title: 1973 Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council election
text: # 1973 Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council election
  
  The first elections to Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council were held on Thursday, 10 May 1973, with the entirety of the 69 seat council - three seats for each of the 23 wards - up for vote. It was the first council election as the newly formed metropolitan borough under a new constitution. The Local Government Act 1972 stipulated that the elected members were to shadow and eventually take over from the County Borough of Bolton, the Municipal Borough of Farnworth, the Urban Districts of Blackrod, Horwich, Kearsley, Little Lever, and Westhoughton, and the southern part of Turton Urban District on 1 April 1974. The order in which the councillors were elected dictated their term serving, with third-place candidates serving two years and up for re-election in 1975, second-placed three years expiring in 1976 and 1st-placed five years until 1978.
  
  The Conservative Party took control of the new Council by a majority of 1. The Leader of the council was Councillor John Hanscomb, who held this position until Labour took control in 1980.
  
  ## Election result
  
  Bolton Local Election Result 1973 :
  
  | Party | Seats | Votes % | Votes |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | Conservative | 35 | 44.7 | 84,702 |
  | Labour | 31 | 44.2 | 83,729 |
  | Liberal | 2 | 8.9 | 16,916 |
  | Other parties | 1 | 2.1 | 3,940 |
  
  ## Ward results
  
  ### Astley Bridge ward
  
  Astley Bridge ward (3) :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | D Shepherd | 2,171 | 23.4 |
  | | Conservative | F Waterworth | 2,087 | 22.5 |
  | | Conservative | A Hibbert | 1,986 | 21.4 |
  | | Labour | J Walker | 1,082 | 11.7 |
  | | Labour | N Lee | 1,007 | 10.9 |
  | | Labour | D Jones | 938 | 10.1 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,721 | 34.0 |
  
  ### Bradshaw North and South ward
  
  Bradshaw North and South ward (3) :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | B Furlong | 1,090 | 15.1 |
  | | Conservative | T Greenhalgh | 1,077 | 15.0 |
  | | Conservative | K Howarth | 1,073 | 14.9 |
  | | Liberal | A Winstanley | 1,054 | 14.6 |
  | | Liberal | J Webster | 1,037 | 14.4 |
  | | Liberal | M Batth | 1,012 | 14.1 |
  | | Labour | A Brigg | 300 | 4.2 |
  | | Labour | J Riley | 285 | 4.0 |
  | | Labour | C Benjamin | 270 | 3.8 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,198 | 40.5 |
  
  ### Bradford ward
  
  Bradford ward (3) :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | J Foster | 1,119 | 27.1 |
  | | Labour | T McEwan | 1,046 | 25.1 |
  | | Labour | C Skull | 1,011 | 24.5 |
  | | Conservative | D Hall | 329 | 8.0 |
  | | Conservative | C Gregory | 325 | 7.9 |
  | | Conservative | D Harris | 294 | 7.1 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,124 | 31.0 |
  
  ### Bromley Cross, Eagley and Egerton ward
  
  Bromley Cross, Eagley and Egerton ward (3) :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | D Carr | 1,456 | 15.5 |
  | | Conservative | A Poulson | 1,421 | 15.1 |
  | | Conservative | H Bennett | 1,412 | 15.0 |
  | | Liberal | P O'Connor | 1,175 | 12.5 |
  | | Liberal | T Williams | 1,124 | 12.0 |
  | | Liberal | D Charlton | 1,095 | 11.7 |
  | | Labour | H Haslam | 670 | 7.1 |
  | | Labour | S Chadwick | 542 | 5.8 |
  | | Labour | A Uttley | 489 | 5.2 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,384 | 41.3 |
  
  ### Church East and North ward
  
  Church East and North ward (3) :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | R Halliwell | 1,790 | 20.7 |
  | | Conservative | E Crook | 1,711 | 19.8 |
  | | Conservative | A O'Neil | 1,641 | 19.0 |
  | | Labour | M Johnson | 1,290 | 14.9 |
  | | Labour | J Knight | 1,140 | 13.2 |
  | | Labour | B Turner | 1,081 | 12.5 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,653 | 41.0 |
  
  ### Darcy Lever cum Breightmet ward
  
  Darcy Lever cum Breightmet ward (3) :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | D Dingwall | 2,064 | 18.6 |
  | | Labour | K McIvor | 1,913 | 17.3 |
  | | Labour | P Johnson | 1,895 | 17.1 |
  | | Conservative | A Chadbond | 1,820 | 16.4 |
  | | Conservative | M Walsh | 1,699 | 15.4 |
  | | Conservative | P Eckersley | 1,677 | 15.2 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,068 | 31.0 |
  
