1996 Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council election#By-elections between 1996 and 1998
{{Short description|1996 UK local government election}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2020}}
Elections to Wigan council were held on Thursday, 2 May 1996, with an extra vacancy in Abram to be filled. Going into the election there were noticeably fewer candidates than usual, with the total candidate number and the five uncontested wards only narrowly lower than the all-time lows set at the 1990 election. This was mainly caused by the lack of any minor party candidates, and the Liberal Democrat slate dropping by half upon the previous election, to seven - their scarcest outing since their lowest ebb throughout their merger in 1990, but more reminiscent of their patchy participation of the seventies. Turnout had been consistently poor in recent elections, and this election continued the downward trend, dropping below a quarter of the electorate for the second time (the first being the all-time low set in 1992) to 24.2%.
Labour once again surpassed their vote share high, this time recording a zenith of over three-quarters of votes cast, but simultaneously attained their third lowest vote figure in history (1975 and 1992 being lower). The Conservatives managed to increase modestly upon their rock-bottom standing of the previous year, but on accumulated votes they failed to surpass anything other than their nadir. The Lib Dems figure reflected their seventies-style participation, with their vote share reduced to single figures for the first since 1980, and their lowest vote figure since 1978.
Following Labour's overwhelming victories scored in recent years, both the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives were looking at a wipe-out, or near that for the Lib Dems, if they couldn't vastly improve upon recent performances. The Conservatives, long confined to the ward of Swinley, failed to improve their vote meaningfully and were handily defeated, ending their 23-year representation on the council. The Lib Dems were facing a similarly arduous task, and in their former-bastion of Langtree actually suffered a swing away from them. However, they managed a sizeable swing of 14.4% in Beech Hill to hold on to their second seat in the council by a mere 34 vote majority. This left Labour with the largest majority since the council's creation of 66.{{cite web | url = http://www.wigan.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/3692F771-E969-41EE-B068-1F9F20DFE0B7/0/WiganResults1973to2007.pdf | title = Wigan Council results from 1973 to 2008 | publisher = wigan.gov.uk | access-date = 2012-01-30 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111120022015/http://www.wigan.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/3692F771-E969-41EE-B068-1F9F20DFE0B7/0/WiganResults1973to2007.pdf | archive-date = 2011-11-20 | url-status = dead }}
Election result
{{Election summary begin|title = Wigan Local Election Result 1996}}
{{Election summary party|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|seats = 24
|gain = 3
|loss = 0
|net = +3
|seats % = 96.0
|votes % = 75.4
|votes = 33,824
|plus/minus = +2.6%
}}
{{Election summary party|
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|seats = 1
|gain = 0
|loss = 2
|net = -2
|seats % = 4.0
|votes % = 9.8
|votes = 4,408
|plus/minus = -4.9%
}}
{{Election summary party|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|seats = 0
|gain = 0
|loss = 1
|net = -1
|seats % = 0.0
|votes % = 14.8
|votes = 6,627
|plus/minus = +4.6%
}}
{{Election box end}}
This result had the following consequences for the total number of seats on the Council after the elections:
| class="wikitable" |
| valign=top colspan="2" style="width: 230px"|Party
! valign=top style="width: 30px"|Previous council ! valign=top style="width: 30px"|New council |
|---|
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}; width: 3px;" |
| Labour | 66 | 69 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}; width: 3px;" |
| Liberal Democrats | 4 | 2 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Independent Labour}}; width: 3px;" |
| Independent Labour | 1 | 1 |
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 3px;" |
| Conservatives | 1 | 0 |
| colspan=2| Total
! style="text-align: center"| 72 ! colspan=3| 72 |
| colspan=2| Working majority
! {{Color box|#FFBF00|60|border=darkgray}} ! {{Color box|#FFBF00|66|border=darkgray}} |
Ward results
{{Election box begin | title=Abram}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = A. Bennett
|votes = 1,416
|percentage = 90.6
|change = -0.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = E. Smethurst
|votes = 1,243
|percentage =
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = A. Eccles
|votes = 147
|percentage = 9.4
|change = +0.1
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 1,096
|percentage = 81.2
|change = -0.3
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 1,563
|percentage = 16.7
|change = -3.6
}}
{{Election box hold with party link |
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link |
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = -0.1
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Ashton-Golborne}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = P. Kirkwood
|votes = 1,827
|percentage = 79.9
|change = +3.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = M. Winstanley
|votes = 459
|percentage = 20.1
|change = +5.4
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 1,368
|percentage = 59.8
|change = -2.3
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 2,286
|percentage = 23.4
|change = -2.8
}}
{{Election box hold with party link |
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = -1.1
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Aspull-Standish}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = C. Ready
|votes = 2,027
|percentage = 66.4
|change = +17.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = T. Beswick
|votes = 577
|percentage = 18.9
|change = -23.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = J. Davies
|votes = 449
|percentage = 14.7
|change = +6.0
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 1,450
|percentage = 49.5
|change = +40.9
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 3,053
|percentage = 27.1
|change = -4.9
}}
{{Election box gain with party link |
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|loser = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|swing = +20.4
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Atherton}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = J. Clarke
|votes = 1,914
|percentage = 85.4
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = R. Oxley
|votes = 328
|percentage = 14.6
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 1,586
