The seat covers the north part of Bolton town and extends into the West Pennine Moors.
Bolton North East has more often than not to date been a marginal seat[n 3] between Labour and Conservative candidates. In 1992, Labour's David Crausby came tantalisingly close to gaining the seat, but did not, as his party were expecting to. It would not be until 1997 that Labour gained the seat, with a huge 12,000 majority, holding it for the next 22 years. Altogether, the national statistics collected reflect a socially diverse seat in terms of income; this has been a highly marginal seat when national polls are close, with lower than average social housing, and less deprivation than the average for the metropolitan county.[4]
1983–1997: The Metropolitan Borough of Bolton wards of Astley Bridge, Bradshaw, Breightmet, Bromley Cross, Central, and Tonge.
1997–2010: The Metropolitan Borough of Bolton wards of Astley Bridge, Bradshaw, Breightmet, Bromley Cross, Central, Halliwell, and Tonge.
2010–2024: The Metropolitan Borough of Bolton wards of Astley Bridge, Bradshaw, Breightmet, Bromley Cross, Crompton, Halliwell, and Tonge with the Haulgh.
2024–present: The Metropolitan Borough of Bolton wards of Astley Bridge; Bradshaw; Breightmet; Bromley Cross; Halliwell; Little Lever & Darcy Lever; Queens Park & Central (majority); and Tonge with the Haulgh.[5]
For the 1997 general election the boundaries of the seat were significantly redrawn. The Times Guide to the House of Commons 1997 estimated that had the new boundaries been used for the previous general election rather than being narrowly held by the Conservatives, the seat would have been won by the Labour candidate with a majority of 3,017 over the Conservatives. Thus technically the seat was notionally a Labour hold at this election rather than a gain for the party. The swing above is based on this notional result.[25]