# 2024 Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council election

The 2024 Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 2 May 2024. The election took place alongside other local elections across the United Kingdom. The council remained under no overall control and continued to be run by a Labour minority administration.

## Background

In December 2022, the Local Government Boundary Commission for England made The Bolton (Electoral Changes) Order 2022, which officially abolished all 20 existing wards and established 20 new wards with new boundaries. All 60 wards were contested at the 2023 elections. The elected councillor who received the least number of votes in each ward at the previous election will have their seat up in this election.

## Electoral process

The council elects its councillors in thirds, with a third being up for election every year for three years, with no election in the fourth year. The election will take place by first-past-the-post voting, with wards being represented by three councillors, with one elected in each election year to serve a four-year term.
All registered electors (British, Irish, Commonwealth and European Union citizens) living in Bolton aged 18 or over will be entitled to vote in the election. People who live at two addresses in different councils, such as university students with different term-time and holiday addresses, are entitled to be registered for and vote in elections in both local authorities. Voting in-person at polling stations will take place from 07:00 to 22:00 on election day, and voters will be able to apply for postal votes or proxy votes in advance of the election.

## Previous council composition

| After 2023 election | After 2023 election | After 2023 election | Before 2024 election | Before 2024 election | Before 2024 election | After 2024 election | After 2024 election | After 2024 election |
| Party | Party | Seats | Party | Party | Seats | Party | Party | Seats |
| | Labour | 26 | | Labour | 27 | | Labour | 26 |
| | Conservative | 17 | | Conservative | 15 | | Conservative | 15 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 6 | | Liberal Democrats | 7 | | Liberal Democrats | 6 |
| | Horwich and Blackrod First | 6 | | Horwich and Blackrod First | 6 | | Horwich and Blackrod First | 6 |
| | Farnworth and Kearsley First | 2 | | Farnworth and Kearsley First | 3 | | Farnworth and Kearsley First | 5 |
| | Green | 0 | | Green | 0 | | Green | 1 |
| | Independent | 0 | | Independent | 2 | | Independent | 1 |
| | One Kearsley | 3 | | One Kearsley | 0 | | One Kearsley | 0 |
Changes 2023–2024:
* 4 May 2023: Derek Bullock (Conservative) was re-elected at the 2023 elections as a Conservative after being selected by the local Conservative Association, but has sat as an independent after being expelled by the national Conservative Party in April 2023 due to racist comments.
* 2 October 2023: Paul Heslop (One Kearsley) resigns; by-election scheduled for 16 November 2023.
* 2 October 2023: Bernadette Eckersley-Fallon (Conservative) resigns; by-election scheduled for 16 November 2023.
* 3 October 2023: Debbie Newall and Melanie Livsey (One Kearsley) join the Labour Party, marking the dissolution of their former party.
* 16 November 2023: Tracey Wilkinson wins Kearsley by-election; Farnworth and Kearsley First gain seat from One Kearsley.
* 16 November 2023: Deirdre McGeown wins Westhoughton North and Hunger Hill by-election; Liberal Democrats gain seat from the Conservatives.
* 14 March 2024: Craig Rotheram (Horwich and Blackrod First) resigns; by-election scheduled for 2 May 2024.
* April 2024: Amjid (Jack) Khan (Rumworth) expelled from Labour for seeking to stand as an MP for other parties.

## Summary

Following the election the council remained under no overall control. Labour made a net loss of one seat from their pre-election position, but remained the largest party and continued to form a minority administration after the election.

### Election result

2024 Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council election :
| Party | Party | This election | This election | This election | Full council | Full council | Full council | This election | This election | This election |
| Party | Party | Seats | Net | Seats % | Other | Total | Total % | Votes | Votes % | +/− |
| | Labour | 9 | 1 | 42.9 | 17 | 26 | 44.1 | 24,475 | 33.7 | –6.7 |
| | Conservative | 3 | | 14.3 | 12 | 15 | 25.4 | 14,124 | 19.5 | –13.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 2 | 1 | 9.5 | 4 | 6 | 10.2 | 5,388 | 7.4 | –2.4 |
| | Horwich and Blackrod First | 3 | | 14.3 | 3 | 6 | 10.2 | 5,370 | 7.4 | +2.6 |
| | Farnworth and Kearsley First | 2 | 2 | 9.5 | 2 | 4 | 6.8 | 2,900 | 4.0 | +2.4 |
| | Green | 1 | 1 | 4.8 | 0 | 1 | 1.7 | 6,493 | 8.9 | +7.1 |
| | Independent | 1 | 1 | 4.8 | 0 | 1 | 1.7 | 3,964 | 5.5 | +4.6 |
| | Reform UK & Bolton For Change | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 8,020 | 11.0 | +6.1 |
| | Workers Party | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1,388 | 1.9 | N/A |
| | Westhoughton First | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 385 | 0.5 | +0.1 |
| | UKIP | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 98 | 0.1 | N/A |

