title: 1987 Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council election
text: # 1987 Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council election
  
  The 1987 Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 7 May 1987 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: 13 were won by the Labour Party, 6 by the Conservative Party, and 1 by the Liberal Party. After the election, the composition of the council was:
  
  * Labour 38
  * Conservative 16
  * Liberal Party 5
  * Social Democratic Party 1
  
  ## Election result
  
  Bolton Local Election Result 1987 :
  
  | Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Labour | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41.1 | 36,959 | -4.5 |
  | Conservative | 6 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 35.8 | 32,191 | +4.4 |
  | Alliance | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 22.3 | 20,051 | -0.4 |
  | Other parties | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.9 | 811 | +0.9 |
  
  ## Council Composition
  
  Prior to the election the composition of the council was:
  
  | 38 | 17 | 5 |
  | - | - | - |
  | Labour | Conservative | L |
  
  After the election the composition of the council was:
  
  | 38 | 16 | 6 |
  | - | - | - |
  | Labour | Conservative | L |
  
  LD – Liberal / SDP Alliance
  
  ## Ward results
  
  ### Astley Bridge ward
  
  Astley Bridge ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | J Walsh | 2,752 | 54.7 | +3.1 |
  | | Labour | S Marsland | 1,488 | 29.6 | -4.1 |
  | | SDP | M Langdon | 787 | 15.7 | +1.0 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,264 | 25.1 | +7.2 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,027 | 48.3 | +3.8 |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Labour to Con 3.6 | |
  
  ### Blackrod ward
  
  Blackrod ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | K Helsby | 1,646 | 37.0 | -9.0 |
  | | Conservative | J Barrow | 1,533 | 34.4 | -0.9 |
  | | SDP | C Kay | 806 | 18.1 | +5.1 |
  | | Independent Labour | L Watkinson | 467 | 10.5 | +4.8 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 113 | 2.5 | -12.5 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,452 | 46.4 | +9.2 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | Labour to SDP 7.0 | |
  
  ### Bradshaw ward
  
  Bradshaw ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | E Crook | 2,537 | 55.5 | +6.8 |
  | | Labour | P McFadden | 1,068 | 23.4 | -5.0 |
  | | Liberal | A Steele | 966 | 21.1 | -1.9 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,469 | 32.1 | +11.8 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,571 | 42.0 | +1.0 |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Labour to Con 5.9 | |
  
  ### Breightmet ward
  
  Breightmet ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | D Grime | 2,185 | 48.3 | -4.8 |
  | | Conservative | P Jones | 1,626 | 35.9 | +3.8 |
  | | SDP | B Dunning | 578 | 15.8 | +1.0 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 559 | 12.3 | -8.7 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,527 | 40.9 | +6.1 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | Labour to Con 4.3 | |
  
  ### Bromley Cross ward
  
  Bromley Cross ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | A Wilkinson | 2,665 | 54.3 | +12.0 |
  | | Labour | D Doxsey | 1,236 | 25.2 | -3.9 |
  | | SDP | D Poole | 1,010 | 20.6 | -8.1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,429 | 29.1 | +16.0 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,911 | 46.7 | +2.6 |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | SDP to Con 10.0 | |
  
  ### Burnden ward
  
  Burnden ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | P Birch | 2,041 | 52.4 | -2.1 |
  | | Conservative | F Hunter | 1,299 | 33.3 | +0.9 |
  | | Liberal | P Howarth | 558 | 14.3 | +1.2 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 742 | 19.0 | -3.0 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,898 | 43.6 | +4.6 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | Labour to Liberal 1.6 | |
  
  ### Central ward
  
  Central ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | J Sherrington | 2,257 | 67.7 | -7.0 |
  | | Liberal | S Vickers | 682 | 20.5 | +3.3 |
  | | Conservative | N Baxter | 392 | 11.8 | +3.8 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,575 | 47.3 | -6.9 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,331 | 41.3 | +0.9 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | Labour to Liberal 5.4 | |
  
  ### Daubhill ward
  
  Daubhill ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | M Donaghy | 2,308 | 56.9 | -7.4 |
  | | Conservative | J Cosgrove | 1,234 | 30.4 | +6.2 |
  | | Liberal | R Ronson | 439 | 10.6 | -1.0 |
  | | Independent | J Hamilton | 82 | 2.0 | +2.0 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,074 | 26.5 | -13.6 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,055 | 44.2 | +4.6 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | Labour to Con 6.8 | |
  
  ### Deane-cum-Heaton ward
  
  Deane-cum-Heaton ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | J Hanscomb | 3,484 | 58.4 | +4.3 |
  | | Labour | P Boardman | 1,288 | 21.6 | -2.8 |
  | | SDP | C Macpherson | 1,193 | 20.0 | -1.5 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,196 | 36.8 | +7.1 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,965 | 45.5 | +3.5 |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Labour to Con 2.5 | |
  
