title: 2008 Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council election
text: # 2008 Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council election
  
  Elections to Wigan Council were held on 1 May 2008. One-third of the council was up for election.
  
  ## Election result
  
  Wigan Local Election Result 2008 :
  
  | Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Labour | 12 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 48.0 | 37.3 | 26,353 | -5.9% |
  | Conservative | 6 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 24.0 | 26.0 | 18,360 | +5.0% |
  | Independent | 4 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 16.0 | 8.9 | 6,260 | +5.7% |
  | Community Action | 2 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 8.0 | 13.9 | 9,830 | -1.9% |
  | Liberal Democrats | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 | 8.6 | 6,054 | -1.5% |
  | BNP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.3 | 2,352 | -0.3% |
  | UKIP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.3 | 912 | +0.8% |
  | Respect | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 222 | +0.3% |
  
  This result had the following consequences for the total number of seats on the Council after the elections:
  
  | Party | Party | Previous council | New council |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | 46 | 42 |
  | | Conservative | 10 | 14 |
  | | Community Action | 10 | 8 |
  | | Independent | 5 | 7 |
  | | Liberal Democrat | 4 | 4 |
  | | BNP | 0 | 0 |
  | | UKIP | 0 | 0 |
  | | Respect | 0 | 0 |
  | Total | Total | 75 | 75 | 75 |
  | Working majority | Working majority | 17 | 9 |
  
  ## Ward results
  
  ### Abram
  
  Abram :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Eddie Russon | 1,226 | 47.8 | -7.3 |
  | | Community Action | John Shale | 934 | 36.7 | +14.5 |
  | | Conservative | Marion Green | 386 | 15.0 | +4.7 |
  | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 11 | 0.4 | +0.2 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 283 | 11.0 | -21.8 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,566 | 25.2 | +0.4 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -10.9 | |
  
  ### Ashton
  
  Ashton :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Community Action | Paul Tushingham | 1,766 | 53.4 | +8.0 |
  | | Labour | Ann Rampling | 1,111 | 33.6 | -6.5 |
  | | Conservative | Marie Winstanley | 248 | 7.5 | -0.7 |
  | | BNP | Adrian Jones | 178 | 5.4 | -0.8 |
  | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 7 | 0.2 | +0.1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 655 | 19.8 | +14.5 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,310 | 36.9 | +2.5 |
  | | Community Action hold | Community Action hold | Swing | +7.2 | |
  
  ### Aspull New Springs Whelley
  
  Aspull, New Springs, Whelley :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | John Hilton | 1,443 | 43.0 | -10.1 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Alan Robinson | 1,254 | 37.4 | +8.8 |
  | | Conservative | Anthony Hind | 640 | 19.1 | +6.1 |
  | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 17 | 0.5 | +0.1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 189 | 5.6 | -18.9 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,354 | 34.4 | -1.2 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -9.4 | |
  
  ### Astley Mosley Common
  
  Astley Mosley Common :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Sean Ell | 1,207 | 42.0 | +12.3 |
  | | Labour | Brian Wilson | 1,014 | 35.3 | -2.6 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Gavin Clements | 684 | 22.1 | -2.0 |
  | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 18 | 0.6 | +0.1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 193 | 6.7 | -1.5 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,873 | 30.9 | +2.3 |
  | | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +7.4 | |
  
  ### Atherleigh
  
  Atherleigh :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Susan Loudon | 1,246 | 58.7 | +6.6 |
  | | Conservative | Abigail Solomon | 858 | 40.4 | +23.1 |
  | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 20 | 0.9 | +0.5 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 388 | 18.3 | -3.6 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,124 | 26.4 | -0.4 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -8.2 | |
  
  ### Atherton
  
  Atherton :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Independent | Bob Splaine | 976 | 29.5 | +29.5 |
  | | Labour | Elnur Yusifzade | 858 | 25.8 | -19.5 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | David Higginbottom | 821 | 24.8 | -12.9 |
  | | Conservative | Michael Nicholls | 416 | 12.9 | +1.9 |
  | | Respect | Stephen Hall | 221 | 6.7 | +6.7 |
  | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 13 | 0.4 | +0.1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 120 | 3.6 | -4.0 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,314 | 31.4 | +1.9 |
  | | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | +24.5 | |
  
  ### Bryn
  
  Bryn :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Independent | Don Hodgkinson | 1,606 | 49.2 | -3.1 |
  | | Labour | Helen Ash | 765 | 23.4 | -8.9 |
  | | Community Action | Clive Charles | 384 | 12.1 | +12.1 |
  | | BNP | Ken Haslam | 284 | 8.7 | -0.9 |
  | | Conservative | Malcolm Childs | 204 | 6.2 | +0.6 |
  | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 13 | 0.4 | +0.2 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 841 | 25.8 | +5.8 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,266 | 36.2 | +1.9 |
  | | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | +2.9 | |
  
