Before (end of 1986) (60 seats, Elections Centre)
Labour 56 · Conservative 3 · SDP-Liberal Alliance 1 · Other 0
After (end of 1987) (60 seats, Elections Centre)
Labour 55 · Conservative 5 · SDP-Liberal Alliance 0 · Other 0
Ward results
Blackfriars1 seat · turnout 32.9%
| B. Wallsworth | Labour | 1,708 |
| B. Williams | Conservative | 367 |
| P. Tilley | Lib/Sdp | 285 |
Broughton1 seat · turnout 39.9%
| G. Wilson | Labour | 1,982 |
| W. Wilson | Conservative | 677 |
| D. Monaghan | Lib/Sdp | 294 |
Claremont1 seat · turnout 46.5%
| P. Grimshaw | Labour | 2,038 |
| L. Broome | Conservative | 1,611 |
| P. Keaveney | Lib/Sdp | 1,425 |
Irlam1 seat · turnout 35.9%
| J. Jones | Labour | 2,028 |
| D. Williamson | Lib/Sdp | 797 |
Kersal1 seat · turnout 40.8%
| R. Heron | Conservative | 1,898 |
| M. Hendy | Labour | 1,545 |
| J. Doherty | Lib/Sdp | 542 |
Langworthy1 seat · turnout 30.4%
| I. Zott | Labour | 1,575 ✓ |
| A. Knowles | Conservative | 433 |
| H. Cowburn | Lib/Sdp | 374 |
| Dickin J. | Independent | 70 |
Little Hulton1 seat · turnout 37.2%
| W Stirling | Labour | 2,306 |
| J. Buffey | Conservative | 745 |
| L. Revell | Lib/Sdp | 436 |
Ordsall1 seat · turnout 37.5%
| P. Eldon | Labour | 1,395 |
| C. Simmons | Lib/Sdp | 473 |
| S. Wilkie | Conservative | 128 |
Pendlebury1 seat · turnout 40.8%
| W. Moores | Labour | 2,542 |
| M Waring | Conservative | 983 |
| N. Owen | Lib/Sdp | 931 |
Swinton North1 seat · turnout 41.2%
| D. Gaffney | Labour | 2,207 |
| M. Doyle | Lib/Sdp | 999 |
| J Hardman | Conservative | 947 |
Swinton South1 seat · turnout 47.5%
| M. Edwards | Conservative | 2,248 |
| P. Rossi | Labour | 1,757 |
| A. Winstanley | Lib/Sdp | 909 |
Walkden South1 seat · turnout 50.0%
| J. Davies | Labour | 2,198 |
| P. Brearley | Lib/Sdp | 1,767 |
| G. Berry | Conservative | 1,290 |
Weaste & Seedley1 seat · turnout 42.1%
| M. Hendrick | Labour | 1,894 |
| J. Cole | Conservative | 986 |
| M. Stevens | Lib/Sdp | 700 |
Winton1 seat · turnout 38.8%
| D. Lancaster | Labour | 2,019 |
| P. Matthews | Lib/Sdp | 1,160 |
| J. Bolton | Conservative | 658 |
