| Election Name: | 1971 Manchester City Council election |
| Country: | England |
| Flag Image: | Arms of the City of Manchester.svg |
| Type: | parliamentary |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1970 Manchester City Council election |
| Previous Year: | 1970 |
| Next Election: | 1972 Manchester City Council election |
| Next Year: | 1972 |
| Seats For Election: | 99 of 132 seats to Manchester City Council |
| Majority Seats: | 67 |
| 3Blank: | Swing (pp)--> |
| Leader of the Council | |
| Before Party: | Conservative Party (UK) |
| Posttitle: | Leader of the Council after election |
| After Party: | Labour Party (UK) |
| Party1: | Labour Party (UK) |
| Seats Before1: | 66 |
| Seats1: | 81 |
| Seats After1: | 108 |
| Popular Vote1: | 283,756 |
| Percentage1: | 60.2% |
| Party2: | Conservative Party (UK) |
| Seats Before2: | 86 |
| Seats2: | 18 |
| Seats After2: | 24 |
| Popular Vote2: | 167,964 |
| Percentage2: | 35.6% |
Elections to Manchester City Council were held on Thursday, 13 May 1971. Due to boundary changes, which reduced the number of wards by five, all 99 councillors seats were up for election. In all wards, each first-placed candidate was set to serve a three-year term, expiring in 1974, second-placed candidates were set to serve a two-year term, expiring in 1973, and third-placed candidates were to serve a one-year term, expiring in 1972. However, due the replacement of the corporation by the Local Government Act 1972, only one set of these scheduled elections ever took place.
The Labour Party gained overall control of the council from the Conservative Party, winning the largest share of seats on the council in its history up to that point.[1] [2] [3]
| Party | Votes | Seats | Full Council | |||||||
| Labour Party | 283,756 (60.2%) | 81 (81.8%) | 42 | 108 (81.8%) | ||||||
| Conservative Party | 167,964 (35.6%) | 18 (18.2%) | 62 | 24 (18.2%) | ||||||
| Liberal Party | 11,821 (2.5%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | |||||||
| Communist | 6,481 (1.4%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | |||||||
| Independent | 620 (0.1%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | |||||||
| Independent Labour | 471 (0.1%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | |||||||
| Residents | 337 (0.1%) | 0 (0.0%) | N/A | 0 (0.0%) | ||||||
| Union Movement | 218 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | |||||||
| 108 | 24 |
| 27 | 6 |
| 81 | 18 |
At the meeting of the council on 26 May 1971, twelve aldermanic vacancies existed.[5]
The following twelve were elected as aldermen by the council on 26 May 1971 for a term of three years.
| Party | Alderman | Ward | Term expires | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Birtles | Beswick | 1974 | ||
| Ken Collis | Brooklands | 1974 | ||
| William Downward | Moss Side | 1974 | ||
| Frank Hatton | Charlestown | 1974 | ||
| George Mann | Hulme | 1974 | ||
| Winifred Massey | Lloyd Street | 1974 | ||
| Norman Morris | Crossacres | 1974 | ||
| Joe Ogden | Harpurhey | 1974 | ||
| Patrick Roddy | Gorton North | 1974 | ||
| Wilfred Shaw | Cheetham | 1974 | ||
| Winifred Smith | Woodhouse Park | 1974 | ||
| Joe Taylor | Bradford | 1974 | ||
Nine by-elections were held on 8 July 1971 to fill vacancies created by the appointment of aldermen on 26 May 1971.[6]
Caused by the election as an alderman of Councillor James Birtles (Labour, Beswick, elected 22 September 1955)[7] to fill the vacancy that emerged as a result of ward reorganisation.
Caused by the election as an alderman of Councillor Joe Taylor (Labour, Bradford, elected 15 July 1954)[8] to fill the vacancy that emerged as a result of ward reorganisation.
Caused by the election as an alderman of Councillor Norman Morris (Labour, Crossacres, elected 10 May 1956)[9] to fill the vacancy that emerged as a result of ward reorganisation.
Caused by the election as an alderman of Councillor Patrick Roddy (Labour, Gorton North, elected 10 December 1953)[10] to fill the vacancy that emerged as a result of ward reorganisation.
Caused by the election as an alderman of Councillor Joe Ogden (Labour, Harpurhey, elected 7 May 1953)[11] to fill the vacancy that emerged as a result of ward reorganisation.
Caused by the elections as aldermen of Councillor George Mann (Labour, Hulme, elected 7 May 1953)[12] and Councillor Frank Hatton (Labour, Hulme, elected 13 May 1954)[13] to fill vacancies that emerged as a result of ward reorganisation.
Caused by the election as an alderman of Councillor Winifred Massey (Labour, Lloyd Street, elected 8 May 1969; previously 1952-55 and 1956-68)[14] to fill the vacancy that emerged as a result of ward reorganisation.
Caused by the election as an alderman of Councillor William Downward (Labour, Moss Side, elected 18 September 1969; previously 1946-50, 1952-55, and 1956-68)[15] to fill the vacancy that emerged as a result of ward reorganisation.
Caused by the election as an alderman of Councillor Winifred Smith (Labour, Woodhouse Park, elected 13 May 1954)[16] to fill the vacancy that emerged as a result of ward reorganisation.