Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council election, 1998

The 1998 Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 7 May 1998 to elect members of Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council in Greater Manchester, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Labour party kept overall control of the council.[1]
20 seats were contested in the election, with 15 being held by Labour, 3 by the Liberal Democrats and 2 by the Conservatives.[2] The 3 main parties contested all of the 20 seats, with 3 Socialist Labour Party and 4 other candidates standing.[2]
The election saw the lowest turnout in at least 30 years at 23.5%, a significant drop from the 36.8% turnout in the 1996 election.[3] Farnworth ward saw the lowest turnout at 15%, while the highest was 32.6% in Astley Bridge.[3] The Conservatives gained 2 seats in the election to become the main opposition party on the council again.[3] They gained Astley Bridge and Bradshaw wards from Labour, having defeated the Labour candidate in Bradshaw by 2 votes after 5 recounts.[3] However Labour held on in Kearsley by 8 votes and won Westhoughton from the Liberal Democrats to remain firmly in control of the council.[3]
After the election, the composition of the council was
Election result
| Bolton Local Election Result 1998[3][4] | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− | ||
| Labour | 14 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 70.0 | 47.2 | 23,549 | -6.9 | ||
| Conservative | 4 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 20.0 | 30.3 | 15,127 | +5.3 | ||
| Liberal Democrat | 2 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 10.0 | 19.5 | 9,715 | -0.1 | ||
| Others | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10.0 | 3.0 | 1,503 | +3.0 | |||
Council Composition
Prior to the election the composition of the council was:
| 48 | 6 | 6 |
| Labour | Conservative | L |
After the election the composition of the council was:
| 47 | 8 | 5 |
| Labour | Conservative | L |
LD - Liberal Democrats
Ward results
Astley Bridge ward
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | J Walsh | 1,742 | 49.0 | +4.7 | |
| Labour | S Hynes | 1,576 | 42.9 | -2.7 | |
| Liberal Democrat | P Howarth | 285 | 8.0 | -2.0 | |
| Majority | 216 | 6.1 | |||
| Turnout | 3,553 | 32.6 | -6.7 | ||
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | Labour to Con 3.7 | |||
Blackrod ward
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | J Monaghan | 987 | 38.7 | -4.4 | |
| Conservative | R Barrow | 743 | 29.1 | +6.7 | |
| Independent Labour | L Watkinson | 553 | 21.7 | -1.2 | |
| Liberal Democrat | D Watts | 267 | 10.5 | -1.1 | |
| Majority | 434 | 17.0 | -3.3 | ||
| Turnout | 2,550 | 25.1 | -12.0 | ||
| Labour hold | Swing | Labour to Con 5.5 | |||
Bradshaw ward
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | A Osborn | 1,242 | 44.2 | +3.9 | |
| Labour | L Byrne | 1,240 | 44.1 | -4.0 | |
| Liberal Democrat | M Eidlow | 327 | 11.6 | -0.1 | |
| Majority | 2 | 0.7 | |||
| Turnout | 2,809 | 25.8 | -8.3 | ||
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | Labour to Con 3.9 | |||
Breightmet ward
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | M Murray | 1,155 | 59.7 | -12.9 | |
| Conservative | P Brierley | 565 | 29.2 | +12.5 | |
