Elections to Manchester City Council were held on 5 May 2016. One third of the council was up for election, with each successful candidate serving a two-year term of office, expiring in 2018, due to planned boundary changes. The Labour Party retained overall control of the council, managing to hold all but one seat contested and won by former Withington MP, John Leech. Leech's win signified the first gain for any party in Manchester other than Labour for the first time in six years.