ABSTRACT
In Manchester, Liberal political realignment was as much the product of events between 1883-85 as those in 1886. For much of the period from 1883 to the reorganisation of the party following redistribution of parliamentary seats in 1885, the Radical wing of the Manchester Liberal Association seemed to be in retreat. In Manchester Liberalism, has a history of internal conflict, not only between 'official' and Radical Liberalism, but also between the supporters of different Radical factions. In 1868, the first election on anything resembling a mass franchise, the Liberal leadership made an explicit attempt to recruit candidates with working-class appeal and a committee of working men is established to assess trade union opinion. The central committees of the Liberal Association, although apparently exercising substantial influence over at least the formal procedure for selecting parliamentary candidates, had little or no influence over the Liberal majority on the Manchester City Council.