  ### Derby ward
  
  Derby ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | K Peters | 3,123 | 72.8 | -9.7 |
  | | Conservative | W Ingham | 731 | 17.0 | +6.4 |
  | | SDP | L Easterman | 436 | 10.2 | +3.3 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,392 | 55.7 | -16.2 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,290 | 44.0 | +4.4 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | Labour to Con 8.0 | |
  
  ### Farnworth ward
  
  Farnworth ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | W Hardman | 2,230 | 65.1 | -2.5 |
  | | Conservative | C Adams | 700 | 20.4 | +7.0 |
  | | Liberal | L Sanderson | 493 | 14.4 | -4.7 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,530 | 44.7 | -3.8 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,423 | 36.0 | +6.2 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | Liberal to Con 5.8 | |
  
  ### Halliwell ward
  
  Halliwell ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | C Morris | 2,282 | 50.1 | +3.1 |
  | | Liberal | A Halliwell | 1,226 | 26.9 | -9.3 |
  | | Conservative | E Holland | 1,049 | 23.0 | +6.2 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,056 | 23.2 | +12.4 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,557 | 46.3 | +2.6 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | Liberal to Con 7.7 | |
  
  ### Harper Green ward
  
  Harper Green ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | M Atkinson | 2,479 | 59.3 | -10.2 |
  | | Conservative | L Cosgrave | 885 | 21.2 | +2.9 |
  | | Liberal | G Willis | 817 | 19.5 | +7.3 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,594 | 38.1 | -13.0 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,181 | 40.6 | +7.0 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | Labour to Liberal 8.7 | |
  
  ### Horwich ward
  
  Horwich ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | E McCracken | 2,309 | 38.8 | +2.5 |
  | | Liberal | I Hamilton | 1,916 | 32.2 | -5.7 |
  | | Conservative | S Dawson | 1,725 | 29.0 | +3.1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 393 | 6.6 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,950 | 53.0 | +5.6 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | Liberal to Con 4.4 | |
  
  ### Hulton Park ward
  
  Hulton Park ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | G Smith | 2,267 | 42.9 | +6.1 |
  | | Liberal | P Cooper | 1,961 | 37.1 | -2.6 |
  | | Labour | P Entwistle | 1,053 | 19.9 | -3.7 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 306 | 5.8 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,281 | 48.3 | +8.1 |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Labour to Con 4.9 | |
  
  ### Kearsley ward
  
  Kearsley ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | W Robinson | 2,210 | 49.2 | -1.7 |
  | | Liberal | J Rothwell | 1,595 | 35.5 | -3.9 |
  | | Conservative | N Houlcroft | 687 | 15.3 | +5.6 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 615 | 13.7 | +2.2 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,492 | 46.2 | +6.1 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | Liberal to Con 4.7 | |
  
  ### Little Lever ward
  
  Little Lever ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | D Dziubas | 2,229 | 50.2 | +4.3 |
  | | Labour | S Jones | 1,580 | 35.6 | -7.8 |
  | | SDP | K Banks | 632 | 14.2 | +3.6 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 649 | 14.6 | +12.1 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,441 | 47.6 | +0.8 |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Labour to Con 6.0 | |
  
  ### Smithills ward
  
  Smithills ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | F Harasiwka | 2,376 | 48.4 | -1.4 |
  | | Conservative | C Shaw | 1,899 | 38.7 | +3.8 |
  | | Labour | J Ward | 631 | 12.9 | -0.4 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 477 | 9.7 | -4.9 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,906 | 54.9 | +8.0 |
  | | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | Liberal to Con 2.6 | |
  
  ### Tonge ward
  
  Tonge ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | D Clare | 2,317 | 53.6 | -10.7 |
  | | Conservative | T Ryle | 1,438 | 33.2 | +4.5 |
  | | SDP | L Shepherd | 570 | 13.2 | +6.2 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 879 | 20.3 | -17.6 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,325 | 47.3 | +1.0 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | Labour to Liberal 8.6 | |
  
  ### Westhoughton ward
  
  Westhoughton ward :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | P Finch | 1,228 | 35.8 | -4.3 |
  | | Liberal | P Mather | 1,170 | 34.1 | -3.6 |
  | | Conservative | J Cowburn | 769 | 22.4 | +0.2 |
  | | Independent | P James | 262 | 7.6 | +7.6 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 58 | 1.7 | -0.7 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,429 | 50.2 | +9.2 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | Labour to Con 2.2 | |
  