# 2003 Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council election

Elections to Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council were held on 1 May 2003. One third of the council was up for election and the Labour party lost overall control of the council to no overall control, for the first time since 1980. The Labour party continued to run the council in a minority administration.
20 seats were contested in the election, with 7 being won by the Labour Party, 7 by the Conservatives and 6 by the Liberal Democrats.
After the election, the composition of the council was
* Labour 27
* Conservative 19
* Liberal Democrat 14

## Election result

Bolton Local Election Result 2003 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Labour | 7 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 35.0 | 35.1 | 27,668 | -5.2% |
| Conservative | 7 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 35.0 | 34.1 | 26,833 | +0.4% |
| Liberal Democrats | 6 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 30.0 | 29.0 | 22,878 | +5.8% |
| Socialist Labour | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.8 | 627 | -0.4% |
| Socialist Alliance | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.7 | 563 | +0.1% |
| Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.3 | 218 | +0.0% |

## Council Composition

Prior to the election the composition of the council was:
| 31 | 16 | 13 |
| Labour | Conservative | Lib Dems |
After the election the composition of the council was:
| 27 | 19 | 14 |
| Labour | Conservative | Lib Dems |

## Ward results
### Astley Bridge ward

Astley Bridge ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Stuart Lever | 2,285 | 50.0 | −3.7 |
| | Labour | Christopher White | 1,402 | 30.7 | −4.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ian Greenalgh | 882 | 19.3 | +7.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 883 | 19.3 | +0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,569 | 41.0 | +6.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Labour to LD 5.8 | |

### Blackrod ward

Blackrod ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Martyn Cox | 1,456 | 36.8 | +11.2 |
| | Labour | Kevan Helsby | 1,362 | 34.4 | −3.7 |
| | Conservative | Michael Hollick | 1,138 | 28.8 | −7.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 94 | 2.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,956 | 42.0 | +11.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing | Con to LD 9.3 | |

### Bradshaw ward

Bradshaw ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Walter Hall | 2,600 | 53.7 | −1.8 |
| | Labour | Eric Hyland | 1,302 | 26.9 | −2.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Howarth | 944 | 19.5 | +4.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,298 | 26.8 | +0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,846 | 44.0 | +9.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Labour to LD 3.1 | |

### Breightmet ward

Breightmet ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Donald Grime | 1,426 | 41.2 | −5.3 |
| | Conservative | Richard Elliott | 1,370 | 39.6 | −1.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Edward Hill | 666 | 19.2 | +6.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 56 | 1.6 | −3.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,462 | 38.0 | +10.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | Labour to LD 6.0 | |

### Bromley Cross ward

Bromley Cross ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alan Wilkinson | 3,065 | 61.3 | +1.6 |
| | Labour | Anthony Muscat Terribile | 1,048 | 20.9 | −5.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stewart Ball | 890 | 17.8 | +3.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,017 | 40.4 | +6.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,003 | 46.0 | +10.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Labour to LD 4.5 | |

### Burnden ward

Burnden ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Mohammad Idrees | 1,453 | 39.5 | |
| | Labour | Martin McMulkin | 1,421 | 38.6 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Connor | 686 | 18.6 | |
| | Socialist Alliance | David Sumner | 119 | 3.2 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 32 | 0.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,679 | 38.0 | +0.0 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour |

### Central ward

Central ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Valibhai Patel | 1,693 | 49.8 | +40.1 |
| | Labour | John Noble | 1,191 | 35.0 | −9.2 |
| | Conservative | Mohammed Iqbal | 319 | 9.4 | −12.0 |
| | Socialist Labour | Lynne Lowe | 198 | 5.8 | +2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 502 | 14.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,401 | 47.0 | +13.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing | Con to LD 26.0 | |

### Daubhill ward

Daubhill ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Thomas Fitzpatrick | 1,335 | 41.7 | −14.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Linden Greensitt | 1,091 | 34.0 | +17.0 |
| | Conservative | John Heyes | 779 | 24.3 | −3.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 244 | 7.7 | −20.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,205 | 40.0 | +12.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | Labour to LD 15.5 | |

### Deane-cum-Heaton ward

Deane-cum-Heaton ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Hanscomb | 3,285 | 54.8 | −0.6 |
| | Labour | John Gillatt | 1,598 | 26.6 | +1.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christine Macpherson | 1,116 | 18.6 | −0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,687 | 28.2 | −1.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,999 | 45.0 | +11.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Con to Labour 0.8 | |

