Bolton West (UK Parliament constituency)

Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1950 onwards From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bolton West (UK Parliament constituency)map

Bolton West is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Phil Brickell, a Labour Party politician.[n 2]

Quick Facts County, Population ...
Bolton West
County constituency
for the House of Commons
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Boundary of Bolton West in North West England
CountyGreater Manchester
Population94,523 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate72,125 (2023) [2]
Major settlementsBlackrod, Heaton, Horwich, Westhoughton
Current constituency
Created1950
Member of ParliamentPhil Brickell (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created fromBolton
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2 sources

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[n 3] 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

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Map of boundaries from 2024

Historic

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Bolton West in Lancashire, boundaries used 1974–83

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.[3]

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,[4][5] 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.[6]
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Members of Parliament

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Elections

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Bolton West election results
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Bolton West election turnout

Elections in the 2020s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 2024: Bolton West[8]
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 4,945 11.1 –6.9
Turnout 44,803 59.8 –7.6
Registered electors 74,933
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +14.5
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Elections in the 2010s

More information Party, Vote ...
2019 notional result[9]
Party Vote  %
Conservative28,19756.5
Labour17,57835.2
Liberal Democrats2,8155.6
Green8931.8
Brexit Party3850.8
Turnout 49,868 69.1
Electorate 72,125
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 2019: Bolton West[10]
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 8,855 18.0 +16.2
Turnout 49,298 67.4 –2.7
Conservative hold Swing +8.1
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 2017: Bolton West
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 936 1.8 +0.2
Turnout 51,054 70.1 +3.3
Conservative hold Swing +0.1
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 2015: Bolton West[11][12]
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 801 1.6 N/A
Turnout 48,592 66.8 0.0
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +0.9
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 2010: Bolton West[13]
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 92 0.2 –4.9
Turnout 47,576 66.8 +3.3
Labour hold Swing –5.9
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Elections in the 2000s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 2005: Bolton West[14]
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 2,064 5.1 –8.3
Turnout 40,543 63.5 +1.1
Labour hold Swing –4.2
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 2001: Bolton West[15]
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[16] 7,573 18.4 +7.6
Socialist Alliance David Toomer 397 1.0 N/A
Majority 5,518 13.4 –1.0
Turnout 41,214 62.4 –14.9
Labour hold Swing –0.5
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Elections in the 1990s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1997: Bolton West[17][18][19]
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[16] 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 7,072 14.4 N/A
Turnout 49,160 77.3 –6.2
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +11.3
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1992: Bolton West[20][21][22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Tom Sackville 26,452 44.4 +0.1
Labour Clifford Morris[23] 25,373 42.6 +6.5
Liberal Democrats Barbara Ronson[16] 7,529 12.6 –7.0
Natural Law Jacqueline Phillips 240 0.4 N/A
Majority 1,079 1.8 –6.4
Turnout 59,594 83.5 +3.5
Conservative hold Swing –3.2
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Elections in the 1980s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1987: Bolton West[24][25]
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 4,593 8.2 –5.4
Turnout 55,901 80.0 +1.9
Conservative hold Swing –2.7
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1983: Bolton West[26][27]
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 7,152 13.6 N/A
Turnout 52,631 78.1 −1.2
Conservative gain from Labour
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Elections in the 1970s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1979: Bolton West[28]
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 600 1.51 −0.80
Turnout 39,854 79.36 +2.12
Labour hold
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election October 1974: Bolton West[29]
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[30] 5,127 13.07 −7.19
National Front W. Roberts 1,070 2.73 N/A
Majority 906 2.31 N/A
Turnout 39,305 77.24
Labour gain from Conservative
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election February 1974: Bolton West[31]
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[30] 8,264 20.26 N/A
Majority 603 1.48 −1.86
Turnout 40,685 81.06 +7.07
Conservative hold
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1970: Bolton West[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Redmond 19,225 51.67 +13.93
Labour Gordon Oakes 17,981 48.33 −2.24
Majority 1,244 3.34 N/A
Turnout 37,216 73.99 −4.3
Conservative gain from Labour
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Elections in the 1960s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1966: Bolton West[33]
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 4,917 12.82 +5.35
Turnout 40,127 78.29 +0.14
Labour hold
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1964: Bolton West[34]
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 2,997 7.47 N/A
Turnout 38,346 78.15 −1.67
Labour gain from Liberal
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Elections in the 1950s

More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1959: Bolton West[35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Arthur Holt 23,533 54.63 −0.74
Labour Peter Cameron 19,545 45.37 +0.74
Majority 3,988 9.26 −1.48
Turnout 43,078 79.72 +0.65
Liberal hold
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1955: Bolton West[36]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Arthur Holt 24,827 55.37 +2.61
Labour James Haworth 20,014 44.63 −2.61
Majority 4,813 10.74 5.22
Turnout 44,841 79.05 − 5.74
Liberal hold
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1951: Bolton West[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Arthur Holt 26,271 52.76 +32.30
Labour John Lewis 23,523 47.24 +2.62
Majority 2,748 5.52 N/A
Turnout 49,794 84.79 −2.76
Liberal gain from Labour
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More information Party, Candidate ...
General election 1950: Bolton West[38]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Lewis 23,232 44.62
Conservative Walter Wharton Tong[39] 18,184 34.92
Liberal Alan Lever Tillotson 10,653 20.46
Majority 5,048 9.70
Turnout 52,069 87.55
Labour win (new seat)
Close
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See also

Notes

  1. A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.
  3. As it has most often given marginal majorities of less than 10%

References

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