|percentage = 70.7
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 2,242
|percentage = 25.1
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box hold with party link |
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = N/A
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Bedford-Astley}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = J. Jones
|votes = 1,283
|percentage = 64.6
|change = -3.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = R. Bleakley
|votes = 703
|percentage = 35.4
|change = +12.2
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 580
|percentage = 29.2
|change = -15.9
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 1,986
|percentage = 23.2
|change = -3.7
}}
{{Election box hold with party link |
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = -7.9
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Beech Hill}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = J. McGarty
|votes = 1,445
|percentage = 48.8
|change = +14.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = J. Dewey
|votes = 1,411
|percentage = 47.7
|change = -14.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = J. Cartwright
|votes = 103
|percentage = 3.5
|change = -0.4
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 34
|percentage = 1.1
|change = -26.5
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 2,959
|percentage = 33.7
|change = +2.1
}}
{{Election box hold with party link |
|winner = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|swing = +14.4
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Bryn}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = M. Millington
|votes = 1,969
|percentage = 86.5
|change = -1.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = M. Green
|votes = 307
|percentage = 13.5
|change = +1.0
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 1,662
|percentage = 73.0
|change = -2.0
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 2,276
|percentage = 23.0
|change = -4.8
}}
{{Election box hold with party link |
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = -1.0
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Hindley}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = A. Robinson
|votes = Unopposed
|percentage = N/A
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box hold with party link |
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = N/A
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Hindley Green}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = S. Murphy
|votes = 1,733
|percentage = 82.2
|change = +1.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = C. Butterworth
|votes = 375
|percentage = 17.8
|change = +8.5
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 1,358
|percentage = 64.4
|change = -6.8
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 2,108
|percentage = 18.8
|change = -1.9
}}
{{Election box hold with party link |
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = -3.6
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Hindsford}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = W. Smith
|votes = Unopposed
|percentage = N/A
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box hold with party link |
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = N/A
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Hope Carr}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = B. Jarvis
|votes = 1,780
|percentage = 59.6
|change = +2.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = P. Hough
|votes = 649
|percentage = 21.7
|change = -11.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = D. Morris
|votes = 558
|percentage = 18.7
|change = +9.2
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 1,131
|percentage = 37.8
|change = +14.2
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 2,987
|percentage = 29.9
|change = -2.6
}}
{{Election box hold with party link |
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = +7.1
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Ince}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = K. Baldwin
|votes = 1,643
|percentage = 92.6
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = C. Duffy
|votes = 131
|percentage = 7.4
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 1,512
|percentage = 85.2
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 1,774
|percentage = 22.8
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box hold with party link |
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = N/A
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Langtree}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = D. Brown
|votes = 1,983
|percentage = 68.2
|change = +5.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = J. Barrington
|votes = 612
|percentage = 21.0
|change = -6.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = F. Parkinson
|votes = 313
|percentage = 10.7
|change = +1.6
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 1,371
|percentage = 47.1
|change = +11.9
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 2,908
|percentage = 25.2
|change = -3.4
}}
{{Election box gain with party link |
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|loser = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|swing = +5.9
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Leigh Central}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = J. Hession
|votes = Unopposed
|percentage = N/A
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box hold with party link |
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = N/A
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Leigh East}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = S. Kennedy
|votes = 1,733
|percentage = 82.6
|change = +11.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = A. Oxley
|votes = 364
|percentage = 17.3
|change = +7.8
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 1,369
|percentage = 62.3
|change = +13.6
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 2,097
|percentage = 20.5
|change = -5.2
}}
{{Election box hold with party link |
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = +1.9
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Lightshaw}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = D. Kelly
|votes = 2,616
|percentage = 82.5
|change = -0.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = J. Gorse
|votes = 553
|percentage = 17.4
|change = +0.8
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 2,063
|percentage = 65.1
|change = -1.6
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 3,169
|percentage = 28.5
|change = -3.3
}}
{{Election box hold with party link |
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = -0.8
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Newtown}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = M. Coghlin
