Frequently Asked Questions — Smithills Ward

Who won the Smithills ward election in 2021?

Liberal Democrats held Smithills ward at the 6 May 2021 Local Election. Liberal Democrats won with a majority of 742 votes (19.0%). Turnout was 37.2%.

Which council does Smithills ward elect to?

Smithills is a ward within Bolton. Councillors elected here sit on Bolton Council, responsible for local services including planning, housing, social care, and waste collection. At this election 37.2% of eligible voters cast a ballot — local elections typically attract 25–40% turnout nationally.

What does swing mean in UK elections?

Swing measures how much support has shifted between two parties compared to a previous election. The Butler swing formula — used in British election reporting since the 1950s — takes the average of the gain in the winner's vote share and the loss in the runner-up's. A 5% swing is considered large at ward level; anything above 10% is exceptional. The swing figure for Smithills in 2021 is shown in the statistics above.