Politics in Manchester

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This article is about politics in Manchester

Manchester is represented by four tiers of government. These are:

1. Manchester City Council ("local")
2. North West Regional Assembly ("regional")
3. UK Parliament ("national")
4. European Parliament ("Europe")

The City of Manchester forms part of the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester, which had its county council abolished (along with the other metropolitan counties) in 1986. Manchester consists of several districts, but these districts do not represent a tier of government (though the names are used as political wards).

Contents 1 Political Culture 2 Manchester City Council 2.1 Districts in the City of Manchester 2.2 Parishes 3 North West Regional Assembly 4 UK Parliament 5 European Parliament 6 Greater Manchester 6.1 County-wide functions 6.1.1 Law enforcement

[edit] Political Culture

Manchester has a long and rich political history. It was typically associated with radical politics including the Peterloo Massacre in 1819; the formation of the Anti-Corn Law League in 1839 as well as being the birthplace to some of the most influential works of Karl Marx and Frederick Engels.

This history mixed with a great sense of local pride means that Manchester's political culture is quite unique. Although the radicalism of earlier years no longer exists to the same extent, most of Manchester sits on the left of the political spectrum as is shown by the make up of its City Council (see below). The north of the city is considered as working-class Labour heartland while the southen suburbs tend to be more hospitable to other parties.

The last Conservative to sit on the Council was in 1996 while the last Conservative MP lost his seat in 1987. The Conservative leader David Cameron has identified Manchester as one of the areas he wishes to win over with his new, more progressive policies.

[edit] Manchester City Council

Main article: Manchester City Council

Manchester City Council is the local authority for the metropolitan borough of Manchester. The borough is divided into 32 wards, which elect a total of 96 councillors, three for each ward. Currently the council is controlled by the Labour Party and is led by Richard Leese.

[edit] Districts in the City of Manchester

Ancoats Ardwick Baguley Benchill Beswick Blackley Bradford

Burnage Cheetham Cheetham Hill Chorlton-cum-Hardy Clayton Crumpsall Didsbury

Fallowfield Gaythorn Gorton Harpurhey Hulme Levenshulme Longsight

Miles Platting Moss Side Moston Newton Heath Northenden Openshaw Rusholme

Sharston Whalley Range Withington Woodhouse Park Wythenshawe

[edit] Parishes

There is only one civil parish in the metropolitan borough, Ringway, which was added in 1974. The entire area of the pre-1974 county borough is an unparished area.

[edit] North West Regional Assembly

Whilst not a directly elected body, the North West Regional Assembly is responsible for promoting the economic, environmental and social well-being of the North West England region. It is made up of representatives from councils across the region, business organisations, public sector agencies, education and training bodies, trade unions and co-operatives and the voluntary and community sector.

[edit] UK Parliament

Main article: Parliament of the United Kingdom

There are five UK Parliamentary constituencies which cover the City of Manchester, each of which elects one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons in London. These constituencies and their current MPs are:

• Manchester Central - Tony Lloyd MP (Labour)
• Manchester Blackley - Graham Stringer MP (Labour)
• Manchester Gorton - Rt Hon Sir Gerald Kaufman MP (Labour)
• Manchester Withington - John Leech MP (Liberal Democrats)
• Wythenshawe and Sale East (also covers part of Trafford) - Paul Goggins MP (Labour)

[edit] European Parliament

Main article: European Parliament

North West England, as a single EU constituency, elects 9 representatives to the European Parliament. The current Members of the European Parliament (MEP) for the North West are:

• Mr Gary Titley (Labour)
• Mr Den Dover (Conservative)
• Mr Chris Davies (Liberal Democrats)
• Mrs Arlene McCarthy (Labour)
• Mr John Whittaker (UK Independence Party)
• Mr David Sumberg (Conservative)
• Mr Terry Wynn (Labour)
• Rt. Hon. Sir Robert Atkins (Conservative)
• Mr Sajjad Karim (Liberal Democrats)

[edit] Greater Manchester

Main article: Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county which surrounds the City of Manchester. Including the City of Manchester, Greater Manchester is made up of 10 metropolitan boroughs, with each borough having its own council.

The 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester are:

1. City of Manchester
2. Metropolitan Borough of Stockport
3. Metropolitan Borough of Tameside
4. Metropolitan Borough of Oldham
5. Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale
6. Metropolitan Borough of Bury
7. Metropolitan Borough of Bolton
8. Metropolitan Borough of Wigan
9. City of Salford
10. Metropolitan Borough of Trafford

Towns in the Greater Manchester county include Altrincham, Ashton-under-Lyne, Bolton, Bury, Cheadle, Droylsden, Hyde, Middleton, Oldham, Rochdale, Sale, Stalybridge, Stockport, Stretford and Wigan. This is not an extensive list, more can be found at Towns in Greater Manchester

Whilst the county does not have its own tier of government, there are some functions of government organised at the county level.

[edit] County-wide functions

The County council was abolished in Greater Manchester in 1986, however the area still utilises some amenities and services on a county-wide basis. This is largely overseen by Association of Greater Manchester Local Authorities which represents the ten local authorities of the county, and acts as a body by which co-ordination and county-wide strategies can operate. Law enforcement is carried out by Greater Manchester Police. Fire protection is carried out by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service. Public transport is organised by the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) and there is also the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority.

AGMA also funds the Greater Manchester County Records Office, who's main function is to collect, store, and make available for research the written heritage of the County, including census and General register office index material.

[edit] Law enforcement

Greater Manchester is policed by the Greater Manchester Police, who have their headquarters at Chester House in Trafford. The main police station in central Manchester is at Bootle Street, near to Albert Square. There are other stations in Salford,Hulme, Collyhurst, Withington and Longsight. Manchester’s railways are policed by the nationwide British Transport Police.

Manchester had its own police force until 1974, when its force and the lower divisions of Lancashire Constabulary merged to form the Greater Manchester Police. Each of the ten metropolitan boroughs of Greater Manchester has a Division within the county force.