← Bolton (all cycles) · 7 May 2026 cohort

Bolton 2026

Local elections held 7 May 2026.

20 ward races
20 seats
20 elected below the proportional quota
100.0% of seats below quota
3 unfairly awarded seats
15.0% of seats unfairly awarded

Each race compares the marginal winner's share of valid ballots to the proportional quota — the share they'd need under any common proportional method. How the numbers are derived →

If votes were counted by party

Across the 20 wards in this cycle, parties received the vote totals below. The proportional column shows what each party would have won if the 20 seats had been shared out in proportion to votes received (how, with caveats). The Δ column is the actual seat count minus the proportional seat count — positive numbers are parties First-Past-the-Post over-represented; negative are parties it under-represented.

PartyVotesVote %Seats won% of seatsProportional seatsProportional %Δ
Reform UK28,10532.6%945.0%735.0%+2
Labour Party16,84419.5%210.0%420.0%-2
Green Party15,21017.6%315.0%420.0%-1
Conservative Party12,43314.4%315.0%315.0%0
Liberal Democrats6,3877.4%15.0%15.0%0
Horwich & Blackrod First Independents3,6804.3%210.0%15.0%+1
Farnworth and Kearsley First Party2,7533.2%00.0%00.0%0
Independent6790.8%00.0%00.0%0
Westhoughton First Independents1000.1%00.0%00.0%0
Advance UK710.1%00.0%00.0%0
Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition400.0%00.0%00.0%0
Total86,302100.0%20100.0%20100.0%0

Vote share vs seats won

The top bar is each party's share of votes cast in this council. Below, one square per seat, coloured by the party that won it — first the actual First-Past-the-Post result, then what a proportional method would have produced from the same vote totals. Divergence between the bar and the actual grid is the indictment of the method.

Vote share
Actual seats
Proportional seats

Council composition: what this election replaced

Two opencouncildata snapshots: the council immediately after the 2026 election (current) and immediately before it (2025). Only ~⅓ of seats were contested in 2026 — most of the bench is unchanged, and the cycle's effect on the overall composition is what shifts.

Current (2026)
Previous (2025)

Wards in this council

Sorted with the largest gap below the quota first. Click any ward to jump to its full result.

Race results

Farnworth North · single-seat

Marginal winner Winning candidate's share of valid ballots. 29.0% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota Marginal winner's share minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = below; positive = above. −21.0 pts Valid ballots (est.) Estimated voters: total votes ÷ 1 seats. Source data does not publish a ballot count for this cycle. 3,903

RankCandidatePartyVotesShare of votes Candidate votes ÷ total votes cast in this ward. Matches the share the council publishes.Below quota Each elected candidate's share of valid ballots minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = won the seat below the quota; positive = cleared it.Elected
1Nadeem AyubLabour Party1,13129.0%−21.0 ptsElected
2Rees GibbonReform UK1,10928.4%
3Philip KochittyGreen Party64816.6%
4Sandra BakerFarnworth and Kearsley First Party64216.4%
5Champak MistryIndependent2356.0%
6Ryan CainConservative Party1032.6%
7Andrew John TongeLiberal Democrats350.9%

EC ward code local.bolton.farnworth-north.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Astley Bridge · single-seat

Marginal winner Winning candidate's share of valid ballots. 32.7% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota Marginal winner's share minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = below; positive = above. −17.3 pts Valid ballots (est.) Estimated voters: total votes ÷ 1 seats. Source data does not publish a ballot count for this cycle. 4,996

RankCandidatePartyVotesShare of votes Candidate votes ÷ total votes cast in this ward. Matches the share the council publishes.Below quota Each elected candidate's share of valid ballots minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = won the seat below the quota; positive = cleared it.Elected
1Ryan BaileyReform UK1,63532.7%−17.3 ptsElected
2John WalshConservative Party1,24825.0%
3Lee ThorneGreen Party1,14723.0%
4Phil WarrenLabour Party80716.2%
5Sarita ChohanLiberal Democrats1062.1%
6Peter Brett HopkinsonIndependent531.1%

EC ward code local.bolton.astley-bridge.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Queens Park and Central · single-seat

