title: 1996 Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council election
text: # 1996 Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council election
  
  The 1996 Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 2 May 1996 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
  
  20 seats were contested in the election, with 16 being won by the Labour Party, 2 by the Liberal Democrats and 2 by the Conservatives.
  
  After the election, the composition of the council was:
  
  * Labour 48
  * Conservative 6
  * Liberal Democrat 6
  
  ## Election result
  
  Bolton Local Election Result 1996 :
  
  | Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Labour | 16 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 54.1 | 36,393 | -0.5 |
  | Conservative | 2 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 25.0 | 16,798 | +1.7 |
  | Liberal Democrats | 2 | 0 | 0 | -0 | 19.6 | 13,184 | -0.4 |
  
  ## Council Composition
  
  Prior to the election the composition of the council was:
  
  | 43 | 11 | 6 |
  | - | - | - |
  | Labour | Conservative | L |
  
  After the election the composition of the council was:
  
  | 48 | 6 | 6 |
  | - | - | - |
  | Labour | Conservative | L |
  
  LD – Liberal Democrats
  
  ## Ward results
  
  ### Astley Bridge ward
  
  Astley Bridge ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | B Ramsden | 1,954 | 45.6 | -3.9 |
  | | Conservative | H Fairclough | 1,899 | 44.3 | +6.4 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | S Howarth | 429 | 10.0 | +4.2 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 55 | 1.3 | -10.3 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,282 | 39.3 | -4.7 |
  | | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | Labour to Con 5.1 | |
  
  ### Blackrod ward
  
  Blackrod ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | E Johnson | 1,589 | 43.1 | -20.8 |
  | | Independent Labour | L Watkinson | 842 | 22.9 | +22.9 |
  | | Conservative | C Moss | 824 | 22.4 | +0.6 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | D Watts | 428 | 11.6 | -2.7 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 747 | 20.3 | -21.8 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,683 | 37.1 | +1.0 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | Labour to Ind Lab 21.8 | |
  
  ### Bradshaw ward
  
  Bradshaw ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | G Butterworth | 1,782 | 48.1 | -1.1 |
  | | Conservative | W Hall | 1,492 | 40.3 | -0.8 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | I Peacock | 432 | 11.7 | +2.0 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 290 | 7.8 | -0.3 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,706 | 34.1 | -3.5 |
  | | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | Labour to LD 1.5 | |
  
  ### Breightmet ward
  
  Breightmet ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | J Byrne | 2,134 | 72.6 | -0.4 |
  | | Conservative | P Brown | 491 | 16.7 | +1.1 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | E Hill | 315 | 10.7 | -0.8 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,643 | 55.9 | -1.5 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,940 | 28.5 | -1.4 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | Con to LD 0.9 | |
  
  ### Bromley Cross ward
  
  Bromley Cross ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | N Critchley | 2,072 | 48.5 | +1.7 |
  | | Labour | R McCawley | 1,778 | 41.7 | -0.3 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | C Atty | 418 | 9.8 | -1.3 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 294 | 6.8 | +2.0 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,268 | 40.7 | +0.8 |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | LD to Con 1.5 | |
  
  ### Burnden ward
  
  Burnden ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | D Eastwood | 1,907 | 70.0 | -5.0 |
  | | Conservative | R Wood | 425 | 15.6 | +1.7 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | D Connor | 394 | 14.5 | +3.4 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,482 | 54.4 | -6.8 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,726 | 28.4 | -2.5 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | Labour to LD 4.2 | |
  
  ### Central ward
  
  Central ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | R Howarth | 2,052 | 77.6 | +0.3 |
  | | Conservative | J Bradley | 447 | 16.9 | +0.7 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | R Silvester | 146 | 5.5 | -0.9 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,605 | 60.7 | -0.4 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,645 | 34.0 | -3.7 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | LD to Con 0.7 | |
  
  ### Daubhill ward
  
  Daubhill ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | T Anderton | 2,024 | 76.9 | +1.7 |
  | | Conservative | F Tebbutt | 383 | 14.5 | -0.7 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | M Rothwell | 226 | 8.6 | -1.0 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,641 | 62.4 | +2.4 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,633 | 30.4 | -1.9 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | LD to Labour 1.3 | |
  
