Bolton West
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Bolton West in Greater Manchester
Outline map
Location of Greater Manchester within England
CountyGreater Manchester
Population94,523 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate71,454 (December 2010)[2]
Major settlementsAtherton, Blackrod, Heaton, Horwich, Westhoughton
Current constituency
Created1950
Member of ParliamentChris Green (Conservative)
SeatsOne
Created fromBolton

Bolton West is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Chris Green, a Conservative.[n 2]

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 in 2010 Atherton from the Wigan borough was added, a more Labour-leaning former coal mining town. To date the seat has been a marginal seat[n 3] between the Labour and the Conservative parties, however as of the 2019 election, it is also the safest Conservative seat in Greater Manchester, with a larger majority than Altrincham and Sale West.

Boundaries

Map
Map of current boundaries
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–present: 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. It is the only part of the Wigan borough not represented by a constituency fully within Wigan borough.

Proposed

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, from the next general election, due by January 2025, the constituency will be composed of the following (as they existed on 1 December 2020):

The Wigan Borough ward of Atherton is to be transferred back out, to the new constituency of Leigh and Atherton, offset by the addition of Hulton ward from Bolton South East (to be abolished).

Members of Parliament

Election Member[4] Party
1950 John Lewis Labour
1951 Arthur Holt Liberal
1964 Gordon Oakes Labour
1970 Robert Redmond Conservative
Oct 1974 Ann Taylor Labour
1983 Tom Sackville Conservative
1997 Ruth Kelly Labour
2010 Julie Hilling Labour
2015 Chris Green Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

Next general election: Bolton West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Chris Green[5]
Labour Phil Brickell
Reform UK Dylan Evans[6]

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Bolton West[7]
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 New
Majority 8,855 18.0 +16.2
Turnout 49,298 67.4 −2.7
Conservative hold Swing +8.1
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

See also: Opinion polling in United Kingdom constituencies, 2010–15 § Bolton West
General election 2015: Bolton West[8][9]
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 New
TUSC John Vickers 209 0.4 New
Majority 801 1.6 N/A
Turnout 48,592 66.8 0.0
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +0.9
General election 2010: Bolton West[10]
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 New
Independent Jimmy Jones 254 0.5 New
You Party Doug Bagnall 137 0.3 New
Majority 92 0.2 −4.9
Turnout 47,576 66.8 +3.3
Labour hold Swing −5.9

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Bolton West[11]
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 New
Veritas Michael Ford 290 0.7 New
Xtraordinary People Kate Griggs 74 0.2 New
Majority 2,064 5.1 -8.3
Turnout 40,543 63.5 +1.1
Labour hold Swing −4.2
General election 2001: Bolton West[12]
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[13] 7,573 18.4 +7.6
Socialist Alliance David Toomer 397 1.0 New
Majority 5,518 13.4 -1.0
Turnout 41,214 62.4 −14.9
Labour hold Swing −0.5

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Bolton West[14][15][16]
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[13] 5,309 10.8 -2.4
Socialist Labour Doris Kelly 1,374 2.80 New
Referendum Glenda Frankl-Slater 865 1.76 New
Majority 7,072 14.4 N/A
Turnout 49,160 77.3 -6.2
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +11.3
General election 1992: Bolton West[17][18][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Tom Sackville 26,452 44.4 +0.1
Labour Clifford Morris[20] 25,373 42.6 +6.5
Liberal Democrats Barbara Ronson[13] 7,529 12.6 −7.0
Natural Law Jacqueline Phillips 240 0.4 New
Majority 1,079 1.8 −6.4
Turnout 59,594 83.5 +3.5
Conservative hold Swing −3.2

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Bolton West[21][22]
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
General election 1983: Bolton West[23][24]
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 New
Majority 7,152 13.6 N/A
Turnout 52,631 78.1 -1.2
Conservative gain from Labour

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Bolton West[25]
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
General election October 1974: Bolton West[26]
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[27] 5,127 13.07 -7.19
National Front W. Roberts 1,070 2.73 New
Majority 906 2.31 N/A
Turnout 39,305 77.24
Labour gain from Conservative
General election February 1974: Bolton West[28]
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[27] 8,264 20.26 New
Majority 603 1.48 -1.86
Turnout 40,685 81.06 +7.07
Conservative hold
General election 1970: Bolton West[29]
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

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Bolton West[30]
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
General election 1964: Bolton West[31]
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

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Bolton West[32]
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
General election 1955: Bolton West[33]
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
General election 1951: Bolton West[34]
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
General election 1950: Bolton West[35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Lewis 23,232 44.62
Conservative Walter Wharton Tong[36] 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)

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

  1. ^ "Bolton West: Usual Resident Population, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  2. ^ "Electorate Figures – Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  3. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 5 North West region.
  4. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "B" (part 4)
  5. ^ "Bolton West Labour Party candidate selected to challenge Chris Green". The Bolton News. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Bolton West Constituency". Reform UK. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  7. ^ Sansome, Jessica; Otter, Saffron (14 November 2019). "All the Greater Manchester General Election 2019 candidates". men. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  8. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  9. ^ "Bolton West". BBC News. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  10. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  11. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  12. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  13. ^ a b c Barbara Olwyn Ronson. Links in a Chain. Retrieved on 13 May 2010.
  14. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  15. ^ General Election Results 1997 and 2001: Bolton West Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Political Science Resources. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  16. ^ General Election 1997: Bolton West. BBC. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  17. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  18. ^ General Election 9 April 1992: Bolton West Archived 11 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Political Science Resources. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  19. ^ "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  20. ^ Clifford Morris. Links in a Chain. Retrieved on 13 May 2010.
  21. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  22. ^ General Election 11 June 1987: Bolton West Archived 11 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Political Science Resources. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  23. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  24. ^ General Election 9 June 1983: Bolton West Archived 28 June 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Political Science Resources. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  25. ^ General Election 3 May 1979: Bolton West. Political Science Resources. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  26. ^ General Election 10 October 1974: Bolton West. Political Science Resources. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  27. ^ a b Philip Stefan Linney. Links in a Chain. Retrieved on 13 May 2010.
  28. ^ General Election 28 February 1974: Bolton West. Political Science Resources. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  29. ^ General Election 18 June 1970: Bolton West. Political Science Resources. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  30. ^ General Election 31 March 1966: Bolton West. Political Science Resources. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  31. ^ General Election 15 October 1964: Bolton West. Political Science Resources. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  32. ^ General Election 8 October 1959: Bolton West. Political Science Resources. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  33. ^ General Election 26 May 1955: Bolton West. Political Science Resources. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  34. ^ General Election 25 October 1951: Bolton West. Political Science Resources. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  35. ^ General Election 23 February 1950: Bolton West. Political Science Resources. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  36. ^ Walter Wharton Tong. Links in a Chain. Retrieved on 13 May 2010.

External links

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