  ### Deane cum Lostock ward
  
  Deane cum Lostock ward (3) :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | D Berry | 1,406 | 25.3 |
  | | Conservative | F Rushton | 1,359 | 24.4 |
  | | Conservative | R Ward | 1,351 | 24.3 |
  | | Labour | S Harrison | 506 | 9.1 |
  | | Labour | J Brown | 483 | 8.7 |
  | | Labour | S Hill | 454 | 8.2 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,559 | 30.0 |
  
  ### Derby ward
  
  Derby ward (3) :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | W Simpson | 1,159 | 23.8 |
  | | Labour | J Taylor | 1,143 | 23.5 |
  | | Labour | S Walsh | 1,030 | 21.2 |
  | | Conservative | John Walsh | 598 | 12.5 |
  | | Conservative | J Laycock | 533 | 11.0 |
  | | Conservative | M Bleakley | 468 | 9.6 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,866 | 29.0 |
  
  ### Farnworth North ward
  
  Farnworth North ward (3) :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | L Cunliffe | 2,010 | 22.6 |
  | | Labour | R Neary | 1,904 | 21.4 |
  | | Labour | G Brown | 1,842 | 20.7 |
  | | Conservative | A Royse | 1,243 | 14.0 |
  | | Conservative | T Rothwell | 955 | 10.7 |
  | | Conservative | L Sharples | 937 | 10.5 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,891 | 32.0 |
  
  ### Farnworth South ward
  
  Farnworth South ward (3) :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | J Wild | 1,757 | 25.1 |
  | | Labour | W Hardman | 1,712 | 24.5 |
  | | Labour | D Gilligan | 1,633 | 23.4 |
  | | Conservative | C Shaw | 653 | 9.3 |
  | | Conservative | G Waterson | 632 | 9.0 |
  | | Conservative | I Torkington | 604 | 8.6 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,991 | 27.0 |
  
  ### Great Lever ward
  
  Great Lever ward (3) :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | J Shore | 1,526 | 17.3 |
  | | Labour | V Urmston | 1,492 | 16.9 |
  | | Labour | A Perry | 1,471 | 16.7 |
  | | Conservative | G Woosey | 1,456 | 16.5 |
  | | Labour | P Lowe | 1,444 | 16.4 |
  | | Conservative | L Huyton | 1,442 | 16.3 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,831 | 29.0 |
  
  ### Halliwell ward
  
  Halliwell ward (3) :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | E Hamer | 1,533 | 18.6 |
  | | Labour | R Johnson | 1,485 | 18.0 |
  | | Labour | G Riley | 1,444 | 17.5 |
  | | Conservative | W Hall | 1,280 | 15.5 |
  | | Conservative | R Stones | 1,252 | 15.2 |
  | | Conservative | J Morris | 1,248 | 15.1 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,242 | 27.0 |
  
  ### Heaton ward
  
  Heaton ward (3) :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | B Allanson | 1,598 | 30.2 |
  | | Conservative | J Hanscomb | 1,524 | 28.8 |
  | | Conservative | B Hurst | 1,504 | 28.4 |
  | | Labour | P Cunliffe | 258 | 4.9 |
  | | Labour | N Morlidge | 208 | 3.9 |
  | | Labour | T Hill | 201 | 3.8 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,293 | 42.0 |
  
  ### Horwich North, Central and East ward
  
  Horwich North, Central and East ward (3) :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | A Oakley | 1,947 | 16.6 |
  | | Labour | J McBurnie | 1,680 | 14.3 |
  | | Labour | E Dobson | 1,665 | 14.2 |
  | | Conservative | G Hind | 1,377 | 11.8 |
  | | Liberal | E Kay | 1,314 | 11.2 |
  | | Conservative | R Winstanley | 1,076 | 9.2 |
  | | Liberal | A Ratcliffe | 1,033 | 8.8 |
  | | Conservative | J Foster | 942 | 8.0 |
  | | Communist | J Kay | 676 | 5.8 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,710 | 42.0 |
  
