By Marina Kim

Labour’s David Crausby has held his seat in Bolton North East, in a result which will disappoint Tories looking for an overall majority.

The Labour candidate gained 19,870 votes (45.9%). The Conservatives came second with 15,786 (36.5%). The seat was a key Labour/Conservative marginal for almost thirty years.

The results represent a 1.3% swing towards the Conservatives.

The area has a large Labour voting Asian community and substantial council housing. One in ten of the voters is Asian, but the Tory base here was considered strong.

It is a socially mixed community that covers Bolton’s town centre and the districts. Before the 1997 election it was a marginal Conservative seat. Bolton North East is considerably more urban than the neighbouring marginal of Bolton West.

Crime and anti-social behaviour are some of the major issues in the area.