## Ward results

The results for each ward were as follows, with sitting councillors standing for re-election marked with an asterisk.

### Astley Bridge

Astley Bridge :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Toby Hewitt | 1,560 | 38.0 | –6.5 |
| | Labour Co-op | Kate Taylor* | 1,559 | 38.0 | +2.7 |
| | Green | Mark Devereux | 555 | 13.5 | +4.4 |
| | Reform UK & BFC | Mike Armstrong | 433 | 10.5 | +5.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1 | 0.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,107 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour Co-op | Conservative gain from Labour Co-op | Swing | 4.6 | |

### Bradshaw

Bradshaw :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Jackie Schofield | 1,436 | 40.3 | +5.4 |
| | Conservative | Ciaran Tully | 1,388 | 39.0 | –8.2 |
| | Reform UK & BFC | Sandra Harris | 433 | 12.2 | +4.1 |
| | Green | Matthew Miller | 177 | 5.0 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Becky Forrest | 125 | 3.5 | –6.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 48 | 1.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,559 | | |
| | Labour Co-op gain from Conservative | Labour Co-op gain from Conservative | Swing | 6.8 | |

### Breightmet

Breightmet :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Robert Morrisey* | 1,293 | 42.4 | +1.1 |
| | Conservative | Becky Campbell | 1,130 | 37.1 | –5.3 |
| | Reform UK & BFC | Georgia Lloyd | 425 | 13.9 | +2.1 |
| | Green | Wendy Shepherd | 139 | 4.6 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Derek Gradwell | 60 | 2.0 | –2.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 163 | 5.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,047 | | |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | 3.2 | |

### Bromley Cross

Bromley Cross :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Nadim Muslim* | 1,763 | 46.3 | –1.6 |
| | Labour | Ian Brown | 1,359 | 35.7 | +5.5 |
| | Reform UK & BFC | Amy Hare | 368 | 9.7 | +1.2 |
| | Green | Lee Harrison | 204 | 5.4 | –3.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Priest | 113 | 3.0 | –1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 404 | 10.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,807 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 3.6 | |

### Farnworth North

Farnworth North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Susan Haworth* | 908 | 32.8 | –19.4 |
| | Farnworth and Kearsley First | Mark Bailey | 700 | 25.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Mazhar Iqbal | 520 | 18.8 | +0.3 |
| | Reform UK & BFC | Dylan Evans | 298 | 10.8 | –6.2 |
| | Green | Philip Kochitty | 273 | 9.9 | +2.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jennifer Tonge | 71 | 2.6 | –1.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 208 | 7.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,770 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Farnworth South

Farnworth South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Farnworth and Kearsley First | Paula Connor-Bennett | 975 | 43.1 | +0.4 |
| | Labour | Champak Mistry* | 752 | 33.2 | +0.7 |
| | Reform UK & BFC | Julie Pattison | 292 | 12.9 | –0.8 |
| | Conservative | Carol Forshaw | 105 | 4.6 | –1.6 |
| | Green | Jordan Greenhalgh | 105 | 4.6 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Tonge | 35 | 1.5 | –3.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 223 | 9.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,264 | | |
| | Farnworth and Kearsley First gain from Labour | Farnworth and Kearsley First gain from Labour | Swing | 0.2 | |

### Great Lever

Great Lever :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Karen Hon* | 1,521 | 48.4 | –4.5 |
| | Green | Mahboob Alom | 1,009 | 32.1 | +26.0 |
| | Reform UK & BFC | Tracey Earp | 355 | 11.3 | +7.6 |
| | Conservative | Kalim Muslim | 259 | 8.2 | –26.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 512 | 16.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,144 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 15.3 | |

### Halliwell

Halliwell :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Hanif Alli | 1,523 | 45.1 | +41.3 |
| | Labour Co-op | Kevin Morris* | 1,273 | 37.7 | –9.0 |
| | Reform UK & BFC | Norman Cryer | 268 | 7.9 | +3.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Caroline Turner-Preece | 178 | 5.3 | +1.9 |
| | Conservative | Kubbar Alom | 132 | 3.9 | –37.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 250 | 7.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,374 | | |
| | Green gain from Labour Co-op | Green gain from Labour Co-op | Swing | 25.2 | |

### Heaton, Lostock & Chew Moor

Heaton, Lostock & Chew Moor :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Andy Morgan* | 1,975 | 44.2 | –2.1 |
| | Labour Co-op | Bill Lovat | 1,130 | 25.3 | –0.7 |
| | Independent | Gordon Campbell | 497 | 11.1 | –3.9 |
| | Green | Jennifer Entwistle | 358 | 8.0 | N/A |
| | Reform UK & BFC | Graham McGreavy | 319 | 7.1 | +1.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Martin | 192 | 4.3 | –2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 845 | 18.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,471 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 0.7 | |

### Horwich North

Horwich North (2 seats due to by-election) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Horwich and Blackrod First | Victoria Rigby* | 2,028 | 52.8 | +11.4 |
| | Horwich and Blackrod First | Charlotte Sears | 1,835 | 47.8 | +6.4 |
| | Labour | Kevin McKeon | 1,401 | 36.5 | +4.7 |
| | Labour | George Butler | 1,117 | 29.1 | –2.7 |
| | Conservative | Michael Baines | 385 | 10.0 | –3.6 |
| | Conservative | Hannah Wright | 319 | 8.3 | –5.3 |
| | Green | Glenys Johnson | 150 | 3.9 | –1.3 |
| | Reform UK & BFC | Taylor Jones | 140 | 3.6 | +0.2 |
| | Reform UK & BFC | Stephen Tonge | 128 | 3.3 | –0.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Matt Turner-Allen | 126 | 3.3 | –1.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Scott Turner-Preece | 48 | 1.3 | –3.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | | |
| | Horwich and Blackrod First hold | Horwich and Blackrod First hold | Horwich and Blackrod First hold | Horwich and Blackrod First hold | Horwich and Blackrod First hold |
| | Horwich and Blackrod First hold | Horwich and Blackrod First hold | Horwich and Blackrod First hold | Horwich and Blackrod First hold | Horwich and Blackrod First hold |

### Horwich South & Blackrod

Horwich South & Blackrod :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Horwich and Blackrod First | Samantha Williamson* | 1,507 | 48.4 | +5.0 |
| | Labour | Michael Jarvis | 878 | 28.2 | +5.7 |
| | Conservative | Paul Norris | 404 | 13.0 | –9.0 |
| | Reform UK & BFC | Eddie Carr | 138 | 4.4 | +1.1 |
| | Green | Helen Alker | 109 | 3.5 | –2.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Liz Turner-Allen | 77 | 2.5 | –0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 629 | 20.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,113 | | |
| | Horwich and Blackrod First hold | Horwich and Blackrod First hold | Swing | 0.4 | |

### Hulton

Hulton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Fazeelah Khan | 1,213 | 29.9 | –9.1 |
| | Conservative | Shafi Patel | 824 | 20.3 | –17.8 |
| | Independent | Derek Bullock* | 786 | 19.4 | N/A |
| | Workers Party | Sajid Pathan | 546 | 13.4 | N/A |
| | Reform UK & BFC | Rob Lowe | 354 | 8.7 | +0.6 |
| | Green | Pete Hopkinson | 231 | 5.7 | –4.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Linda Maher | 108 | 2.7 | –2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 389 | 9.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,062 | | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing | 4.4 | |

