Reform UK surge in Bolton as seismic shift sees council leader lose his seat
Labour’s Nick Peel had led the authority since 2023, but in the early hours of this morning (May 8) was unseated by Reform UK’s Trevor Jones in the Tonge with the Haulgh ward.
Labour also lost a second seat to Reform in Hulton, where Derek Bullock triumphed.
There were sustained celebrations from the Nigel Farage-led party’s supporters in Bolton Arena as they secured their first-ever victories in the borough, taking nine seats in the council chamber.
Refelcting on a successful evening, which left the authority in no overall control, Coun Jones said: “It’s been a great night for Reform in Bolton. We’re up to 10 councillors and it’s been through hard work.
“Our team has delivered 270,000 leaflets in the borough and I want thank the team who helped and the voters of Bolton for their support.”
In searching for answers to his party’s losses, ousted council leader Peel was keen to point his finger at Labour’s poor national reputation. He took 1,329 votes to Reform UK’s 2,081, but said he was still proud of his local campaign.
He said: “National issues have played a part here in Bolton. We’ve run a campaign trying to keep it local, focusing on the massive progress being made by Labour after 15 years of Tory cuts.
“The last Conservative government was kicked out less than two years ago in a landslide but there’s public imaptience for change.
“Impatience for things to happen quickly makes it very volatile. The new Labour government is being harshly judged, I think in many ways unfairly.
“But the public is making its views known.”
He added: “I’ll look back to my period as leader with fondness. I love Bolton and it runs through me and that will always be true.
“I’m very proud of this town and the work we’ve done.”
It was also a chastening night for the Tories, who lost four seats to Reform.
Notable Conservatives to lose were former cabinet member Adele Warren in Breightmet and John Walsh, who has been a councillor for more than 45 years,
who was defeated in Astley Bridge.
20 of Bolton’s 60-strong council were elected after voting on Thursday.
It was also a night of celebration for the Greens, who gained three seats from Labour in the inner-town wards of Halliwell, Rumworth and Queens Park and Central.
Both defending Farnworth & Kearsley First councillors were defeated by Reform, Paul Sanders and Tracy Wilkinson lost to Reform’s Julie Pattison and Roger Pedley.
The results leave the borough still under no overall control with an even more diverse mix of parties forming its political make up than previously. The results still leave Labour as the largest single party on the council with 20 seats, down from 25.
The Conservatives have 11 councillors, a reduction in from their previous 15.
Reform UK has 10 members on the council, and the Liberal Democrats have four after losing two seats to Reform.
The Greens now have four councillors, Farnworth & Kearsley First has three, Horwich & Blackrod First has four, and there are three Independents.
In afinal reflection, Nick Peel said that ‘you may not have seen the last of me’. But the results mean that the Labour group will elect a new leader in the coming days.
The leadership of the council will be decided at a full council meeting on Wednesday, May 20.
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