Politics in Manchester facts for kids
Manchester is a big city in England. It's part of a larger area called Greater Manchester. Even though Greater Manchester is a "county," it doesn't have a county council anymore. Manchester itself has many different areas, but these areas aren't separate governments. They are used for political purposes, like voting.
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Manchester's Political Past
Manchester has a long history of being involved in important political changes.
Early Protests and Movements
One famous event was the Peterloo Massacre in 1819. This was when soldiers attacked people who were protesting for more rights. Later, in 1839, the Anti-Corn Law League was formed here. This group worked to change unfair laws about food prices.
Influential Thinkers
Manchester was also a place where important ideas about society and politics were born. Famous thinkers like Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote some of their most important books here.
Political Leanings Today
Today, Manchester is known for its "left-wing" politics. This means the city often supports ideas that focus on equality and helping everyone in society. The northern parts of the city are usually strong supporters of the Labour Party. The southern areas might support other parties more often. The last time a Conservative Member of Parliament was elected in Manchester was in 1987.
Manchester City Council: How the City is Run
The Manchester City Council is like the local government for Manchester. It makes decisions about things like schools, parks, and rubbish collection.
How the Council Works
The city is split into 32 areas called wards. Each ward elects three councillors. This means there are 96 councillors in total who work for the city.
Areas in Manchester
The City of Manchester includes many different areas. Here are some of them:
- Ancoats
- Ardwick
- Baguley
- Benchill
- Beswick
- Blackley
- Bradford
- Burnage
- Brooklands
- Cheetham
- 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
Special Areas: Parishes
Most of Manchester is not divided into small local areas called "parishes." However, there is one civil parish in the city called Ringway. This area became part of Manchester in 1974.
UK Parliament: National Representation
People in Manchester also elect representatives to the national government in London.
Members of Parliament
There are five areas in Manchester that each elect one MP. These MPs go to the House of Commons in London. They speak for the people of Manchester in the UK Parliament.
Greater Manchester: A Larger Area
Greater Manchester is a larger area that surrounds the City of Manchester. It's a "metropolitan county."
Boroughs of Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is made up of ten different areas called metropolitan boroughs. Each of these boroughs has its own council. The map below shows these ten boroughs:
| Number | Borough | Map | Number | Borough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City of Manchester |
 |
6 | Metropolitan Borough of Bury |
| 2 | Metropolitan Borough of Stockport | 7 | Metropolitan Borough of Bolton | |
| 3 | Metropolitan Borough of Tameside | 8 | Metropolitan Borough of Wigan | |
| 4 | Metropolitan Borough of Oldham | 9 | City of Salford | |
| 5 | Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale | 10 | Metropolitan Borough of Trafford |
Towns in Greater Manchester
Many towns are part of the Greater Manchester county. Some of these include:
- Altrincham
- Ashton-under-Lyne
- Bolton
- Bury
- Cheadle
- Droylsden
- Hyde
- Middleton
- Oldham
- Rochdale
- Sale
- Stalybridge
- Stockport
- Stretford
- Wigan
You can find more towns in the Towns in Greater Manchester category.
County-Wide Services
Even though Greater Manchester doesn't have one big county council anymore, some services are still run for the whole area.
Working Together
The Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) helps the ten local councils work together. They plan things for the whole county.
Important Services
- Police: The Greater Manchester Police looks after law and order for the whole county.
- Fire Service: The Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service helps keep everyone safe from fires.
- Public Transport: The Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) plans and manages buses, trains, and trams across the area.
- Waste Disposal: The Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority handles rubbish and recycling for many parts of the county.
Historical Records
AGMA also helps fund the Greater Manchester County Records Office. This office collects and stores old documents and records about the county's history. You can go there to research things like old census information.
