# Bolton West (UK Parliament constituency)

Bolton West is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Phil Brickell, a Labour Party politician.

## Constituency profile

The seat is on the outskirts of Greater Manchester with fields making for separate villages and towns, these buffer zones most often designated as Green belt, which includes areas for sport such as the ground of Bolton Wanderers at the University of Bolton Stadium. It includes the generally affluent towns of Blackrod, Horwich and Westhoughton in the western half of Bolton borough though from 2010 to 2024 Atherton from the Wigan borough was added, a more Labour-leaning former coal mining town.

## History

The constituency was created for the 1950 general election when the two-member seat of Bolton was split between the single member seats of Bolton East and Bolton West. The Labour Party candidate won in 1950 but, at the next three elections, the Conservative Party did not stand, allowing Arthur Holt of the Liberal Party to hold the seat from 1951 to 1964. Subsequently, it has been a marginal seat between Labour and Conservative, although at the 2019 election, it was also the safest Conservative seat in Greater Manchester, with a larger majority than Altrincham and Sale West. This was overturned when the seat was won by Labour in the 2024 election.

## Boundaries
### Historic

1950–1983: The County Borough of Bolton wards of Deane-cum-Lostock, Derby, Halliwell, Heaton, Rumworth, Smithills, and West.
1983–1997: The Borough of Bolton wards of Blackrod, Deane-cum-Heaton, Halliwell, Horwich, Hulton Park, Smithills, and Westhoughton.
1997–2010: The Borough of Bolton wards of Blackrod, Deane-cum-Heaton, Horwich, Hulton Park, Smithills, and Westhoughton.
2010–2024: The Borough of Bolton wards of Heaton and Lostock, Horwich and Blackrod, Horwich North East, Smithills, Westhoughton North and Chew Moor, and Westhoughton South, and the Borough of Wigan ward of Atherton.
There were major boundary changes to Bolton West in 1983 when part of its area went to create Bolton North East, but compensated by taking most of the former Westhoughton constituency. 2010 saw the town of Atherton added from the Wigan borough, previously in the Leigh constituency.