### Derby ward

Derby ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rosa Kay | 1,868 | 49.7 | −27.0 |
| | Conservative | Yakub Jiva | 1,101 | 29.3 | +17.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sara McGeehan | 500 | 13.3 | +6.4 |
| | Socialist Alliance | Neil McAlister | 202 | 5.4 | +5.4 |
| | Socialist Labour | Dorothy Entwistle | 84 | 2.2 | −2.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 767 | 20.4 | −44.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,755 | 44.0 | +10.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | Labour to Con 22.4 | |

### Farnworth ward

Farnworth ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Raymond Stones | 1,627 | 59.1 | +0.1 |
| | Conservative | Stanley Jackson | 556 | 20.2 | +2.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Rock | 402 | 14.6 | −1.8 |
| | Socialist Labour | William Kelly | 167 | 6.1 | −0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,071 | 38.9 | −2.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,752 | 34.0 | +14.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | LD to Con 2.1 | |

### Halliwell ward

Halliwell ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Cliff Morris | 1,848 | 53.2 | +0.4 |
| | Conservative | James Hinegan | 732 | 21.1 | −1.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Anne Warren | 683 | 19.7 | +3.6 |
| | Socialist Alliance | John Greenwood | 151 | 4.3 | +4.3 |
| | Socialist Labour | Howard Broadbent | 61 | 1.8 | −3.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,116 | 32.1 | +2.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,475 | 41.0 | +9.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | Con to LD 2.6 | |

### Harper Green ward

Harper Green ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George Dennis | 1,673 | 50.8 | −6.5 |
| | Conservative | Robert Tyler | 807 | 24.5 | +2.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Wendy Connor | 699 | 21.2 | +6.3 |
| | Socialist Labour | William Kelly | 117 | 3.5 | −1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 866 | 26.3 | −8.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,296 | 37.0 | +16.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | Labour to LD 6.4 | |

### Horwich ward

Horwich ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Cronnolley | 2,284 | 51.8 | −3.7 |
| | Labour | Joyce Kellet | 1,170 | 26.5 | +0.3 |
| | Conservative | Olive Fairhurst | 864 | 19.6 | +3.0 |
| | Socialist Alliance | Robert Ince | 91 | 2.1 | +0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,114 | 25.3 | −3.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,409 | 45.0 | +9.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | LD to Con 3.4 | |

### Hulton Park ward

Hulton Park ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Phillip Ashcroft | 2,064 | 38.5 | +2.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Derek Gradwell | 1,756 | 32.8 | −1.5 |
| | Labour | David Chadwick | 1,540 | 28.7 | −0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 308 | 5.7 | +3.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,360 | 40.0 | +12.0 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | LD to Con 1.8 | |

### Kearsley ward

Kearsley ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Rothwell | 1,863 | 51.9 | +3.5 |
| | Labour | Derek Burrows | 1,348 | 37.5 | −4.7 |
| | Conservative | Sheila Kesler | 381 | 10.6 | +1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 515 | 14.4 | +8.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,592 | 41.0 | +14.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | Labour to LD 4.1 | |

### Little Lever ward

Little Lever ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Mary Woodward | 1,658 | 40.4 | +3.6 |
| | Labour | Robert Evans | 1,554 | 37.9 | −11.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | William Crook | 669 | 16.3 | +5.1 |
| | Green | Alwynne Cartmell | 218 | 5.3 | +5.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 104 | 2.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,099 | 49.0 | +15.0 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | Labour to Green 8.4 | |

### Smithills ward

Smithills ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Joe Higson | 2,398 | 64.1 | +5.1 |
| | Conservative | Douglas Bagnall | 705 | 18.8 | −0.6 |
| | Labour | Barbara Ramsden | 640 | 17.1 | −1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,693 | 45.3 | +5.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,743 | 50.0 | +14.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | Labour to LD 3.3 | |

### Tonge ward

Tonge ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Elaine Sherrington | 1,510 | 49.7 | −2.7 |
| | Conservative | Nigel Ford | 1,092 | 35.9 | +1.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Langdon | 438 | 14.4 | +1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 418 | 13.8 | −4.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,040 | 39.0 | +7.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | Labour to Con 2.1 | |

### Westhoughton ward

Westhoughton ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Wilkinson | 1,762 | 56.0 | +6.2 |
| | Labour | James Kilcoyne | 805 | 25.6 | −11.6 |
| | Conservative | Jane Frappola | 579 | 18.4 | +5.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 957 | 30.4 | +17.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,146 | 39.0 | +11.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | Labour to LD 8.9 | |