| Liberal Democrat | E Hill | 214 | 11.1 | +0.4 | |
| Majority | 590 | 30.5 | -25.4 | ||
| Turnout | 1,934 | 19.2 | -9.3 | ||
| Labour hold | Swing | Labour to Con 12.7 | |||
Bromley Cross ward
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | D Carr | 2,028 | 60.4 | +11.9 | |
| Labour | E Sherrington | 1,041 | 31.0 | -10.7 | |
| Liberal Democrat | C Atty | 287 | 8.6 | -1.2 | |
| Majority | 987 | 29.4 | -22.5 | ||
| Turnout | 3,356 | 31.0 | -9.7 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | Labour to Con 11.3 | |||
Burnden ward
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | P Howarth | 1,223 | 66.3 | -3.7 | |
| Conservative | S Jackson | 359 | 19.4 | +3.8 | |
| Liberal Democrat | D Connor | 264 | 14.3 | -0.2 | |
| Majority | 864 | 46.8 | -7.6 | ||
| Turnout | 1,846 | 19.3 | -9.1 | ||
| Labour hold | Swing | Labour to Con 3.7 | |||
Central ward
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | J Noble | 1,355 | 68.6 | -9.0 | |
| Conservative | L Beresford | 411 | 20.8 | +3.9 | |
| Liberal Democrat | K Watts | 127 | 6.4 | +0.9 | |
| Independent | R Allen | 81 | 4.1 | +4.1 | |
| Majority | 944 | 47.8 | -12.9 | ||
| Turnout | 1,974 | 25.1 | -8.9 | ||
| Labour hold | Swing | Labour to Ind 6.5 | |||
Daubhill ward
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | G Harkin | 1,055 | 63.2 | -13.7 | |
| Conservative | F Taylor | 368 | 22.1 | +7.6 | |
| Liberal Democrat | L Greensitt | 181 | 10.9 | +2.3 | |
| Socialist Labour | D Kelly | 64 | 3.8 | +3.8 | |
| Majority | 687 | 41.2 | -21.1 | ||
| Turnout | 1,668 | 18.9 | -11.5 | ||
| Labour hold | Swing | Labour to Con 10.6 | |||
Deane-cum-Heaton ward
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | C Shaw | 2,184 | 57.2 | +8.6 | |
| Labour | J Lavin | 1,186 | 31.1 | -7.2 | |
| Liberal Democrat | L Greenhalgh | 446 | 11.7 | -1.4 | |
| Majority | 998 | 26.8 | +16.5 | ||
| Turnout | 3,716 | 28.8 | -8.5 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | Labour to Con 7.9 | |||
Derby ward
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | G Riley | 1,765 | 78.7 | -5.1 | |
| Conservative | R Wood | 307 | 13.7 | +3.4 | |
| Liberal Democrat | L Bale | 172 | 7.7 | +1.7 | |
| Majority | 1458 | 65.0 | -13.5 | ||
| Turnout | 2,244 | 24.3 | -11.3 | ||
| Labour hold | Swing | Labour to Con 4.2 | |||
Farnworth ward
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | P Johnston | 903 | 63.5 | -18.5 | |
| Liberal Democrat | M Rothwell | 197 | 13.8 | +4.9 | |
| Conservative | P Bonomy | 180 | 12.6 | +3.5 | |
| Socialist Labour | W Kelly | 143 | 10.0 | +10.0 | |
| Majority | 706 | 49.6 | -23.3 | ||
| Turnout | 1,423 | 15.2 | -9.1 | ||
| Labour hold | Swing | Labour to Soc Lab 14.2 | |||
Halliwell ward
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | M Kilcoyne | 1,353 | 63.7 | -3.1 | |
| Conservative | J Evans | 414 | 19.5 | +6.2 | |
| Liberal Democrat | S Howarth | 356 | 16.8 | -3.1 | |
| Majority | 939 | 44.2 | -2.7 | ||
| Turnout | 2,123 | 22.7 | -7.3 | ||
| Labour hold | Swing | Labour to Con 4.6 | |||
Harper Green ward
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | L Williamson | 1,012 | 63.9 | -14.8 | |
| Conservative | S Kesler | 266 | 16.8 | +4.2 | |
| Liberal Democrat | W Connor | 154 | 9.7 | +1.0 | |
