Manchester Central: MP, 2024 result and local figures
Manchester Central is represented in the House of Commons by Lucy Powell (Labour (Co-op)). The 2024 count gave Lucy Powell (Labour) 20,184 votes and Ekua Bayunu (Green Party) 6,387, a majority of 13,797. Turnout, counted as valid votes over the electorate, was 46.6% (39,725 of 85,204).
Key figures
What the figures show
On the official figures, Manchester Central has the 13th highest population of the 575 constituencies with this figure (138,945), and the 24th highest share of children in low income families after housing costs of the 650 constituencies with this figure (44.4%).
Manchester Central had an estimated population of 138,945 in mid-2024, against 107,304 in 2014 (ONS). There were more children under 16 (22,381) than residents aged 65 and over (11,086).
DWP figures count 9,928 children under 16 in relative low income families after housing costs in 2024/25, 44.4% of children here against 26.0% across the UK. Before housing costs the share was 36.3% in 2024/25, from 36.3% in 2021/22.
15,630 business sites were registered in Manchester Central in March 2026 (15,285 a year before), and employed 260,000 people in 2024.
The Annual Population Survey puts the employment rate for 16 to 64 year olds at 81.2% for April 2025 to March 2026, give or take 6.4 points. The economically inactive share was 16.1%.
Homes in Manchester Central sold for a median £227,000 in the year to March 2026, from HM Land Registry records compiled by the ONS. That is up 51% on £149,973 ten years before. The highest March-year median in the series was £263,305, in the year to March 2025. It ranks 161st lowest of 575 constituencies. The figure rests on 1,239 recorded sales.
Manchester Central counted 52,288 households on Census day 2021; 9.8% of adults were retired and 35.6% of those in work were mostly working from home.
Jobs based in Manchester Central paid more than its residents earned in April 2025: median full-time pay was £42,123 for workplace jobs and £37,223 for residents. A year before, the residents' median was £32,536. The residents' figure ranks 256th lowest of 632 constituencies with an estimate. The latest year is provisional.
5,290 people were claiming unemployment-related benefits in September 2026, 5.0% of residents aged 16 to 64. A year earlier the count was 5,050.
MP
Lucy Powell, Labour (Co-op)
- MP for Manchester Central since 4 July 2024
- In the House of Commons since 15 November 2012
Official UK Parliament page · Statements by Lucy Powell on this site
In Parliament
Hansard records these as Lucy Powell's latest words in Parliament, from 14 September 2026 to 21 October 2026. Hansard search returns 2,158 spoken contributions by Lucy Powell since 4 July 2024.
Well, that must have been some politically impartial class, and I thank my hon. Friend for allowing us to end this statement on that note, sending a very important signal to the country, and to our teaching workforce as well, that this is something we stand together on, shoulder …
Read in Hansard (opening words; the full contribution is longer)
That is an excellent question and it raises a very good point. The hon. Gentleman talks about being a father. As a mother, I too have had to have these conversations at home and it is important that we do.
Read in Hansard (opening words; the full contribution is longer)
I miss the exchanges that I had with the hon. Gentleman when I was Leader of the House, but now that he is in his new place, I look forward to having them again. This is obviously a matter for headteachers to decide for their schools, and I am all for headteacher autonomy.
Read in Hansard (opening words; the full contribution is longer)
I absolutely hear the hon. Lady. I know how closely related transport and its costs are with young people having access to the education and training that they need. Rest assured, this is a priority for the Government.
Read from the Hansard API on 28 October 2026. Up to two items per debate; remarks under 40 characters are left out. All contributions in Hansard.
General election, 4 July 2024
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Change in share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucy Powell | Labour | 20,184 | 50.8% | −14.6 |
| Ekua Bayunu | Green Party | 6,387 | 16.1% | +13.2 |
| David Brown | Reform UK | 4,760 | 12.0% | +7.5 |
| Chris Northwood | Liberal Democrat | 3,051 | 7.7% | +1.6 |
| Scott Smith | Conservative | 2,823 | 7.1% | −13.9 |
| Parham Hashemi | Workers Party of Britain | 1,888 | 4.8% | |
| Sebastian Moore | Social Democratic Party | 240 | 0.6% | |
| Sabeena Khan | Independent | 202 | 0.5% | |
| Caitriona Rylance | Communist Future | 131 | 0.3% | |
| Albati Kalonda | Independent | 59 | 0.1% |
Result summary as published: Lab hold. Change in share is in percentage points against the notional 2019 result on the new boundaries. Source: House of Commons Library, election results (data, read 14 October 2026).
Results on these boundaries
| Date | Election | First | Second | Majority | Turnout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 July 2024 | General election | Labour 50.8% | Green Party 16.1% | 13,797 | 46.6% |
| 12 December 2019 | General election (notional result on these boundaries) | Labour 65.4% | Conservative 21.0% | 17,970 | 53.8% |
Only results on the constituency boundaries first used at the 2024 general election are shown. The 2019 figures are the House of Commons Library's notional estimates of how votes cast in 2019 would have fallen on these boundaries, not a result that was declared. Source: House of Commons Library, constituency results.
