8 | +9.8 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 221 | 2.5 | -7.9 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,018 | 77.2 | +32.7 |
  | | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +6.4 | |
  
  ### Newton Heath
  
  Newton Heath :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | J. Smith* | 4,209 | 60.4 | +3.4 |
  | | Conservative | D. Booth | 2,499 | 35.9 | -7.1 |
  | | Liberal | V. Towers | 258 | 3.7 | +3.7 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,710 | 24.5 | +10.6 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,966 | 70.4 | +31.2 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +5.2 | |
  
  ### Northenden
  
  Northenden :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | W. J. Courtney | 4,106 | 45.6 | +1.8 |
  | | Conservative | D. Mountford* | 3,895 | 43.3 | -3.0 |
  | | Liberal | P. J. Hughes | 893 | 9.9 | +0.0 |
  | | Communist | J. Gandy | 104 | 1.2 | +1.2 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 211 | 2.3 | -0.3 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,998 | 75.1 | +28.2 |
  | | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.4 | |
  
  ### Old Moat
  
  Old Moat :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | A. Home | 2,850 | 41.4 | +1.9 |
  | | Conservative | T. E. Murphy* | 2,735 | 39.7 | -19.0 |
  | | Liberal | G. J. Corps | 1,299 | 18.9 | +18.9 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 115 | 1.7 | -17.5 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,884 | 72.5 | +33.8 |
  | | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +10.4 | |
  
  ### Rusholme
  
  Rusholme :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | A. Bateman | 3,804 | 42.3 | +4.2 |
  | | Conservative | S. Tucker* | 3,685 | 40.9 | -14.1 |
  | | Liberal | D. Senior | 870 | 9.7 | +2.8 |
  | | Ecology | S. L. Howarth | 641 | 7.1 | +7.1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 119 | 1.3 | -15.6 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,000 | 65.8 | +36.0 |
  | | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +9.1 | |
  
  ### Withington
  
  Withington :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | D. Sandiford | 3,116 | 38.9 | +6.7 |
  | | Conservative | J. M. Jacobs | 2,889 | 36.0 | -6.6 |
  | | Labour | J. Finnegan | 2,009 | 25.1 | -0.1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 227 | 2.8 | -7.5 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,014 | 73.3 | +34.5 |
  | | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +6.6 | |
  
  ### Woodhouse Park
  
  Woodhouse Park :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | G. Berry* | 4,567 | 61.5 | -6.0 |
  | | Conservative | J. C. Ridgard | 1,972 | 26.6 | -2.9 |
  | | Liberal | L. Griffiths | 887 | 11.9 | +11.9 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,595 | 34.9 | -3.1 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,426 | 71.6 | +34.3 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -1.5 | |
  