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Graham Stringer MP

Less than 45 per cent of electors bothered to turn out for the poll in the constituency which had a turnout of 57.2 per cent when Labour swept into government at the last General Election in 1997.

This year's turnout at 44.9 per cent was not the lowest of the four Manchester constituencies and gave Mr Stringer, Manchester City Council's former leader, a comfortable 14,464 majority.

Labour first won Blackley after World War Two in 1945 but lost it in 1951 when Churchill led the Conservatives back to power.

Labour took the then fiercely contested marginal seat from the Tories again in 1964 and it has since remained firmly in Labour's hands.

Mr Stringer was up against five other candidates including the Conservatives and Liberal Democrat parties.

There were candidates from the Socialist Labour Party, led by former miner's union leader Arthur Scargill, and the Socialist Alliance Party which was formed by a collection of parties of the left for this election.

An independent stood as the Anti Corruption Party on a platform against alleged 'sleaze' within the Labour administration at Manchester City Council. The candidate could face defamation charges.

Labour held all four Manchester seats with former Foreign Office Minister Tony Lloyd maintaining his grip in Central with a 13,742 majority reduced from 19,682 and the city's worst turnout at 39.1 per cent.

Gorton was held by veteran MP Gerald Kaufman who beat his nearest rival by 11,304 votes with a turnout of 42.7 per cent compared to a 17,342 majority last time with a 55.6 per cent turnout.

Keith Bradley MP held Withington with a clear 11,524 votes compared to a majority of 18,581 last time and a fall in turnout from 65.8 per cent in 1997 to just 51.9 per cent.

2001

1997