Petition
Boundary change petition for Wigan to return to Lancashire county Council.
Rejected
10 signatures
What the petition asks
Wigan is an ancient, historic town that predates Manchester, and many residents feel a deep cultural loyalty to the Red Rose of Lancashire rather than being classified as part of Greater Manchester.
Many locals feel that Wigan is disconnected from the urban center of Manchester and want to return .
Many locals feel that Wigan is disconnected from the urban center of Manchester and want to return .
Heritage and Identity.
Lack of Representation.
Financial Concerns.
Some argue that being tied to Greater Manchester forces residents to pay additional mayoral precepts and that funds might be spent unnecessarily.
many residents and local campaign groups still refer to Wigan as part of Lancashire and have occasionally petitioned for referendums to review their county ties.
under lancashire county council , Wigan residents identify strongly with their historic roots in the county of Lancashire
Lack of Representation.
Financial Concerns.
Some argue that being tied to Greater Manchester forces residents to pay additional mayoral precepts and that funds might be spent unnecessarily.
many residents and local campaign groups still refer to Wigan as part of Lancashire and have occasionally petitioned for referendums to review their county ties.
under lancashire county council , Wigan residents identify strongly with their historic roots in the county of Lancashire
Why it was rejected
It was about a matter for a local council or devolved government, not the UK Government or Parliament.
Timeline
| 27 Jun 2026 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 23 Jul 2026 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
10
Status
Rejected
Rejected
23 Jul 2026
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 27 Aug 2026.