  ### Douglas
  
  Douglas :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Joy Birch | 1,170 | 51.4 | -6.6 |
  | | Community Action | Anthony Unsworth | 745 | 32.7 | +7.3 |
  | | Conservative | Stephen Holt | 350 | 15.4 | -0.8 |
  | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 12 | 0.5 | +0.1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 425 | 18.7 | -13.9 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,277 | 24.6 | +0.2 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -6.9 | |
  
  ### Golborne Lowton West
  
  Golborne Lowton West :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Yvonne Klieve | 1,186 | 41.0 | -15.4 |
  | | Community Action | Peter Franzen | 1,110 | 38.4 | +9.6 |
  | | Conservative | John Oxley | 282 | 9.8 | -4.6 |
  | | BNP | Steven McEllenborough | 178 | 6.2 | +6.2 |
  | | Independent | Frank Davies | 129 | 4.5 | +4.5 |
  | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 7 | 0.2 | -0.2 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 76 | 2.6 | -25.0 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,892 | 32.9 | +2.5 |
  | | Labour gain from Community Action | Labour gain from Community Action | Swing | -12.5 | |
  
  ### Hindley
  
  Hindley :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Independent | Jim Ellis | 1,347 | 47.4 | +47.4 |
  | | Labour | Marcia Dooley | 694 | 24.5 | -20.8 |
  | | Independent | David Culshaw | 515 | 18.1 | +18.1 |
  | | Conservative | Margaret Winstanley | 277 | 9.7 | -1.2 |
  | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 7 | 0.2 | -0.1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,166 | 41.0 | +39.1 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,842 | 29.1 | +2.4 |
  | | Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing | +34.1 | |
  
  ### Hindley Green
  
  Hindley Green :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Independent | Bob Brierley | 1,105 | 44.7 | +44.7 |
  | | Labour | Martin Long | 981 | 26.5 | -3.6 |
  | | Conservative | Stuart Foy | 353 | 14.3 | +3.9 |
  | | Community Action | Rachel Fagan | 351 | 14.2 | -17.2 |
  | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 10 | 0.4 | +0.1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 450 | 18.2 | +16.9 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,474 | 28.9 | +2.4 |
  | | Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing | +24.1 | |
  
  ### Ince
  
  Ince :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | David Molyneux | 1,180 | 60.5 | -5.9 |
  | | Community Action | Syd Hall | 479 | 24.6 | +2.0 |
  | | Conservative | Raymond Whittingham | 275 | 14.1 | +3.8 |
  | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 15 | 0.8 | +0.2 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 701 | 36 | -7.9 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,949 | 23.0 | -0.6 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -3.9 | |
  
  ### Leigh East
  
  Leigh East :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Keith Cunliffe | 981 | 43.8 | -4.3 |
  | | Conservative | Dorothy Angell | 649 | 29.0 | +9.0 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Gordon Jackson | 597 | 26.4 | -4.7 |
  | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 17 | 0.8 | +0.0 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 332 | 14.8 | -2.2 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,238 | 24.8 | -2.2 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -6.6 | |
  
  ### Leigh South
  
  Leigh South :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Kevin Anderson | 1,372 | 41.2 | -2.1 |
  | | Conservative | Andrew Oxley | 1,000 | 30.1 | +6.6 |
  | | Community Action | Ian Franzen | 476 | 14.3 | -9.5 |
  | | BNP | Gary Chadwick | 470 | 14.1 | +5.1 |
  | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 9 | 0.3 | -0.2 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 372 | 11.2 | -8.3 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,327 | 32.6 | +1.5 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -4.3 | |
  
  ### Leigh West
  
  Leigh West :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Susan Greensmith | 1,543 | 64.3 | +10.3 |
  | | Conservative | Denise Young | 817 | 34.0 | +22.7 |
  | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 40 | 1.7 | +1.3 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 726 | 30.3 | -0.2 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,400 | 22.9 | -0.9 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -6.2 | |
  
  ### Lowton East
  
  Lowton East :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | James Grundy | 1,972 | 53.6 | +29.9 |
  | | Community Action | Ian Franzen | 943 | 25.6 | -17.4 |
  | | Labour | James Cowley | 758 | 20.6 | -12.3 |
  | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 8 | 0.2 | -0.2 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,029 | 28.0 | +17.9 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,681 | 37.9 | +4.3 |
  | | Conservative gain from Community Action | Conservative gain from Community Action | Swing | +23.6 | |
  
  ### Orrell
  
  Orrell :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Richard Clayton | 1,608 | 46.5 | +1.3 |
  | | Labour | Mike Barnes | 969 | 28.0 | -7.6 |
  | | BNP | Charles Mather | 548 | 15.8 | +1.5 |
  | | Independent | Richard Clayton | 321 | 9.3 | +9.3 |
  | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 12 | 0.3 | +0.0 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 639 | 18.5 | +8.9 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,458 | 37.9 | -2.4 |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +4.4 | |
  