Councils
Manchester Central covers wards in 2 local authority areas, listed by the number of wards in the constituency.
- Manchester E08000003
- Oldham E08000004
Who has power over Manchester Central
Every body that makes decisions for Manchester Central, from the street up to the G20. Each one links to its page on the official record. How the ten levels work.
Level 1: Neighbourhood and community power
Residents' and tenants' groups, neighbourhood forums and local policing panels.
Level 2: Parish, town and community councils
Parish, town and community councils, where the area has them, sit below the council.
Level 5: Devolved and state governments
England has no devolved parliament of its own: its laws are made by the UK Parliament.
Level 6: National government
- Manchester Central this page: Lucy Powell (Labour (Co-op)) MP
- All 650 MPs votes, interests and costs
- UK government and Parliament official figures and sources
Level 7: Regional blocs and supranational bodies
- Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights (CoE / ECtHR) The UK Government says the United Kingdom was one of the Council of Europe's founding members.
Level 8: The UN and global treaty bodies
- United Nations (General Assembly and Security Council) The UN lists the United Kingdom as a member admitted on 24 October 1945.
- United Nations Security Council (UNSC) The UK is one of the five permanent members of the Security Council and holds the veto, according to the UN.
- NATO NATO lists the United Kingdom among its 12 founding members, which signed the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington, D.C.
- World Health Organization (WHO) WHO's list of member states includes the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
- World Trade Organization (WTO) The WTO says the United Kingdom has been a WTO member since 1 January 1995 and a member of GATT since 1 January 1948.
- Commonwealth of Nations The UK is one of the 56 members, one of three European members with Cyprus and Malta, and the Commonwealth Secretariat is headquartered at Marlborough House in London.
Level 9: The IMF, World Bank and global finance
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) The UK has been a member since 27 December 1945 and has a quota of SDR 20,155.1 million (IMF country page for the United Kingdom).
- World Bank Group (WBG) The UK holds 3.75% of voting power in the IBRD (data as of 30 June 2026) and 6.92% in IDA (as of 30 June 2026), according to the World Bank's voting tables.
Level 10: G7, G20, Davos and global forums
Sources
| Figure | Period | Publisher | Read | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | mid-2024 | ONS | 14 October 2026 | data · area |
| Claimants as a share of residents aged 16 to 64 | September 2026 | ONS | 29 October 2026 | data · area |
| Claimant count | September 2026 | ONS | 29 October 2026 | data · area |
| Employment rate, aged 16 to 64 | April 2025 to March 2026 | ONS | 14 October 2026 | data · area |
| Median full-time pay of residents | April 2025 | ONS | 14 October 2026 | data · area |
| Median full-time pay of people working here | April 2025 | ONS | 14 October 2026 | data · area |
| Median house price | the year to March 2026 | ONS | 14 October 2026 | data · release |
| Homes sold | the year to March 2026 | ONS | 14 October 2026 | data · release |
| Children in relative low income families, after housing costs | 2024/25 | DWP | 14 October 2026 | data · release |
| Children in relative low income families, before housing costs | 2024/25 | DWP | 14 October 2026 | data · release |
| Business sites (local units) | March 2026 | ONS | 14 October 2026 | data · area |
| People employed by businesses here | 2024 | ONS | 14 October 2026 | data · area |
| Economically inactive, aged 16 to 64 | April 2025 to March 2026 | ONS | 14 October 2026 | data · area |
| Households | Census 2021 | ONS | 14 October 2026 | data · area |
| Residents per square kilometre | Census 2021 | ONS | 14 October 2026 | data · area |
| Workers mainly working from home | Census 2021 | ONS | 14 October 2026 | data · area |
| Residents aged 16+ who are retired | Census 2021 | ONS | 14 October 2026 | data · area |
"Data" is the file or query each figure was read from (its SHA-256 is in the link title); "area" shows the same table for this constituency alone.
Common questions
Who is the MP for Manchester Central?
UK Parliament lists Lucy Powell, Labour (Co-op), as the Member of Parliament for Manchester Central since the July 2024 general election.
What was the 2024 general election result in Manchester Central?
Lucy Powell (Labour) won with 20,184 votes, a majority of 13,797, on a turnout of 46.6% (House of Commons Library).
What is the unemployment claimant rate in Manchester Central?
5.0% of residents aged 16 to 64 in September 2026, 5,290 people, on the ONS claimant count.
What is the average house price in Manchester Central?
The median price paid was £227,000 in the year to March 2026 (ONS, from HM Land Registry sales).
What is the average salary in Manchester Central?
Median full-time pay of residents was £37,223 a year in April 2025 (ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings).
How many children in Manchester Central live in low income families?
DWP counts 9,928 (44.4% of under-16s) in relative low income after housing costs for 2024/25.
What is the population of Manchester Central?
The ONS estimate for mid-2024 is 138,945 residents.
Built 14 October 2026 from official records; how these pages are compiled. This page lists what the record shows and gives no verdict on the MP or the area. Link moved or figure wrong? Tell us.