Elections to Wigan Council were held on 7 May 1998. One third of the council was up for election. Following the previous election there had been three by-elections held—in Aspull-Standish, Ince and Hope Carr—with all three successfully defended by Labour.
The Metropolitan Borough of Wigan is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, in North West England. It is named after its largest component town and former county borough, Wigan and includes the towns and villages of Leigh, part of Ashton-in-Makerfield, Ince-in-Makerfield, Hindley, Orrell, Standish, Atherton, Tyldesley, Golborne, Lowton, Billinge, Astley, Haigh and Aspull. The borough was formed in 1974 and is an amalgamation of several former local government districts and parishes. The borough has three civil parishes and lies directly to the west of the City of Salford and southwest of the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton. The local authority is Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council.
Aspull is a village in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, in Greater Manchester, England. Historically in Lancashire, Aspull, along with Haigh, is surrounded by greenbelt and agricultural land, separated from Westhoughton, on its southeast side, by a brook running through Borsdane Wood. The ground rises from south to north, reaching 400 feet (122 m), and has views towards Winter Hill and the West Pennine Moors. It has a population of 4,977.
Candidate numbers improved dramatically from the preceding election, thanks mostly to the first concerted effort by the Greens, having only tested the waters previously. The Liberal Democrats fielded were, on the other hand, the sparsest from them since 1978, following a similarly poor effort the previous year—perhaps reflecting the party giving up on its previous ambitions. There were also an Independent (formerly a Conservative candidate for Bryn in the 1995 election) and the first UKIP candidate fighting Ashton-Golborne. In total all wards but Tydlesday East were contested.
The Green Party of England and Wales is a green, left-wing political party in England and Wales. Headquartered in London, since September 2018, its co-leaders are Siân Berry and Jonathan Bartley. The Green Party has one representative in the House of Commons, one in the House of Lords, and three in the European Parliament. In addition, it has various councillors in UK local government and two members of the London Assembly.
The Liberal Democrats are a liberal political party in the United Kingdom. It is currently led by Vince Cable. They have 11 Members of Parliament in the House of Commons, 96 members of the House of Lords, one member of the European Parliament, five Members of the Scottish Parliament and one member in the Welsh Assembly and London Assembly. At the height of its influence, the party formed a coalition government with the Conservative Party from 2010 to 2015 with its leader Nick Clegg serving as Deputy Prime Minister.
Far from recovering, turnout plummeted to new depths at 17.4%. There was a general apathy emerging across the country during this period, as well as a disillusionment among Conservative voters, but with Labour's complete dominance and the only competitive party standing in less than a quarter of seats, there were evidently other factors for the lack of enthusiasm.
The dire turnout understandably had implications for the party votes, with Labour recording their second-lowest vote (the lowest being 1975), the Conservatives sinking below their rock-bottom set in 1995, and the Lib Dems gaining their worst vote since the aforementioned 1978 election—falling to fourth behind the Greens, who comfortably achieved their best vote. Voter shares were less dramatic for Labour and the Conservatives; however, the Lib Dems' share of 6.7% was their poorest since 1979 and the Greens' share was more than two-and-a-half times larger than their previous peak.
Labour survived substantial challenges against from the Independent in Ashton-Golborne and the Greens in Hope Carr, making the only gain of the night from the Lib Dems in Beech Hill. This reduced the Lib Dems to a sole councillor, losing their status as main opposition for the first time in near twenty years. With only a Liberal Democrat in another Beech Hill seat and an Independent Labour in Hindley remaining as opposition, Labour commanded a record majority of 68. [1]
An independent or nonpartisan politician is an individual politician not affiliated with any political party. There are numerous reasons why someone may stand for office as an independent.
Hindley is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan in Greater Manchester, England. Lying three miles (5 km) east of Wigan it covers an area of 1044 hectares. Historically in Lancashire, Hindley borders the towns of Ince-in-Makerfield, Aspull, Westhoughton, Atherton and Westleigh in the former borough of Leigh. In 2001, Hindley had a population of 23,457, increasing to 28,000 at the 2011 Census. It forms part of the wider Greater Manchester Urban Area.
Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | 24 | 3 | 0 | +1 | 100.0 | 69.3 | 26,962 | -6.1% | |
Conservative | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 13.3 | 5,179 | -1.5% | |
Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 8.7 | 3,375 | +8.7% | |
Liberal Democrat | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0.0 | 6.7 | 2,618 | -3.1% | |
Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 694 | +1.8% | |
UKIP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 66 | +0.2% | |
This result had the following consequences for the total number of seats on the Council after the elections:
Party | Previous council | New council | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | 69 | 70 | |||
Liberal Democrat | 2 | 1 | |||
Independent Labour | 1 | 1 | |||
Conservative | 0 | 0 | |||
Green | 0 | 0 | |||
Independent | 0 | 0 | |||
UKIP | 0 | 0 | |||
Total | 72 | 72 | |||
Working majority | 66 | 68 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | E. Smethurst | 936 | 86.5 | -4.1 | |
Conservative | J. Cartwright | 146 | 13.5 | +4.1 | |
Majority | 790 | 73.0 | -8.2 | ||
Turnout | 1,082 | 11.8 | -5.0 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | -4.1 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | A. Bullen | 1,042 | 52.8 | -27.1 | |
Independent | W. Holmes | 694 | 35.1 | +35.1 | |
Conservative | D. Norris | 172 | 8.7 | -11.4 | |
UKIP | J. Venables | 66 | 3.3 | +3.3 | |
Majority | 348 | 17.6 | -42.2 | ||
Turnout | 1,974 | 19.4 | -3.9 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | -31.1 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | J. Hilton | 1,494 | 66.4 | +0.0 | |
Conservative | E. Mather | 458 | 20.3 | +5.6 | |
Green | J. Maile | 298 | 13.2 | +13.2 | |
Majority | 1,036 | 46.0 | -1.4 | ||
Turnout | 2,250 | 19.3 | -7.8 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | -2.8 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | S. Loudon | 1,111 | 72.0 | -13.3 | |
Conservative | N. Isherwood | 261 | 16.9 | +2.3 | |
Green | C. Clarke | 170 | 11.0 | +11.0 | |
Majority | 850 | 55.1 | -15.6 | ||
Turnout | 1,542 | 17.4 | -7.7 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | -7.8 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | F. Walker | 1,020 | 75.9 | +11.3 | |
Green | P. Murphy | 323 | 24.0 | +24.0 | |
Majority | 697 | 51.9 | +22.7 | ||
Turnout | 1,343 | 15.7 | -7.5 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | -6.3 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | G. Rankin | 1,280 | 53.8 | +6.1 | |
Liberal Democrat | T. Beswick | 1,099 | 46.2 | -2.6 | |
Majority | 181 | 7.6 | +6.4 | ||
Turnout | 2,379 | 26.6 | -7.1 | ||
Labour gain from Liberal Democrat | Swing | +4.3 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | A. Melling | 1,346 | 75.8 | -10.7 | |
Conservative | M. Green | 259 | 14.6 | +1.1 | |
Green | L. Maile | 170 | 9.6 | +9.6 | |
Majority | 1,087 | 61.2 | -11.8 | ||
Turnout | 1,775 | 17.8 | -5.2 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | -5.9 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | W. Shaw | 945 | 67.2 | N/A | |
Green | C. Littler | 460 | 32.7 | N/A | |
Majority | 485 | 34.5 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 1,405 | 14.1 | N/A | ||
Labour hold | Swing | N/A | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | W. Simmons | 1,147 | 75.0 | -7.2 | |
Conservative | C. Butterworth | 282 | 18.4 | +0.6 | |
Green | S. Clarke | 101 | 6.6 | +6.6 | |
Majority | 865 | 56.5 | -7.9 | ||
Turnout | 1,530 | 13.9 | -4.9 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | -3.9 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | E. Smith | 1,214 | 62.7 | N/A | |
Liberal Democrat | R. Bleakley | 641 | 33.1 | N/A | |
Green | S. Clarke | 82 | 4.2 | N/A | |
Majority | 573 | 29.6 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 1,937 | 18.2 | N/A | ||
Labour hold | Swing | N/A | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | K. Anderson | 1,270 | 49.1 | -10.4 | |
Green | C. Maile | 873 | 33.8 | +33.8 | |
Conservative | A. Oxley | 442 | 17.1 | -1.6 | |
Majority | 397 | 15.3 | -22.5 | ||
