Return for two familiar faces in Bolton Council by-elections

The Kearsley by-election was won by Tracey Wilkinson of Farnworth & Kearsley First and the Westhoughton North and Hunger Hill by-election was won by Deirdre McGeown of the Lib Dems.

Previously, Cllr Wilkinson served on the council for two years up until she lost her seat in the all-out election in spring. 

She is replacing Paul Heslop after receiving more than 60 per cent of the vote.

She told The Bolton News: "Farnworth & Kearsley First are back to bring betterment to our towns, to make an influence within the community and within the chamber, and to listen to our people.

"It is the small stuff which matters and these are the things we want to work on."

Similarly, Cllr McGeown served on the council for four years up until she lost her seat in the all-out election in spring. 

She is replacing Bernadette Eckersley-Fallon after receiving more than 40 per cent of the vote.

She told The Bolton News: "I am delighted, it's been a long six weeks but it's been amazing to talk to the people about what their concerns are and what their issues are. 

"I enjoyed it but I am exhausted."

The Conservative Group came fourth in Kearsley, where it received 38 votes, and second in Westhoughton North and Hunger Hill.

The Labour Group came second in Kearsley it remained behind the Tories in Westhoughton North and Hunger Hill. It is by far the largest group with 28 seats after the arrival of Debbie Newall and Melanie Livesey from One Kearsley.

Its leader Nick Peel said: "Out of 20 seats, Kearsley was the 20th for winnability for us based on previous results, so for us to have a swing towards us in is a springboard. 

"To see the Conservative Group cheering FKF in Kearsley was expected because they worked together but I am disappointed we did not come second in Westhoughton North which is where we wanted to be.

"They used to run the council but they are being hit very, very badly electorally. 

"To have no presence in a town the size of Kearsley is dangerous for the party."

The results:

KEARSLEY
Charles Cooper (Lib Dem) - 15
Malaika Dean (Conservative) - 38
Dale Gregory (Reform UK & Bolton for Change) - 121
Alan Johnson (Green) - 18
Jackie Schofield (Labour) - 365
Tracey Wilkinson (Farnworth & Kearsley First) - 1081

WESTHOUGHTON NORTH AND HUNGER HILL
Jeff Armstrong (Reform UK & Bolton for Change) - 101
Andrea Finney (Conservative) - 665
Deirdre McGeown (Lib Dem) - 959
Karen Millington (Labour) - 440
Wendy Shepherd (Green) - 28
Jack Speight (Westhoughton First) - 118

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.