Independents and others won the ward's last contest in May 2026 with 44 per cent. Earlier contests were led by independents and others in 2024 and 2023. 7 candidates stood.
Every ward and councillor, who runs the council, and each by-election since May.
Bolton council page →| Party | Share |
|---|---|
| HBF | 50.0% |
| Reform UK | 22.8% |
| Labour | 14.5% |
| Green | 8.0% |
| Conservative | 3.0% |
| Liberal Democrats | 1.1% |
| Independent | 0.6% |
Bolton elects its councillors by thirds: a ward's seats are elected in separate years, so they can be held by different parties. This by-election is for one of Horwich North's seats. A gain or hold goes by that seat - the party that last won it - not by which party won the ward's most recent contest, which is usually a different seat.
| Result | Conservative | Labour | Liberal Democrats | Green | Reform UK | Independents and others |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | 5% | 11% | 2% | 12% | 26% | 44% |
| May 2024 | 9% | 33% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 50% |
| May 2023 | 13% | 35% | 4% | 2% | 1% | 45% |
Winning share of all votes cast in bold. Multi-member wards elect several councillors at once. Includes any county-division contest covering the same ground. The independents-and-others share includes Horwich & Blackrod First Independents (39% in May 2026), Horwich & Blackrod First Independents (50% in May 2024) and Horwich & Blackrod First Independents (45% in May 2023).
Bolton is a metropolitan borough: it runs every local service, from schools to bins. Current control: Labour minority.
Seats under the independents-and-others heading here have been won by Farnworth and Kearsley First Party, Horwich & Blackrod First Independents, One Kearsley and independents at elections since 2022.
How every council in Britain stands →
Wards coloured by the party that last won them; the by-election ward is outlined. Hover a ward for its last result.
There is no county council above Bolton. Transport and some strategic functions sit with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
The ward is part of the Bolton West constituency. Labour MP Phil Brickell won it at the 2024 general election with 39 per cent of the vote.