Turnout | 2,585 | 25.7 | -4.1 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | -22.1 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | J. Hurst | 981 | 90.1 | -2.5 | |
Conservative | H. Topping | 108 | 9.9 | +2.5 | |
Majority | 873 | 80.2 | -5.1 | ||
Turnout | 1,089 | 14.1 | -8.7 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | -2.5 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | J. O'Neill | 1,360 | 69.4 | +1.2 | |
Liberal Democrat | F. Graham | 491 | 25.1 | +4.0 | |
Green | E. Kismul | 108 | 5.5 | +5.5 | |
Majority | 869 | 44.3 | -2.8 | ||
Turnout | 1,959 | 16.8 | -8.4 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | -1.4 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | P. Smith | 1,233 | 80.6 | N/A | |
Green | S. Critchley | 164 | 10.7 | N/A | |
Conservative | T. Matthews | 133 | 8.7 | N/A | |
Majority | 1,069 | 69.9 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 1,530 | 17.4 | N/A | ||
Labour hold | Swing | N/A | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | A. Turnock | 1,158 | 73.7 | -8.9 | |
Conservative | D. Davies | 298 | 19.0 | +1.6 | |
Green | J. Critchley | 114 | 7.2 | +7.2 | |
Majority | 860 | 54.8 | -10.5 | ||
Turnout | 1,570 | 14.9 | -5.6 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | -5.2 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | T. Sherratt | 1,798 | 73.3 | -9.2 | |
Conservative | N. Culshaw | 541 | 22.1 | +4.6 | |
Green | N. Howarth | 113 | 4.6 | +4.6 | |
Majority | 1,257 | 51.3 | -13.8 | ||
Turnout | 2,452 | 21.3 | -7.2 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | -6.9 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | C. Hitchen | 949 | 75.2 | -10.6 | |
Conservative | T. Peet | 143 | 11.3 | +3.1 | |
Liberal Democrat | J. Beswick | 136 | 10.8 | +4.9 | |
Green | P. Brown | 33 | 2.6 | +2.6 | |
Majority | 806 | 63.9 | -13.8 | ||
Turnout | 1,261 | 14.5 | -6.7 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | -6.8 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | N. Turner | 943 | 91.3 | N/A | |
Green | V. Cutrupi | 90 | 8.7 | N/A | |
Majority | 853 | 82.6 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 1,033 | 14.3 | N/A | ||
Labour hold | Swing | N/A | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | G. Seaward | 1,038 | 59.6 | -11.4 | |
Conservative | M. Winstanley | 593 | 34.0 | +5.0 | |
Green | N. Stout | 110 | 6.3 | +6.3 | |
Majority | 445 | 25.5 | -16.4 | ||
Turnout | 1,741 | 18.9 | -7.0 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | -8.2 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | S. Turner | 1,077 | 53.5 | -5.2 | |
Conservative | J. Davies | 608 | 30.2 | -0.2 | |
Liberal Democrat | A. Robinson | 251 | 12.5 | +1.6 | |
Green | D. Saunders | 76 | 3.8 | +3.8 | |
Majority | 469 | 23.3 | -5.1 | ||
Turnout | 2,012 | 23.0 | -9.4 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | -2.5 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | B. Wilson | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Labour hold | Swing | N/A | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | W. Pendleton | 1,150 | 84.3 | -4.7 | |
Conservative | T. Sharpe | 124 | 9.1 | -1.9 | |
Green | D. Schanzl | 90 | 6.6 | +6.6 | |
Majority | 1,026 | 75.2 | -2.8 | ||
Turnout | 1,364 | 16.8 | -6.4 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | -1.4 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | W. Evans | 1,385 | 78.1 | -5.5 | |
Conservative | F. Parkinson | 388 | 21.9 | +5.5 | |
Majority | 997 | 56.2 | -11.1 | ||
Turnout | 1,773 | 14.5 | -5.4 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | -5.5 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | W. Rotherham | 1,085 | 82.9 | -6.2 | |
Conservative | T. Sutton | 223 | 17.0 | +6.2 | |
Majority | 862 | 65.9 | -12.4 | ||
Turnout | 1,308 | 13.4 | -7.6 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | -6.2 | |||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrat | T. Beswick | 849 | 49.4 | +3.2 | |
Labour | 795 | 46.3 | -7.5 | ||
Conservative | 39 | 2.3 | +2.3 | ||
Green | 35 | 2.0 | +2.0 | ||
Majority | 54 | 3.1 | -4.5 | ||
Turnout | 1,718 | 19.2 | -7.4 | ||
Liberal Democrat gain from Labour | Swing | +5.3 | |||
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