2021 Batley and Spen by-election: Difference between revisions
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DewsburyMad (talk | contribs) Re-added Conservative and Yorkshire Party announcements with secondary references |
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== