# 2008 Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council election

Elections to Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council were held on 1 May 2008. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.
20 seats were contested with 9 being won by the Conservatives, 7 by the Labour Party and 4 by the Liberal Democrats.
Overall turnout was 35.03%.
After the election, the composition of the council was
* Labour 27
* Conservative 23
* Liberal Democrat 9
* Independent 1

## Election result

Bolton Local Election Result 2008 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Labour | 7 | 1 | 0 | +1 | | 32.4 | 22,644 | -4.1 |
| Conservative | 9 | 2 | 1 | +1 | | 41.9 | 29,254 | +2.1 |
| Liberal Democrats | 4 | 0 | 2 | -2 | | 20.4 | 14,221 | +0.7 |
| Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.5 | 1,751 | -0.7 |
| BNP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.2 | 867 | +0.4 |
| You Party | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.9 | 637 | +0.9 |
| Left Alternative | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.6 | 444 | +0.6 |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 104 | +0.1 |

## Council Composition

Prior to the election the composition of the council was:
| 26 | 22 | 12 |
| Labour | Conservative | Lib Dems |
After the election the composition of the council was:
| 28 | 23 | 9 |
| Labour | Conservative | Lib Dems |

## Ward results
### Astley Bridge ward

Astley Bridge ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Hilary Fairclough | 2,358 | 64.4 | +6.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Clive Atty | 733 | 20.0 | +1.5 |
| | Labour | Muhammad Rafiq | 572 | 15.6 | −8.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,625 | 44.4 | +10.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,663 | 36.0 | +2.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Labour to Con 7.4 | |

### Bradshaw ward

Bradshaw ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Walter Hall | 2,535 | 68.7 | +3.2 |
| | Labour | Jim Cottam | 620 | 16.8 | −0.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lauren Alergant | 342 | 9.3 | −3.2 |
| | Green | Anne Mumberson | 195 | 5.3 | +0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,915 | 51.9 | +3.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,692 | 40.7 | +1.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | LD to Con 3.2 | |

### Breightmet ward

Breightmet ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Arthur Norris | 1,696 | 47.1 | +6.2 |
| | Labour | William Gallagher | 1,182 | 32.8 | −15.5 |
| | BNP | Carl Hemmings | 350 | 9.7 | +9.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Howarth | 163 | 4.5 | −2.5 |
| | You Party | Norma Armston | 137 | 3.8 | +3.8 |
| | Green | Lynne Hyland | 74 | 2.1 | −1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 514 | 14.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,602 | 36.6 | +2.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Labour to BNP 12.6 | |

### Bromley Cross ward

Bromley Cross ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alan Wilkinson | 2,933 | 68.9 | +2.2 |
| | Labour | Jeremy Foster | 705 | 16.6 | +0.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Wibberley | 331 | 7.8 | −0.9 |
| | Green | Liz Spencer | 147 | 3.5 | −4.9 |
| | You Party | Andy Openshaw | 141 | 3.3 | +3.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,228 | 52.3 | +1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,257 | 40.8 | +1.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Green to Con 3.5 | |

### Crompton ward

Crompton ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Hanif Darvesh | 1,985 | 50.0 | −2.3 |
| | Conservative | John Partington | 1,113 | 28.0 | −4.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Yakub Khoda | 873 | 22.0 | +6.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 872 | 21.9 | +2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,971 | 38.8 | +8.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | Labour to LD 5.7 | |

### Farnworth ward

Farnworth ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jim Lord | 1,151 | 41.5 | −1.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tariq Aziz | 955 | 34.4 | −0.9 |
| | Conservative | Michelle Ionn | 531 | 19.1 | +3.8 |
| | You Party | Andy Allen | 138 | 5.0 | +5.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 196 | 7.1 | −0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,775 | 25.4 | +1.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | Labour to Con 2.4 | |

### Great Lever ward

Great Lever ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Mohammed Iqbal | 1,657 | 46.3 | −0.8 |
| | Conservative | Mudasir Dean | 1,299 | 36.3 | −1.2 |
| | Green | Alan Johnson | 374 | 10.5 | +4.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mian Akhtar | 245 | 6.9 | −2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 358 | 10.0 | +0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,575 | 36.5 | +1.6 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | LD to Green 3.1 | |

### Halliwell ward

Halliwell ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Cliff Morris | 1,875 | 62.5 | −2.3 |
| | Conservative | Shahid Mahmood | 632 | 21.1 | +2.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Riaz Gul | 494 | 16.5 | −0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,243 | 41.4 | −4.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,001 | 31.6 | +3.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | Labour to Con 2.4 | |

### Harper Green ward

Harper Green ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Champak Mistry | 1,181 | 44.7 | −6.2 |
| | Conservative | Bill Dawson | 1,071 | 40.5 | +9.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Connor | 390 | 14.8 | −3.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 110 | 4.2 | −15.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,642 | 26.7 | +3.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | Labour to Con 7.8 | |

### Heaton and Lostock ward

Heaton and Lostock ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alan Rushton | 3,378 | 70.6 | +1.7 |
| | Labour | John Gillatt | 831 | 17.4 | −2.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jonathan Evans | 326 | 6.8 | −4.8 |
| | Green | Daniel Mann | 249 | 5.2 | +5.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,547 | 53.2 | +9.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,784 | 45.3 | +1.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | LD to Green 5.0 | |

### Horwich and Blackrod ward

Horwich and Blackrod ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Pat Barrow | 1,469 | 43.7 | +2.5 |
| | Labour | Kevan Jones | 1,021 | 30.4 | −5.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ian Hamilton | 869 | 25.9 | +3.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 448 | 13.3 | +8.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,359 | 35.0 | −1.4 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | Labour to LD 4.4 | |

### Horwich North East ward

Horwich North East ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Barbara Ronson | 1,615 | 44.0 | −5.8 |
| | Conservative | Stephen Wallen | 1,126 | 30.7 | +2.1 |
| | Labour | Kevin McKeon | 832 | 22.7 | +1.0 |
| | You Party | Lucy Openshaw | 95 | 2.6 | +2.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 489 | 13.3 | −7.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,678 | 37.2 | +0.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | LD to Con 3.9 | |

### Hulton ward

Hulton ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alan Walsh | 1,822 | 54.2 | +1.7 |
| | Labour | Paul Fitzpatrick | 1,118 | 33.3 | −0.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Linden Greensitt | 421 | 12.5 | −1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 704 | 20.9 | +2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,361 | 34.0 | +1.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | LD to Con 1.4 | |

### Kearsley ward

Kearsley ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Rothwell | 1,435 | 46.6 | +4.2 |
| | Labour | Guy Harkin | 1,052 | 34.2 | −7.3 |
| | Conservative | Diane Bamber | 593 | 19.3 | +2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 383 | 12.4 | +11.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,094 | 29.8 | +1.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | Labour to LD 5.7 | |

### Little Lever and Darcy Lever ward

Little Lever and Darcy Lever ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Mary Woodward | 1,726 | 45.5 | +3.2 |
| | Labour | Jesamine Kay | 1,408 | 37.1 | −6.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Eric Hyde | 418 | 11.0 | +2.6 |
| | Green | Alwynne Cartmell | 243 | 6.4 | −0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 318 | 8.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,795 | 38.7 | −1.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Labour to Con 4.6 | |

### Rumworth ward

Conservative candidate for Rumworth, Zahid Raja, withdrew before the election.
Rumworth ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rosa Kay | 1,875 | 63.2 | −1.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Wendy Connor | 647 | 21.8 | +6.9 |
| | Left List | Neil McAlister | 444 | 15.0 | +15.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,228 | 41.4 | −2.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,966 | 29.3 | −1.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Smithills ward

Smithills ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Roger Hayes | 1,784 | 46.6 | −1.0 |
| | Conservative | Christine Flanigan | 1,216 | 31.8 | +3.6 |
| | Labour | Christopher Peacock | 599 | 15.6 | −2.8 |
| | Green | Rachel Mann | 136 | 3.6 | −2.3 |
| | You Party | Doug Bagnall | 94 | 2.5 | +2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 568 | 14.8 | −4.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,829 | 37.9 | +1.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | Labour to Con 3.2 | |

### Tonge with the Haulgh ward

Tonge with the Haulgh ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Frank White | 1,289 | 40.3 | −4.6 |
| | Conservative | Nigel Ford | 1,109 | 34.7 | +9.2 |
| | BNP | David Wood | 517 | 15.8 | −0.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Harasiwka | 194 | 6.1 | −1.1 |
| | Green | James Tomkinson | 68 | 2.1 | −2.0 |
| | You Party | Ryan Barlow | 32 | 1.0 | +1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 180 | 5.6 | −13.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,199 | 34.5 | −0.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | Labour to Con 6.9 | |

### Weshoughton North and Chew Moor ward

Weshoughton North and Chew Moor ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Christine Wild | 1,700 | 47.6 | +5.7 |
| | Labour | Mike Francis | 874 | 24.5 | −9.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Derek Gradwell | 858 | 24.0 | +5.6 |
| | Green | Laura Spencer | 141 | 3.9 | −1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 826 | 23.1 | +15.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,573 | 33.2 | −0.5 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | Labour to Con 6.9 | |

### Weshoughton South ward

Weshoughton South ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Wilkinson | 1,128 | 36.2 | +10.7 |
| | Conservative | Lynda Winrow | 947 | 30.4 | +1.7 |
| | Labour | Harry Bowling | 817 | 26.2 | −9.8 |
| | Green | Eric Hyland | 124 | 4.0 | −5.8 |
| | Independent | Ainslie Casson | 104 | 3.3 | +3.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 181 | 5.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,120 | 32.3 | +2.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | Labour to LD 10.2 | |