Marginal winner Winning candidate's share of valid ballots. 35.1% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota Marginal winner's share minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = below; positive = above. −14.9 pts Valid ballots (est.) Estimated voters: total votes ÷ 1 seats. Source data does not publish a ballot count for this cycle. 3,109

RankCandidatePartyVotesShare of votes Candidate votes ÷ total votes cast in this ward. Matches the share the council publishes.Below quota Each elected candidate's share of valid ballots minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = won the seat below the quota; positive = cleared it.Elected
1Zan ArifGreen Party1,09035.1%−14.9 ptsElected
2Richard SilvesterLabour Party1,04433.6%
3Nimesh VaraReform UK60919.6%
4Richard ElliottConservative Party2066.6%
5Rebekah Susan Mary FairhurstLiberal Democrats1605.1%

EC ward code local.bolton.queens-park-central.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Bromley Cross · single-seat

Marginal winner Winning candidate's share of valid ballots. 36.3% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota Marginal winner's share minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = below; positive = above. −13.7 pts Valid ballots (est.) Estimated voters: total votes ÷ 1 seats. Source data does not publish a ballot count for this cycle. 4,942

RankCandidatePartyVotesShare of votes Candidate votes ÷ total votes cast in this ward. Matches the share the council publishes.Below quota Each elected candidate's share of valid ballots minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = won the seat below the quota; positive = cleared it.Elected
1Charlotte Anne CaddenConservative Party1,79436.3%−13.7 ptsElected
2Jayden CainReform UK1,66933.8%
3Joe BurtonGreen Party71814.5%
4Bill LovatLabour Party59712.1%
5Jim PriestLiberal Democrats1643.3%

EC ward code local.bolton.bromley-cross.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Bradshaw · single-seat

Marginal winner Winning candidate's share of valid ballots. 37.4% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota Marginal winner's share minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = below; positive = above. −12.6 pts Valid ballots (est.) Estimated voters: total votes ÷ 1 seats. Source data does not publish a ballot count for this cycle. 4,811

RankCandidatePartyVotesShare of votes Candidate votes ÷ total votes cast in this ward. Matches the share the council publishes.Below quota Each elected candidate's share of valid ballots minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = won the seat below the quota; positive = cleared it.Elected
1Les WebbConservative Party1,80137.4%−12.6 ptsElected
2Sandra HarrisReform UK1,71235.6%
3Peter Dennis FirthLabour Party74515.5%
4Jennifer EntwistleGreen Party4238.8%
5Christine Anne StrawbridgeLiberal Democrats1302.7%

EC ward code local.bolton.bradshaw.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Westhoughton South · single-seat

Marginal winner Winning candidate's share of valid ballots. 37.5% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota Marginal winner's share minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = below; positive = above. −12.5 pts Valid ballots (est.) Estimated voters: total votes ÷ 1 seats. Source data does not publish a ballot count for this cycle. 4,388

RankCandidatePartyVotesShare of votes Candidate votes ÷ total votes cast in this ward. Matches the share the council publishes.Below quota Each elected candidate's share of valid ballots minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = won the seat below the quota; positive = cleared it.Elected
1Glen ClarkeReform UK1,64437.5%−12.5 ptsElected
2David WilkinsonLiberal Democrats1,55035.3%
3Christina Ruth SaundersLabour Party45510.4%
4Simon PenhallowGreen Party3067.0%
5Colin HigsonConservative Party2766.3%
6Jack SpeightWesthoughton First Independents1002.3%
7Richard Adam BatesIndependent571.3%

EC ward code local.bolton.westhoughton-south.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Smithills · single-seat

Marginal winner Winning candidate's share of valid ballots. 37.6% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota Marginal winner's share minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = below; positive = above. −12.4 pts Valid ballots (est.) Estimated voters: total votes ÷ 1 seats. Source data does not publish a ballot count for this cycle. 4,558

RankCandidatePartyVotesShare of votes Candidate votes ÷ total votes cast in this ward. Matches the share the council publishes.Below quota Each elected candidate's share of valid ballots minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = won the seat below the quota; positive = cleared it.Elected
1Sue PriestLiberal Democrats1,71337.6%−12.4 ptsElected
2Simon RoscoeReform UK1,56534.3%
3Elora HuntGreen Party56312.4%
4Liam O'CallaghanLabour Party53311.7%
5Raymond NdokwoConservative Party1844.0%