| Socialist Labour | W Kelly | 152 | 9.6 | +9.6 | |
| Majority | 746 | 47.1 | -19.1 | ||
| Turnout | 1,584 | 15.5 | -7.9 | ||
| Labour hold | Swing | Labour to Soc Lab 12.2 | |||
Horwich ward
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Democrat | R Ronson | 1,963 | 55.0 | -3.4 | |
| Labour | S Pasquill | 1,005 | 28.2 | +5.5 | |
| Conservative | I Cooper | 598 | 16.8 | -3.1 | |
| Majority | 958 | 26.9 | -8.7 | ||
| Turnout | 3,566 | 31.0 | -12.0 | ||
| Liberal Democrat hold | Swing | LD to Labour 4.4 | |||
Hulton Park ward
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | E Hyland | 2,156 | 48.4 | +6.5 | |
| Conservative | M Perks | 1,363 | 30.6 | -4.7 | |
| Independent Conservative | C Higson | 511 | 11.5 | +11.5 | |
| Liberal Democrat | D Gradwell | 421 | 9.5 | -13.3 | |
| Majority | 793 | 17.8 | +11.2 | ||
| Turnout | 4,451 | 24.1 | -9.4 | ||
| Labour hold | Swing | LD to Ind Con 12.4 | |||
Kearsley ward
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | P Spencer | 1,023 | 45.9 | -15.8 | |
| Liberal Democrat | J Rothwell | 1,015 | 45.5 | +13.6 | |
| Conservative | J Tyler | 193 | 8.7 | +2.3 | |
| Majority | 8 | 3.6 | -26.1 | ||
| Turnout | 2,231 | 21.7 | -8.0 | ||
| Labour hold | Swing | Labour to LD 14.7 | |||
Little Lever ward
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | A Connell | 1,498 | 58.2 | -3.7 | |
| Conservative | D Bailey | 855 | 33.2 | +1.7 | |
| Liberal Democrat | W Crook | 220 | 8.6 | +2.0 | |
| Majority | 643 | 25.0 | -5.4 | ||
| Turnout | 2,573 | 27.5 | -9.2 | ||
| Labour hold | Swing | Labour to LD 2.8 | |||
Smithills ward
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Democrat | R Hayes | 1,676 | 61.5 | +5.4 | |
| Labour | M Ord | 567 | 20.8 | -3.0 | |
| Conservative | D Bagnall | 483 | 17.7 | -2.4 | |
| Majority | 1,109 | 40.7 | +8.4 | ||
| Turnout | 2,726 | 32.1 | -11.8 | ||
| Liberal Democrat hold | Swing | Labour to LD 4.2 | |||
Tonge ward
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | F White | 1,499 | 66.7 | -3.5 | |
| Conservative | S Lever | 567 | 25.2 | +5.6 | |
| Liberal Democrat | M Whittaker | 182 | 8.1 | -2.1 | |
| Majority | 932 | 41.4 | -9.2 | ||
| Turnout | 2,248 | 28.3 | -5.3 | ||
| Labour hold | Swing | Labour to Con 4.5 | |||
Westhoughton ward
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | D Chadwick | 924 | 44.3 | -4.1 | |
| Liberal Democrat | D Wilkinson | 905 | 43.3 | +1.3 | |
| Conservative | S Wallen | 259 | 12.4 | +2.7 | |
| Majority | 19 | 0.9 | -5.5 | ||
| Turnout | 2,088 | 23.6 | -13.2 | ||
| Labour gain from Liberal Democrat | Swing | Labour to Con 3.4 | |||
Sources
Notes
- 1 2 "Local Elections results". The Times. 9 May 1998. p. 46.
- 1 2 "Voters' chance to give verdict on Labour's first 12 months". Bolton Evening News. 6 May 1998. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Low poll 'a disgrace'". Bolton Evening News. 8 May 1998. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
- ↑ "Policy and politics: Local Elections: Analysis: Council poll results". The Guardian. 9 May 1998. p. 16.
References
- Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. "Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council Election Results 1973–2012" (PDF). The Elections Centre. The Elections Centre, Plymouth University. Retrieved 12 July 2016.