A campaigning pensioners group has been split three ways by voting intention after hearing from a range of Bolton election candidates.

The Bolton and District Pensioners Association contacted all of the candidates standing in the borough’s three seats ahead polling day on Thursday, July 4.

They had canvassed their views on issues ranging from the environment to housing to health and more.

Association policy officer John Reehill said: “I understand candidates are busy and taking time out of their campaign to respond to our manifesto has helped inform our members before casting their votes”.

He added “Not all candidates responded however, and members will make up their own mind what message that sends.”

The general election will be held on July 4 (Image: Newsquest)

The group received replies from Conservative Cllr Adele Warren, The Green Party’s Cllr Hanif Alli, Labour’s Kirith Entwistle and Independent Kevin Alsop, all standing in Bolton North East.

In Bolton West, Vicki Attenborough of the Green Party, Liberal Democrat Donald McIntosh and Labour’s Phil Brickell responded.

The Green Party’s Philip Kochitty did so in Bolton South and Walkden.  

After the responses were received, Mr Reehill said  that several of the group’s members were still undecided but “all pledged they would be voting.”    

A straw poll found the pensioners group members to be divided between Labour, the Greens and Independents.

Association vice chair Florence Hill, from Astley Bridge, said: “I’m 74 years old and have always voted Labour but believe the mainstream parties have let us down and I’ll be voting Independent based on the response we received.”  

Another group member said: “My generation were lucky we had access to affordable housing and cheap energy, I’ve got triple lock on my pension, but it is the future of my grandchildren I worry about. 

“I’ll be voting Green as it’s the only party prepared to put forward a radical solution.”

Another member of the association said that he would vote Labour, as he had done so all his life, despite his dislike of leader Sir Keir Starmer.  

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He said: “It’s not a presidential election we are not voting for Keir Starmer or Rishi Sunak we are voting for our candidate in Bolton West.”

Standing in Bolton North East are Hanif Alli of the Green Party, Independent Kevin Allsop, Labour’s Kirith Entwistle, Liberal Democrat Rebecca Forrest, Reform UK’s Trevor Jones, Syeda Misbah Kazmi of the Workers Party, Independent John Partington and Conservative Adele Warren.

In Bolton South and Walkden the candidates as Independent Don Prof Reis Abraham Halliwell PRF, Conservative Mohammed Afzal, Gemma Bowker of the Liberal Democrats, Jack Khan of the Workers Party, Philip Kochitty of the Green Party, Reform UK’s Julie Pattison and Labour’s Yasmin Qureshi

Standing in Bolton West are Vicki Attenborough of the Green Party, Labour’s Phil Brickell, Reform UK’s Dylan Evans, Conservative Chris Green, Patrick McGrath of the English Democrats and Liberal Democrat Donald McIntosh.