### Current

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which became effective for the 2024 general election, the constituency is defined as comprising the following wards of the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton as they existed on 1 December 2020:
* Heaton and Lostock; Horwich and Blackrod; Horwich North East; Hulton; Smithills; Westhoughton North and Chew Moor; Westhoughton South.
The Wigan Borough ward of Atherton was transferred back out, to the new constituency of Leigh and Atherton, offset by the addition of Hulton ward from Bolton South East (abolished).
Following a local government boundary review which came into effect in May 2023, the constituency now comprises the following wards of the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton from the 2024 general election:
* Heaton, Lostock & Chew Moor; Horwich North; Horwich South & Blackrod; Hulton (nearly all); Smithills; Westhoughton North & Hunger Hill; Westhoughton South; and a very small part of Rumsworth.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1950 | John Lewis | Labour |
| 1951 | Arthur Holt | Liberal |
| 1964 | Gordon Oakes | Labour |
| 1970 | Robert Redmond | Conservative |
| October 1974 | Ann Taylor | Labour |
| 1983 | Tom Sackville | Conservative |
| 1997 | Ruth Kelly | Labour |
| 2010 | Julie Hilling | Labour |
| 2015 | Chris Green | Conservative |
| 2024 | Phil Brickell | Labour |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Bolton West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Phil Brickell | 17,363 | 38.9 | +3.7 |
| | Conservative | Chris Green | 12,418 | 27.8 | –28.7 |
| | Reform UK | Dylan Evans | 8,517 | 19.1 | +18.3 |
| | Green | Vicki Attenborough | 4,132 | 9.3 | +7.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Donald McIntosh | 1,966 | 4.4 | –1.2 |
| | English Democrat | Patrick McGrath | 202 | 0.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,945 | 11.1 | –6.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,803 | 59.8 | –7.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 74,933 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +14.5 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Conservative | 28,197 | 56.5 |
| | Labour | 17,578 | 35.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 2,815 | 5.6 |
| | Green | 893 | 1.8 |
| | Brexit Party | 385 | 0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 49,868 | 69.1 |
| Electorate | Electorate | 72,125 |
General election 2019: Bolton West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Chris Green | 27,255 | 55.3 | +7.4 |
| | Labour | Julie Hilling | 18,400 | 37.3 | –8.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rebecca Forrest | 2,704 | 5.5 | +2.6 |
| | Green | Paris Hayes | 939 | 1.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,855 | 18.0 | +16.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,298 | 67.4 | –2.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +8.1 | |
General election 2017: Bolton West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Chris Green | 24,459 | 47.9 | +7.3 |
| | Labour | Julie Hilling | 23,523 | 46.1 | +7.1 |
| | UKIP | Martin Tighe | 1,587 | 3.1 | –12.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Becky Forrest | 1,485 | 2.9 | –1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 936 | 1.8 | +0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,054 | 70.1 | +3.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.1 | |
General election 2015: Bolton West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Chris Green | 19,744 | 40.6 | +2.3 |
| | Labour | Julie Hilling | 18,943 | 39.0 | +0.5 |
| | UKIP | Bob Horsefield | 7,428 | 15.3 | +11.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Martin | 1,947 | 4.0 | –13.2 |
| | Independent | Andy Smith | 321 | 0.7 | N/A |
| | TUSC | John Vickers | 209 | 0.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 801 | 1.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,592 | 66.8 | 0.0 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +0.9 | |
General election 2010: Bolton West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Julie Hilling | 18,327 | 38.5 | –6.8 |
| | Conservative | Susan Williams | 18,235 | 38.3 | +5.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jackie Pearcey | 8,177 | 17.2 | –1.8 |
| | UKIP | Harry Lamb | 1,901 | 4.0 | +2.6 |
| | Green | Rachel Mann | 545 | 1.1 | N/A |
| | Independent | Jimmy Jones | 254 | 0.5 | N/A |
| | You Party | Doug Bagnall | 137 | 0.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 92 | 0.2 | –4.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,576 | 66.8 | +3.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | –5.9 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Bolton West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ruth Kelly | 17,239 | 42.5 | –4.5 |
| | Conservative | Philip Allott | 15,175 | 37.4 | +3.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tim Perkins | 7,241 | 17.9 | –0.5 |
| | UKIP | Marjorie Ford | 524 | 1.3 | N/A |
| | Veritas | Michael Ford | 290 | 0.7 | N/A |
| | Xtraordinary People | Kate Griggs | 74 | 0.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,064 | 5.1 | –8.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,543 | 63.5 | +1.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | –4.2 | |
General election 2001: Bolton West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ruth Kelly | 19,381 | 47.0 | –2.5 |
| | Conservative | James Stevens | 13,863 | 33.6 | –1.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Barbara Ronson | 7,573 | 18.4 | +7.6 |
| | Socialist Alliance | David Toomer | 397 | 1.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,518 | 13.4 | –1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,214 | 62.4 | –14.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | –0.5 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Bolton West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ruth Kelly | 24,342 | 49.5 | +10.4 |
