Independent parties find favour in Bolton elections

Labour is now the leading party in Bolton and could be set to form a new administration, but they were not the only victorious ones on the night.

Independent parties in Bolton include Farnworth and Kearsley First, Horwich and Blackrod First Independents, and One Kearsley.

Farnworth and Kearsley First won the most out of the independent parties, with six seats.

Maureen Flitcroft won back her seat after a year out and appeared grateful to have the opportunity to serve her ward again.

She said: “Thank you to the people in the ward.

"We promise not to let you down and I would also like to thank all the other candidates as well for a really good campaign.”

For the Horwich and Blackrod First Independent seats, former soldier Ryan Bamforth, Victoria Rigby, and Craig Rotheram won all three in the Horwich North seats.

Credit- Henry Lisowski (Image: Henry Lisowski)

For Horwich South and Blackrod, Cllr David Grant, Samantha Williamson, and Peter Wright turned three into six seats for the same party.

Cllr David Grant said: “It’s really good news, we knew we were doing well quite early on.

“It was always on the cards that Labour were going to do well because of the national situation but we upset them a little bit.

“It’s amazing that we have been so successful and to see people have put their trust in me.”

But not all independent parties followed the same success when Little Lever and Darcy Lever First ex cllr Sean Hornby lost his seat.

This gave the Conservatives two seats in the ward while Labour won the third.