EC ward code local.bolton.smithills.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Heaton, Lostock and Chew Moor · single-seat

Marginal winner Winning candidate's share of valid ballots. 37.6% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota Marginal winner's share minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = below; positive = above. −12.4 pts Valid ballots (est.) Estimated voters: total votes ÷ 1 seats. Source data does not publish a ballot count for this cycle. 5,610

RankCandidatePartyVotesShare of votes Candidate votes ÷ total votes cast in this ward. Matches the share the council publishes.Below quota Each elected candidate's share of valid ballots minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = won the seat below the quota; positive = cleared it.Elected
1Anne Barbara GallowayConservative Party2,11237.6%−12.4 ptsElected
2Hetan AjwaniReform UK1,37424.5%
3Salim QuereshiLabour Party1,06519.0%
4Alexander James RostronGreen Party76013.5%
5Paul MartinLiberal Democrats2995.3%

EC ward code local.bolton.heaton-lostock-chew-moor.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Westhoughton North and Hunger Hill · single-seat

Marginal winner Winning candidate's share of valid ballots. 38.2% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota Marginal winner's share minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = below; positive = above. −11.8 pts Valid ballots (est.) Estimated voters: total votes ÷ 1 seats. Source data does not publish a ballot count for this cycle. 4,658

RankCandidatePartyVotesShare of votes Candidate votes ÷ total votes cast in this ward. Matches the share the council publishes.Below quota Each elected candidate's share of valid ballots minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = won the seat below the quota; positive = cleared it.Elected
1David LewisReform UK1,78138.2%−11.8 ptsElected
2Neil MaherLiberal Democrats1,07123.0%
3Martin TigheConservative Party96420.7%
4Louise WarburtonGreen Party4399.4%
5Paul Leslie SaundersLabour Party4038.7%

EC ward code local.bolton.westhoughton-north-hunger-hill.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Horwich North · single-seat

Marginal winner Winning candidate's share of valid ballots. 39.3% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota Marginal winner's share minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = below; positive = above. −10.7 pts Valid ballots (est.) Estimated voters: total votes ÷ 1 seats. Source data does not publish a ballot count for this cycle. 4,852

RankCandidatePartyVotesShare of votes Candidate votes ÷ total votes cast in this ward. Matches the share the council publishes.Below quota Each elected candidate's share of valid ballots minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = won the seat below the quota; positive = cleared it.Elected
1Andrea Jane FinneyHorwich & Blackrod First Independents1,90539.3%−10.7 ptsElected
2Stephen MartindaleReform UK1,24325.6%
3Helena CarmanGreen Party58512.1%
4Graham DawsonLabour Party53611.0%
5Carol ForshawConservative Party2575.3%
6Charlotte Chloe Minnie Moncado-SearsIndependent2525.2%
7Scott Turner-PreeceLiberal Democrats741.5%

EC ward code local.bolton.horwich-north.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Farnworth South · single-seat

Marginal winner Winning candidate's share of valid ballots. 41.3% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota Marginal winner's share minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = below; positive = above. −8.7 pts Valid ballots (est.) Estimated voters: total votes ÷ 1 seats. Source data does not publish a ballot count for this cycle. 2,956

RankCandidatePartyVotesShare of votes Candidate votes ÷ total votes cast in this ward. Matches the share the council publishes.Below quota Each elected candidate's share of valid ballots minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = won the seat below the quota; positive = cleared it.Elected
1Julie PattisonReform UK1,22041.3%−8.7 ptsElected
2Paul SandersFarnworth and Kearsley First Party95632.3%
3Wesley McArdleLabour Party34311.6%
4David WrightGreen Party33811.4%
5Kubbar AlomConservative Party592.0%
6Jennifer Louise TongeLiberal Democrats401.4%

EC ward code local.bolton.farnworth-south.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Halliwell · single-seat

Marginal winner Winning candidate's share of valid ballots. 41.8% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota Marginal winner's share minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = below; positive = above. −8.2 pts Valid ballots (est.) Estimated voters: total votes ÷ 1 seats. Source data does not publish a ballot count for this cycle. 4,191

RankCandidatePartyVotesShare of votes Candidate votes ÷ total votes cast in this ward. Matches the share the council publishes.Below quota Each elected candidate's share of valid ballots minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = won the seat below the quota; positive = cleared it.Elected
1Baggy KhanGreen Party1,75241.8%−8.2 ptsElected
2Safwaan PatelLabour Party1,44434.5%
3Philip BoothReform UK74417.8%
4Elizabeth Anne ElliottConservative Party1363.2%
5Caroline Anne Turner-PreeceLiberal Democrats1152.7%

EC ward code local.bolton.halliwell.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Hulton · single-seat

Marginal winner Winning candidate's share of valid ballots. 43.1% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota Marginal winner's share minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = below; positive = above. −6.9 pts Valid ballots (est.) Estimated voters: total votes ÷ 1 seats. Source data does not publish a ballot count for this cycle. 4,495

RankCandidatePartyVotesShare of votes Candidate votes ÷ total votes cast in this ward. Matches the share the council publishes.Below quota Each elected candidate's share of valid ballots minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = won the seat below the quota; positive = cleared it.Elected
1Derek BullockReform UK1,93943.1%−6.9 ptsElected
2Emma Julia SchofieldLabour Party97921.8%
3Alan JohnsonGreen Party94721.1%
4Shafi PatelConservative Party47010.5%
5Linda Christine MaherLiberal Democrats1603.6%

EC ward code local.bolton.hulton.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Horwich South and Blackrod · single-seat

Marginal winner Winning candidate's share of valid ballots. 44.3% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota Marginal winner's share minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = below; positive = above. −5.7 pts Valid ballots (est.) Estimated voters: total votes ÷ 1 seats. Source data does not publish a ballot count for this cycle. 4,009

RankCandidatePartyVotesShare of votes Candidate votes ÷ total votes cast in this ward. Matches the share the council publishes.Below quota Each elected candidate's share of valid ballots minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = won the seat below the quota; positive = cleared it.Elected
1Peter WrightHorwich & Blackrod First Independents1,77544.3%−5.7 ptsElected
2Matthew KyleReform UK1,06026.4%
3Joshua Johnathan Callum CookLabour Party3789.4%
4Michael JarvisGreen Party3759.4%
5Paul NorrisConservative Party2937.3%
6John William StrawbridgeLiberal Democrats792.0%
7Antony Moncado-SearsIndependent491.2%

EC ward code local.bolton.horwich-south-blackrod.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Great Lever · single-seat

Marginal winner Winning candidate's share of valid ballots. 45.8% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota Marginal winner's share minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = below; positive = above. −4.2 pts Valid ballots (est.) Estimated voters: total votes ÷ 1 seats. Source data does not publish a ballot count for this cycle. 4,187

RankCandidatePartyVotesShare of votes Candidate votes ÷ total votes cast in this ward. Matches the share the council publishes.Below quota Each elected candidate's share of valid ballots minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = won the seat below the quota; positive = cleared it.Elected
1Mohammed IqbalLabour Party1,91845.8%−4.2 ptsElected
2Mahboob AlomGreen Party1,23929.6%
3Gus HeyesReform UK75518.0%
4Yusuf ButtConservative Party1593.8%
5Rishikesh Ratilal ChohanLiberal Democrats1162.8%

EC ward code local.bolton.great-lever.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Kearsley · single-seat

Marginal winner Winning candidate's share of valid ballots. 46.4% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota Marginal winner's share minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = below; positive = above. −3.6 pts Valid ballots (est.) Estimated voters: total votes ÷ 1 seats. Source data does not publish a ballot count for this cycle. 3,373