| | Conservative | Tom Sackville | 17,270 | 35.1 | –12.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Barbara Ronson | 5,309 | 10.8 | –2.4 |
| | Socialist Labour | Doris Kelly | 1,374 | 2.80 | N/A |
| | Referendum | Glenda Frankl-Slater | 865 | 1.76 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,072 | 14.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,160 | 77.3 | –6.2 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +11.3 | |
General election 1992: Bolton West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tom Sackville | 26,452 | 44.4 | +0.1 |
| | Labour | Clifford Morris | 25,373 | 42.6 | +6.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Barbara Ronson | 7,529 | 12.6 | –7.0 |
| | Natural Law | Jacqueline Phillips | 240 | 0.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,079 | 1.8 | –6.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 59,594 | 83.5 | +3.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | –3.2 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Bolton West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tom Sackville | 24,779 | 44.3 | –0.8 |
| | Labour Co-op | Guy Harkin | 20,186 | 36.1 | +4.6 |
| | SDP | David Eccles | 10,936 | 19.6 | –4.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,593 | 8.2 | –5.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,901 | 80.0 | +1.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | –2.7 | |
General election 1983: Bolton West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tom Sackville | 23,731 | 45.1 | +1.8 |
| | Labour | Dennis Green | 16,579 | 31.5 | −11.8 |
| | SDP | Ron Baker | 12,321 | 23.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,152 | 13.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,631 | 78.1 | −1.2 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Bolton West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ann Taylor | 17,857 | 44.81 | +1.55 |
| | Conservative | B. H. Watson | 17,257 | 43.30 | +2.35 |
| | Liberal | J. Fish | 4,392 | 11.02 | −2.05 |
| | National Front | K. Bernal | 348 | 0.87 | −1.85 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 600 | 1.51 | −0.80 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,854 | 79.36 | +2.12 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
General election October 1974: Bolton West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ann Taylor | 16,967 | 43.26 | +4.13 |
| | Conservative | Robert Redmond | 16,061 | 40.95 | +0.34 |
| | Liberal | Philip Stefan Linney | 5,127 | 13.07 | −7.19 |
| | National Front | W. Roberts | 1,070 | 2.73 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 906 | 2.31 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,305 | 77.24 | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative |
General election February 1974: Bolton West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Redmond | 16,562 | 40.61 | −11.06 |
| | Labour | Ann Taylor | 15,959 | 39.13 | −9.20 |
| | Liberal | Philip Stefan Linney | 8,264 | 20.26 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 603 | 1.48 | −1.86 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,685 | 81.06 | +7.07 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1970: Bolton West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Redmond | 19,225 | 51.67 | +13.93 |
| | Labour | Gordon Oakes | 17,981 | 48.33 | −2.24 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,244 | 3.34 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,216 | 73.99 | −4.3 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Bolton West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gordon Oakes | 19,390 | 50.57 | +9.40 |
| | Conservative | Christopher BS Dobson | 14,473 | 37.74 | +4.04 |
| | Liberal | Robert Glenton | 4,483 | 11.69 | −14.45 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,917 | 12.82 | +5.35 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,127 | 78.29 | +0.14 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
General election 1964: Bolton West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gordon Oakes | 16,519 | 41.17 | −4.20 |
| | Conservative | Douglas Sisson | 13,522 | 33.70 | +3.70 |
| | Liberal | Arthur Holt | 10,086 | 25.14 | −29.49 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,997 | 7.47 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,346 | 78.15 | −1.67 |
| | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Bolton West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Arthur Holt | 23,533 | 54.63 | −0.74 |
| | Labour | Peter Cameron | 19,545 | 45.37 | +0.74 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,988 | 9.26 | −1.48 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,078 | 79.72 | +0.65 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1955: Bolton West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Arthur Holt | 24,827 | 55.37 | +2.61 |
| | Labour | James Haworth | 20,014 | 44.63 | −2.61 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,813 | 10.74 | 5.22 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,841 | 79.05 | − 5.74 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1951: Bolton West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Arthur Holt | 26,271 | 52.76 | +32.30 |
| | Labour | John Lewis | 23,523 | 47.24 | +2.62 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,748 | 5.52 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,794 | 84.79 | −2.76 |
| | Liberal gain from Labour | Liberal gain from Labour | Liberal gain from Labour | Liberal gain from Labour | Liberal gain from Labour |
General election 1950: Bolton West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Lewis | 23,232 | 44.62 | |
| | Conservative | Walter Wharton Tong | 18,184 | 34.92 | |
| | Liberal | Alan Lever Tillotson | 10,653 | 20.46 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,048 | 9.70 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,069 | 87.55 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |