Lab regained this seat from Con — last held it in 2010.
MP News Approval i
+48
Phil Brickell
Labour PartyPhil Brickell is the Labour MP for Bolton West, and has been an MP continually since 4 July 2024.
A motion was put forward to exclude the public and press from the parliamentary chamber by holding the session in private. This was overwhelmingly rejected, keeping proceedings open and transparent.
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Sign up freeCoverage of Bolton West has been mixed for Phil across 40 recent articles.
Positive coverage
“Knowsley to get Youth Hub as part of national jobs push” — St Helens Star
Represented by Lab since 2024. Covers Bolton (Bolton), Westhoughton and Horwich. Population 100,280. Recorded crime is 100% below the national average.
Man arrested after collision with three pedestrians hospitalises two in Horwich
The Bolton News · 9 Apr 2026
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Sign up freeMedian Income▼
£27,300
per year (HMRC 2022-23)
Mean Income▼
£37,900
per year (HMRC 2022-23)
Businesses▼
3,405
VAT/PAYE registered (ONS 2024)
Schools▼
38
30 primary, 4 secondary, 4 other
Total Income Tax▼
£276m
from 46,000 taxpayers
Median Tax▼
£2,620
per taxpayer / year
Mean Tax
£5,940
per taxpayer / year
Source: HMRC Survey of Personal Incomes, tax year 2022-23. Allocated by taxpayer residence. Covers income tax only — excludes NI, VAT, and capital gains. Sample-based estimate (~8% confidence interval).
Attainment 8▼
40.5
average score (DfE)
GCSE Pass Rate▼
57.1%
5+ GCSEs 9-4 (DfE)
1 city, 1 large town, 2 towns, 5 villages, rural areas — 99,396 total population
Source: ONS Built-Up Areas (Census 2021) + data.police.uk — crime rates are per 1,000 population (last 3 months)
Source: data.police.uk — street-level crime data aggregated from LSOA to constituency
10 councillors across 9 wards · Last elections: May 2024
| Ward | Party | Councillor | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Lever | Labour Party | Karen Hon | May 2024 |
| Heaton Lostock Chew Moor | Conservative and Unionist Party | Andy Morgan | May 2024 |
| Horwich North | Horwich & Blackrod First Independents | Charlotte Chloe Minnie Sears | May 2024 |
| Horwich & Blackrod First Independents | Victoria Elise Rigby | May 2024 | |
| Horwich South Blackrod | Horwich & Blackrod First Independents | Samantha Louise Angela Williamson | May 2024 |
| Hulton | Labour Party | Fazeelah Khan | May 2024 |
| Rumworth | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Ayyub Chota Patel | May 2024 |
| Smithills | Liberal Democrats | Garry Neil Veevers | May 2024 |
| Westhoughton North Hunger Hill | Liberal Democrats | Deirdre Janice McGeown | May 2024 |
| Westhoughton South | Labour Party | John Stewart McHugh | May 2024 |
Source: DCLEAPIL v1.0 by Jason Leman, LEAP (Andrew Teale) & Democracy Club. CC BY-SA 4.0. Data last refreshed: 1 Apr 2026.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lab | 17,363 | 38.9% | |
Won 2019 GEWon 2017 GEWon 2015 GE | Con | 12,418 | 27.8% |
| Ref | 8,517 | 19.1% | |
| Green | 4,132 | 9.3% | |
| LD | 1,966 | 4.4% | |
| Ind | 202 | 0.5% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2017 GEWon 2015 GE | Con | 27,255 | 55.3% |
Won 2010 GE | Lab | 18,400 | 37.3% |
| LD | 2,704 | 5.5% | |
| Green | 939 | 1.9% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2019 GEWon 2015 GE | Con | 24,459 | 47.9% |
Won 2010 GE | Lab | 23,523 | 46.1% |
| Ind | 1,587 | 3.1% | |
| LD | 1,485 | 2.9% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2019 GEWon 2017 GE | Con | 19,744 | 40.6% |
Won 2010 GE | Lab | 18,943 | 39.0% |
| Ind | 7,428 | 15.3% | |
| LD | 1,947 | 4.0% | |
| Ind | 321 | 0.7% | |
| Ind | 209 | 0.4% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lab | 18,327 | 38.5% | |
| Con | 18,235 | 38.3% | |
| LD | 8,177 | 17.2% | |
| Ind | 1,901 | 4.0% | |
| Green | 545 | 1.1% | |
| Ind | 254 | 0.5% | |
| Ind | 137 | 0.3% |
Phil Brickell has not appeared in national political news coverage tracked by our system. This is common for backbench MPs who focus on constituency-level work rather than national policy debates.
19 articles hidden as not sufficiently relevant to this constituency
A serious road traffic collision in Horwich on Good Friday left two pedestrians hospitalised. A 33-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of GBH, with police investigating whether the incident involved dangerous driving.
A new bar-restaurant called Room has opened in Westhoughton on Market Street, featuring darts, shuffleboard, and planned food service. The venue had a successful Easter weekend opening with strong bookings for future events.
It Sear, a stylish bar and grill in Westhoughton, is competing in The Bolton News's best restaurant competition after expanding from a cocktail bar to a full restaurant offering in December 2024. The venue, opened by Jack Ince and David Murphy, has built a strong local following with premium food and cocktails, and its co-owner has also recently opened a nearby games bar called Room.
A former post office in Horwich is set to be converted into a small-animal veterinary practice following a Certificate of Lawfulness application to Bolton Council. The conversion requires no additional planning permission as veterinary services fall within the same use class as the previous postal use, and would bring a new service to the Horwich high street after the post office closure in 2024.
Peel Holdings has submitted plans to Bolton Council to develop 30,000 square metres of office space on 9.16 hectares of land south of the M61 near Logistics North, classifying it as 'grey belt' rather than green belt land. The development aims to address unmet employment space demand in Bolton and would create a cluster of logistics and office uses leveraging existing transport infrastructure.
A man in his 40s was arrested in Horwich, Bolton, after police responded to reports of someone carrying a firearm near the Bee Hive pub on Easter Sunday. The item was found to be a non-viable imitation weapon resembling a stick.
Westhoughton's Carnegie Library celebrated its 120th anniversary on March 24 with local residents, councillors, and Bolton Mayor David Chadwick in attendance. The event featured the Wingates Band, a specially designed birthday cake, and the rediscovery of the library's original ceremonial key from 1906.
Historic Hooper Green Farm in Bolton West faces closure due to a major development plan involving a £70m link road project led by Peel Holdings. The farm's 83-year-old owner, John Hargreaves, risks losing his home and livelihood, including his annual horse show and care of 53 horses, despite being told initially he would not be affected for years.
A new four-bedroom detached house in Westhoughton's Bluebell Walk development is being marketed for £389,995, featuring modern amenities and flexible customization options. The article highlights the property's design, layout, and location benefits including transport links to Manchester and local amenities.
A community volunteer group in Daisy Hill folded, but Westhoughton councillors have committed to maintaining the local floral displays by taking on the work themselves and engaging schools and businesses. The council is exploring ways to cover watering costs and coordinate planting efforts to keep the area's flower planters thriving.
Bellway, a major housebuilder with sites in Bolton, has earned a five-star rating for the tenth consecutive year in the National New Homes Customer Satisfaction Survey. The company is currently developing multiple sites in Bolton including Royal Bowland Park and Barton Quarter, with the rating reflecting strong build quality and customer service standards.
Westhoughton, a town within Bolton West constituency, is experiencing a revival as an independent shopping and dining destination, with numerous new indie cafes, restaurants, and boutiques opening on Market Street. Local business owners and customers attribute the transformation to the town's unique character, affordability compared to Manchester, and appeal to young professionals seeking more space.
Active Bolton, a registered charity, has won a tender to manage five leisure centres across Bolton including facilities in Horwich, Farnworth, Westhoughton, and Bolton One. The change aims to improve community health outcomes and accessibility while reinvesting surplus income back into local facilities.
Loft 24, a new bar and restaurant, has opened on Market Street in Bolton town centre, run by Shane Moulton and his wife Karin Maloney, featuring food from Sebastian Coman (formerly of Chip N' Go). The venue is experiencing strong early demand and will host live entertainment events.
The government is rolling out 80 new Youth Hubs across Great Britain, with seven in the North West including Bolton. These hubs will provide integrated support for 16-24-year-olds not in education, employment, or training, offering jobcentre services, mental health support, housing assistance, skills training, and direct employer connections.
A woman suffered life-threatening injuries in a serious incident on the M61 near Farnworth, causing significant road closures and delays in the area. The southbound carriageway between junctions 5 and 4 was shut for several hours while emergency services responded.
A woman was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries following an incident on the M61 motorway near Bolton, causing significant closures and traffic disruption in the area. The southbound carriageway between junctions 5 and 4 remained closed with severe delays affecting the region, including areas serving Bolton West constituents.
The M61 motorway in Greater Manchester has been closed in both directions between Junctions 4 and 5 due to a police-led incident, causing significant traffic disruption. The closure affects Bolton West constituents and nearby areas, with emergency services attending the scene.
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