  ### Horwich South and Blackrod ward
  
  Horwich South and Blackrod ward (3) :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Independent | L Fearnhead | 1,395 | 14.1 |
  | | Conservative | C Everin | 1,200 | 12.1 |
  | | Labour | G Gardiner | 1,173 | 11.8 |
  | | Labour | D Smith | 1,017 | 10.2 |
  | | Conservative | J Jolley | 964 | 9.7 |
  | | Labour | E Bracegirdle | 926 | 9.3 |
  | | Independent | F Isherwood | 891 | 9.0 |
  | | Independent Labour | L Watkinson | 856 | 8.6 |
  | | Liberal | G Farrington | 797 | 8.0 |
  | | Conservative | M Carrie | 705 | 7.1 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,924 | 58.0 |
  
  ### Hulton and Rumworth ward
  
  Hulton and Rumworth ward (3) :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | J Parkinson | 1,991 | 20.3 |
  | | Conservative | A Gledhill | 1,880 | 19.2 |
  | | Conservative | R Carr | 1,872 | 19.1 |
  | | Labour | D Vause | 1,362 | 13.9 |
  | | Labour | H Glynn | 1,313 | 13.4 |
  | | Labour | T Regan | 1,250 | 12.8 |
  | | Socialist (GB) | J O'Hara | 122 | 1.2 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,790 | 35.0 |
  
  ### Kearsley ward
  
  Kearsley ward (3) :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | J Rothwell | 1,926 | 19.1 |
  | | Liberal | E Bell | 1,700 | 16.9 |
  | | Labour | R Cornthwaite | 1,668 | 16.5 |
  | | Liberal | K Holt | 1,647 | 16.3 |
  | | Labour | B Molyneux | 1,578 | 15.7 |
  | | Labour | T Lewis | 1,564 | 15.5 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,083 | 40.6 |
  
  ### Little Lever ward
  
  Little Lever ward (3) :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | K Hornby | 1,111 | 14.6 |
  | | Conservative | J Lees | 993 | 13.0 |
  | | Conservative | A Lawton | 991 | 13.0 |
  | | Labour | J Robinson | 938 | 12.3 |
  | | Liberal | N Narayan | 886 | 11.6 |
  | | Labour | W Worthington | 842 | 11.0 |
  | | Labour | C Lucas | 752 | 9.9 |
  | | Liberal | J Waites | 600 | 7.9 |
  | | Liberal | R Pemberton | 516 | 6.8 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,629 | 39.0 |
  
  ### Smithills ward
  
  Smithills ward (3) :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | D Priestly | 2,209 | 24.5 |
  | | Conservative | M Howarth | 2,204 | 24.4 |
  | | Conservative | S Collier | 2,154 | 23.9 |
  | | Labour | T Hall | 845 | 9.4 |
  | | Labour | N Spencer | 816 | 9.0 |
  | | Labour | B Corless | 799 | 8.9 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,027 | 28.0 |
  
  ### Tonge ward
  
  Tonge ward (3) :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | S Harrison | 2,129 | 19.4 |
  | | Conservative | K Knowles | 1,950 | 17.8 |
  | | Conservative | J Rigby | 1,929 | 17.6 |
  | | Labour | A Hooton | 1,689 | 15.4 |
  | | Labour | A Grime | 1,637 | 14.9 |
  | | Labour | Rigby | 1,637 | 14.9 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,971 | 34.0 |
  
  ### West ward
  
  West ward (3) :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | R Howarth | 1,376 | 21.6 |
  | | Labour | D Clarke | 1,358 | 21.3 |
  | | Labour | H Devonish | 1,341 | 21.0 |
  | | Conservative | M Foster | 802 | 12.6 |
  | | Conservative | E Smith | 756 | 11.9 |
  | | Conservative | J Wrench | 741 | 11.6 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,374 | |
  
  ### Westhoughton East and Hulton ward
  
  Westhoughton East and Hulton ward (3) :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | G Smith | 1,775 | 21.3 |
  | | Conservative | A Glover | 1,750 | 21.0 |
  | | Conservative | J Smith | 1,744 | 20.9 |
  | | Labour | P Jones | 1,075 | 12.9 |
  | | Labour | C Knowles | 1,015 | 12.2 |
  | | Labour | A Fairhurst | 971 | 11.7 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,330 | 48.4 |
  
  ### Westhoughton North, Central and South ward
  
  Westhoughton North, Central and South ward (3) :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | W Kettle | 2,273 | 23.2 |
  | | Labour | K Brown | 1,971 | 20.1 |
  | | Labour | P Woodcock | 1,940 | 19.8 |
  | | Independent | T Riley | 1,465 | 15.0 |
  | | Conservative | J Roden | 1,131 | 11.6 |
  | | Conservative | P Smith | 1,009 | 10.3 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,789 | 49.7 |
  