  ### Deane-cum-Heaton ward
  
  Deane-cum-Heaton ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | A Rushton | 2,383 | 48.6 | -4.2 |
  | | Labour | E Walker | 1,877 | 38.3 | +38.3 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | C Gregory | 640 | 13.1 | -34.1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 506 | 10.3 | +4.7 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,900 | 37.3 | -3.4 |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | LD to Labour 36.2 | |
  
  ### Derby ward
  
  Derby ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | J Foster | 2,604 | 83.8 | +10.3 |
  | | Conservative | J Walsh | 319 | 10.3 | -12.0 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | L Bale | 186 | 6.0 | +1.8 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,285 | 73.5 | +22.3 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,109 | 33.6 | -7.6 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | Con to Labour 11.1 | |
  
  ### Farnworth ward
  
  Farnworth ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | N Spencer | 1,874 | 82.0 | +28.6 |
  | | Conservative | D Bailey | 208 | 9.1 | +1.9 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | W Crook | 204 | 8.9 | +4.9 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,666 | 72.9 | +54.8 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,286 | 24.3 | -6.1 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
  
  ### Halliwell ward
  
  Halliwell ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | L Thomas | 1,919 | 66.8 | +0.1 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | I Greenhalgh | 572 | 19.9 | -3.2 |
  | | Conservative | A Osborn | 382 | 13.3 | +3.1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,347 | 46.9 | +3.3 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,873 | 30.0 | -5.9 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | LD to Con 3.1 | |
  
  ### Harper Green ward
  
  Harper Green ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | M Clare | 1,862 | 78.7 | -1.8 |
  | | Conservative | K Ward | 297 | 12.6 | +1.8 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | R Harasiwka | 206 | 8.7 | 0.0 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,565 | 66.2 | -3.4 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,365 | 23.4 | -4.4 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | Labour to Con 1.8 | |
  
  ### Horwich ward
  
  Horwich ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | B Ronson | 2,837 | 58.4 | +29.3 |
  | | Labour | I Alli | 1,105 | 22.7 | -25.4 |
  | | Conservative | P Barron | 917 | 18.9 | -2.3 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,732 | 35.7 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,859 | 43.0 | -0.5 |
  | | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | Labour to LD 27.3 | |
  
  ### Hulton Park ward
  
  Hulton Park ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | J Kellett | 1,677 | 41.9 | -2.7 |
  | | Conservative | C Higson | 1,411 | 35.3 | +8.3 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | D Gradwell | 911 | 22.8 | -4.1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 266 | 6.6 | -11.0 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,999 | 33.5 | -1.7 |
  | | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | LD to Con 6.2 | |
  
  ### Kearsley ward
  
  Kearsley ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | D Burrows | 1,847 | 61.7 | +3.1 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | J Rothwell | 956 | 31.9 | -4.5 |
  | | Conservative | A Bonomy | 191 | 6.4 | -1.4 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 891 | 29.8 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,994 | 30.1 | -4.7 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | LD to Labour 3.8 | |
  
  ### Little Lever ward
  
  Little Lever ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | M Connell | 2,117 | 61.9 | +5.6 |
  | | Conservative | S Jinks | 1,078 | 31.5 | -5.7 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | L Barron | 227 | 6.6 | +0.1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,039 | 30.4 | +11.4 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,422 | 36.7 | -3.8 |
  | | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | Con to Labour 5.6 | |
  
  ### Smithills ward
  
  Smithills ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | C Sawrbrick | 2,088 | 56.1 | -3.1 |
  | | Labour | A Page | 885 | 23.8 | -3.5 |
  | | Conservative | J Walsh | 746 | 20.1 | +6.6 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,203 | 32.3 | +0.4 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,719 | 43.9 | -0.4 |
  | | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | Labour to Con 5.0 | |
  
  ### Tonge ward
  
  Tonge ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | M Mcfadden | 1,913 | 70.2 | -1.1 |
  | | Conservative | J Evans | 535 | 19.6 | +0.1 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | P Howarth | 277 | 10.2 | +0.9 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,378 | 50.6 | -1.2 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,725 | 33.6 | -5.2 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | Labour to LD 1.0 | |
  
  ### Westhoughton ward
  
  Westhoughton ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | K Jones | 1,493 | 48.4 | +3.7 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | E Hill | 1,296 | 42.0 | +4.3 |
  | | Conservative | D Bagnall | 298 | 9.7 | -1.6 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 197 | 6.4 | -0.6 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,087 | 36.8 | -1.3 |
  | | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | Con to LD 2.3 | |
  