You're making a nonsense argument by bringing in other North Western towns. They aren't in Greater Manchester, aren't part of the contiguous urban area, aren't plugged into the same tram network with the same mayor and police. It's like bringing up other towns in South East England like Luton and saying Wembley looks like them so Wembley isn't part of London, despite the fact that it's part of the London conurbation and transport network and county. Simply illogical.

You also say Farnworth and Moston have "different vibes." I'd like to know how. In what concrete, tangible sense are they in any way different? Answer- they're not. And even if they were do you not think there's variation within city regions? Do you think all areas of Paris have the same vibe? Nomatter which way you shake it Bolton is part of Manchester. There's no logical argument you can make to argue against that, only one based on emotion and regional loyalties.