  ### Pemberton
  
  Pemberton :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Jeanette Prescott | 1,387 | 55.7 | -1.9 |
  | | Community Action | Mike Leyland | 406 | 16.3 | -0.3 |
  | | Conservative | Benjamin Gray | 350 | 14.1 | +2.1 |
  | | BNP | Chris Hilton | 334 | 13.4 | -0.1 |
  | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 14 | 0.6 | +0.2 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 981 | 39.4 | -1.6 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,491 | 25.9 | +1.0 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -0.8 | |
  
  ### Shevington with Lower Ground
  
  Shevington with Lower Ground :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Paul Liptrot | 1,531 | 48.4 | +6.5 |
  | | Labour | Mike Crosby | 971 | 30.7 | -7.3 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Martin Sutton | 251 | 7.9 | -1.5 |
  | | UKIP | John Atherton | 251 | 7.9 | -2.3 |
  | | Independent | Andy Sumner | 157 | 5.0 | +5.0 |
  | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 2 | 0.1 | -0.3 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 560 | 17.7 | +13.8 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,163 | 34.2 | -0.7 |
  | | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +6.9 | |
  
  ### Standish with Langtree
  
  Standish with Langtree :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Judith Atherton | 1,710 | 50.8 | -7.1 |
  | | Labour | George Davies | 1,039 | 30.9 | +2.3 |
  | | UKIP | Alan Freeman | 283 | 8.4 | +8.4 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | June Garner | 214 | 6.4 | -6.6 |
  | | Community Action | Ronnie Barnes | 116 | 3.4 | +3.4 |
  | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 5 | 0.1 | -0.4 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 671 | 19.9 | -9.4 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,367 | 35.6 | -0.9 |
  | | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | -4.7 | |
  
  ### Tyldesley
  
  Tyldesley :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Robert Bleakley | 1,827 | 65.7 | +2.7 |
  | | Labour | Barry Taylor | 621 | 22.0 | +6.7 |
  | | Conservative | Hilary Hayden | 313 | 11.3 | -1.4 |
  | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 29 | 1.0 | +0.9 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,215 | 43.7 | -4.0 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,781 | 27.8 | -0.8 |
  | | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | -2.0 | |
  
  ### Wigan Central
  
  Wigan Central :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Henry Cadman | 1,562 | 50.3 | +6.1 |
  | | Labour | Mathew Bullen | 940 | 30.2 | -2.8 |
  | | UKIP | Keith Jones | 378 | 12.2 | +12.2 |
  | | Community Action | Leanne Brotherton | 213 | 6.9 | +0.0 |
  | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 15 | 0.5 | +0.2 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 622 | 20.0 | +8.8 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,108 | 34.3 | -0.3 |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +4.4 | |
  
  ### Wigan West
  
  Wigan West :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Terence Halliwell | 1,089 | 43.7 | -3.7 |
  | | Conservative | Steven Surples | 471 | 18.9 | -0.3 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Darren Atherton | 462 | 18.6 | +18.6 |
  | | BNP | Susan Mather | 360 | 14.5 | +0.7 |
  | | Independent | Mick Dahl | 104 | 4.2 | +4.2 |
  | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 4 | 0.2 | -0.2 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 618 | 24.8 | -3.4 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,490 | 25.0 | -3.6 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -1.7 | |
  
  ### Winstanley
  
  Winstanley :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Community Action | Stanley Barnes | 1,226 | 46.9 | +7.7 |
  | | Labour | Phil Kelly | 869 | 33.4 | -10.0 |
  | | Conservative | Paula Thompson | 508 | 19.5 | +2.4 |
  | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 9 | 0.3 | +0.0 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 357 | 13.7 | +9.6 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,612 | 29.8 | -2.2 |
  | | Community Action hold | Community Action hold | Swing | +8.8 | |
  
  ### Worsley Mesnes
  
  Worsley Mesnes :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Brian Baldwin | 1,275 | 55.1 | -0.2 |
  | | Community Action | Hannah Leyland | 662 | 28.6 | +3.0 |
  | | Conservative | Jonathan Cartwright | 363 | 15.7 | +4.2 |
  | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 16 | 0.7 | +0.3 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 613 | 26.5 | -3.2 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,316 | 26.4 | -1.3 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -1.6 | |
  
  ## By-elections between 2008 and 2010
  
  Wigan West By-Election 10 July 2008 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Steve Dawber | 817 | 38.3 | -5.4 |
  | | Conservative | Jonathan Cartwright | 528 | 24.8 | +5.9 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Trevor Beswick | 344 | 16.1 | -2.5 |
  | | BNP | Christopher Hilton | 200 | 9.4 | -5.1 |
  | | UKIP | Keith Jones | 124 | 5.8 | +5.8 |
  | | Independent | Sandy Franzen | 118 | 5.5 | +1.3 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 289 | 13.5 | -11.3 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,131 | 21.0 | -4.0 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -5.6 | |
  