RankCandidatePartyVotesShare of votes Candidate votes ÷ total votes cast in this ward. Matches the share the council publishes.Below quota Each elected candidate's share of valid ballots minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = won the seat below the quota; positive = cleared it.Elected
1Roger PedleyReform UK1,56446.4%−3.6 ptsElected
2Tracey WilkinsonFarnworth and Kearsley First Party1,15534.2%
3George ButlerLabour Party2557.6%
4Tony PeersGreen Party1765.2%
5Glenys RatcliffeConservative Party1033.1%
6Jack TebayAdvance UK712.1%
7David Charles Tyas CooperLiberal Democrats491.5%

EC ward code local.bolton.kearsley.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Tonge with the Haulgh · single-seat

Marginal winner Winning candidate's share of valid ballots. 47.1% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota Marginal winner's share minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = below; positive = above. −2.9 pts Valid ballots (est.) Estimated voters: total votes ÷ 1 seats. Source data does not publish a ballot count for this cycle. 4,435

RankCandidatePartyVotesShare of votes Candidate votes ÷ total votes cast in this ward. Matches the share the council publishes.Below quota Each elected candidate's share of valid ballots minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = won the seat below the quota; positive = cleared it.Elected
1Trevor JonesReform UK2,08947.1%−2.9 ptsElected
2Nick PeelLabour Party1,32930.0%
3Gaynor Margaret RichardsGreen Party60013.5%
4Hafiz Tahir-Mahmood ButtConservative Party2515.7%
5Rebecca ForrestLiberal Democrats1663.7%

EC ward code local.bolton.tonge-with-the-haulgh.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Breightmet · single-seat

Marginal winner Winning candidate's share of valid ballots. 47.3% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota Marginal winner's share minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = below; positive = above. −2.7 pts Valid ballots (est.) Estimated voters: total votes ÷ 1 seats. Source data does not publish a ballot count for this cycle. 3,995

RankCandidatePartyVotesShare of votes Candidate votes ÷ total votes cast in this ward. Matches the share the council publishes.Below quota Each elected candidate's share of valid ballots minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = won the seat below the quota; positive = cleared it.Elected
1Mike TuckerReform UK1,89047.3%−2.7 ptsElected
2Adele Kay WarrenConservative Party97424.4%
3Kate Elizabeth TaylorLabour Party60515.1%
4Gillian FernleyGreen Party41310.3%
5Derek John GradwellLiberal Democrats802.0%
6Wendy Ann HopkinsonIndependent330.8%

EC ward code local.bolton.breightmet.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Little Lever and Darcy Lever · single-seat

Marginal winner Winning candidate's share of valid ballots. 49.6% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota Marginal winner's share minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = below; positive = above. −0.4 pts Valid ballots (est.) Estimated voters: total votes ÷ 1 seats. Source data does not publish a ballot count for this cycle. 4,110

RankCandidatePartyVotesShare of votes Candidate votes ÷ total votes cast in this ward. Matches the share the council publishes.Below quota Each elected candidate's share of valid ballots minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = won the seat below the quota; positive = cleared it.Elected
1Derek WunderleyReform UK2,04049.6%−0.4 ptsElected
2David Michael MeehanConservative Party92422.5%
3Rach GilmourLabour Party61815.0%
4Ben DolataGreen Party3458.4%
5Susan Mary MartinLiberal Democrats1433.5%
6Fin Cozens-StottTrade Unionist and Socialist Coalition401.0%

EC ward code local.bolton.little-lever-darcy-lever.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Rumworth · single-seat

Marginal winner Winning candidate's share of valid ballots. 49.7% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota Marginal winner's share minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = below; positive = above. −0.3 pts Valid ballots (est.) Estimated voters: total votes ÷ 1 seats. Source data does not publish a ballot count for this cycle. 4,724

RankCandidatePartyVotesShare of votes Candidate votes ÷ total votes cast in this ward. Matches the share the council publishes.Below quota Each elected candidate's share of valid ballots minus the proportional quota for this race. Negative = won the seat below the quota; positive = cleared it.Elected
1Ismail IbrahimGreen Party2,34649.7%−0.3 ptsElected
2Sajid AliLabour Party1,65935.1%
3Gansham Hiriji PatelReform UK4639.8%
4Gillian Elizabeth WroeLiberal Democrats1372.9%
5Shahjahan ShahConservative Party1192.5%

EC ward code local.bolton.rumworth.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index