|votes = 1,596
|percentage = 85.9
|change = -4.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = W. Maddocks
|votes = 152
|percentage = 8.2
|change = +8.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = J. Beswick
|votes = 110
|percentage = 5.9
|change = -3.2
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 1,444
|percentage = 77.7
|change = -4.0
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 1,858
|percentage = 21.2
|change = -1.7
}}
{{Election box hold with party link |
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = -6.5
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Norley}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = B. Bourne
|votes = Unopposed
|percentage = N/A
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box hold with party link |
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = N/A
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Orrell}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = E. Swift
|votes = 1,698
|percentage = 71.0
|change = -2.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = F. Rylance
|votes = 694
|percentage = 29.0
|change = +2.8
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 1,004
|percentage = 42.0
|change = -5.5
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 2,392
|percentage = 25.9
|change = -0.8
}}
{{Election box hold with party link |
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = -2.8
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Swinley}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = G. Walsh
|votes = 1,692
|percentage = 58.8
|change = -1.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = E. Cartwright
|votes = 875
|percentage = 30.4
|change = +1.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = A. Robinson
|votes = 312
|percentage = 10.8
|change = -0.3
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 817
|percentage = 28.4
|change = -2.3
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 2,879
|percentage = 32.4
|change = +2.1
}}
{{Election box gain with party link |
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|loser = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing = -1.1
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Tyldesley East}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = A. Stephenson
|votes = Unopposed
|percentage = N/A
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box hold with party link |
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = N/A
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Whelley}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = A. Coyle
|votes = 1,664
|percentage = 89.0
|change = -1.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = T. Sharpe
|votes = 205
|percentage = 11.0
|change = +1.9
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 1,459
|percentage = 78.1
|change = -3.8
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 1,869
|percentage = 23.2
|change = -2.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link |
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = -1.9
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Winstanley}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = R. Winkworth
|votes = 1,991
|percentage = 83.6
|change = -2.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = G. Whiston
|votes = 389
|percentage = 16.3
|change = +2.8
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 1,602
|percentage = 67.3
|change = -5.5
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 2,380
|percentage = 20.0
|change = -2.7
}}
{{Election box hold with party link |
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = -2.8
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Worsley Mesnes}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = W. Brogan
|votes = 1,848
|percentage = 89.1
|change = -1.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = A. Sutton
|votes = 225
|percentage = 10.8
|change = +1.2
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 1,623
|percentage = 78.3
|change = -2.3
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 2,073
|percentage = 21.0
|change = -0.2
}}
{{Election box hold with party link |
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = -1.2
}}
{{Election box end}}
By-elections between 1996 and 1998
{{Election box begin | title=Aspull Standish By-Election 13 March 1997{{cite web | url = http://www.gwydir.demon.co.uk/byelections/index.htm | title = Local Authority Byelection Results | publisher = gwydir.demon.co.uk | access-date = 2012-06-13 | archive-date = 29 March 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100329041227/http://www.gwydir.demon.co.uk/byelections/index.htm | url-status = dead }}}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = G. Davies
|votes = 1,287
|percentage = 70.2
|change = +3.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate =
|votes = 275
|percentage = 15.0
|change = +0.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate =
|votes = 270
|percentage = 14.7
|change = -4.2
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 1,012
|percentage = 55.2
|change = +5.7
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 1,832
|percentage = 16.0
|change = -11.1
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = +1.7
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Ince By-Election 26 June 1997}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = J. Hurst
|votes = 685
|percentage = 92.1
|change = -0.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate =
|votes = 59
|percentage = 7.9
|change = +0.5
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 626
|percentage = 84.2
|change = -1.0
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 744
|percentage = 9.6
|change = -13.2
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = -0.5
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Hope Carr By-Election 6 November 1997}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = C. Hale
|votes = 1,045
|percentage = 49.7
|change = -9.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Green Party of England and Wales
|candidate = Chris Maile
|votes = 636
|percentage = 30.2
|change = +30.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate =
|votes = 321
|percentage = 15.3
|change = -3.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate =
|votes = 102
|percentage = 4.8
|change = -16.9
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 409
|percentage = 19.5
|change = -18.3
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 2,104
|percentage = 21.0
|change = -8.9
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = -20.0
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{United Kingdom local elections, 1996 |state=expanded}}
{{Wigan Council elections}}