### Kearsley

Kearsley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Farnworth and Kearsley First | Sylvia Crossley | 1,225 | 49.9 | +6.3 |
| | Labour | Melanie Livesey* | 853 | 34.8 | +8.7 |
| | Reform UK & BFC | Dale Gregory | 149 | 6.1 | –5.3 |
| | Conservative | Glenys Ratcliffe | 142 | 5.8 | –11.3 |
| | Green | Nadeem Jojo | 52 | 2.1 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Charles Cooper | 32 | 1.3 | –0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 372 | 15.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,453 | | |
| | Farnworth and Kearsley First gain from Labour | Farnworth and Kearsley First gain from Labour | Swing | 1.2 | |

### Little Lever & Darcy Lever

Little Lever & Darcy Lever :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Liam Barnard* | 1,201 | 37.7 | +9.6 |
| | Conservative | Fred Khan | 861 | 27.1 | –8.3 |
| | Independent | Sean Hornby | 615 | 19.3 | –0.1 |
| | Reform UK & BFC | Brett Varnam | 393 | 12.4 | –1.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Susan Martin | 112 | 3.5 | +0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 340 | 10.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,182 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 9.0 | |

### Queens Park & Central

Queens Park & Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Linda Thomas* | 1,256 | 43.7 | –23.0 |
| | Workers Party | Omar Shafiq | 842 | 29.3 | N/A |
| | Reform UK & BFC | Sandra Harvey | 221 | 7.7 | –1.0 |
| | Green | Martin McLoughlin | 220 | 7.6 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Shahjahan Shah | 168 | 5.8 | –8.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rebekah Fairhurst | 94 | 3.3 | –3.2 |
| | Independent | Don Abraham Halliwell | 76 | 2.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 414 | 14.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,877 | | |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold |

### Rumworth

Rumworth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Ayyub Patel | 1,990 | 48.3 | N/A |
| | Labour | Hanif Adia | 1,244 | 30.2 | –18.2 |
| | Green | Alan Johnson | 550 | 13.3 | +6.0 |
| | Conservative | Marcellus Mbah | 153 | 3.7 | –35.5 |
| | Reform UK & BFC | Colin Speakman | 139 | 3.4 | +0.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gillian Wroe | 48 | 1.2 | –0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 746 | 18.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,124 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Smithills

Smithills :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Garry Veevers* | 1,690 | 45.9 | –4.9 |
| | Labour | Sorie Sesay | 859 | 23.3 | –0.8 |
| | Green | Vicki Attenborough | 448 | 12.2 | +4.7 |
| | Reform UK & BFC | Helen Shaw | 365 | 9.9 | +4.6 |
| | Conservative | Raymond Ndokwo | 319 | 8.7 | –3.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 831 | 22.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,681 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 2.6 | |

### Tonge with the Haulgh

Tonge with the Haulgh :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Emily Mort* | 1,300 | 44.8 | –3.7 |
| | Reform UK & BFC | Trevor Jones | 827 | 28.5 | +11.7 |
| | Conservative | Emma Meen | 465 | 16.0 | –8.7 |
| | Green | Alexander McAllister | 200 | 6.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Frank Harasiwka | 113 | 3.9 | –2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 473 | 16.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,905 | | |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | 7.7 | |

### Westhoughton North & Hunger Hill

Westhoughton North & Hunger Hill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Deirdre McGeown* | 1,137 | 33.8 | +3.6 |
| | Conservative | Colin Higson | 842 | 25.1 | –4.4 |
| | Labour | Karen Millington | 776 | 23.1 | +2.9 |
| | Reform UK & BFC | Jennifer Armstrong | 314 | 9.3 | +4.2 |
| | Westhoughton First | Jill Reynolds | 189 | 5.6 | –4.8 |
| | Green | Charlie Barrett | 102 | 3.0 | –1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 295 | 8.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,360 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 4.0 | |

### Westhoughton South

Westhoughton South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John McHugh | 1,146 | 35.2 | +2.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Neil Maher* | 1,029 | 31.6 | –0.8 |
| | Conservative | Cathryn Norris | 410 | 12.6 | –5.5 |
| | Reform UK & BFC | Dave Price | 292 | 9.0 | +2.4 |
| | Westhoughton First | Jack Speight | 196 | 6.0 | –3.9 |
| | UKIP | Richard Bates | 98 | 3.0 | N/A |
| | Green | Heather Rylance | 88 | 2.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 117 | 3.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,259 | | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 1.5 | |