Career
Manuel only had an elementary school education, but later in life went to classes through the National Council of Labour. Originally from Morvern, in Argyll, he lived in Ardrossan where he joined the Labour Party in 1927. He was appointed to the Western Regional Hospital Board and to the Ayrshire Executive Council of the National Health Service.
In the 1950 general election Manuel was elected to Parliament for Central Ayrshire.
He was re-elected in 1951 but lost the seat in 1955. Persisting despite this rejection, he was re-elected in 1959 when Scotland swung to Labour.
In an adjournment debate in the Commons in November 1969, Manuel joined in the general attack on the sole Scottish National Party Member of Parliament Winnie Ewing, calling her "a Tory in disguise" and "a parasite". Manuel retired in 1970.
He died in Birkenhead aged 75.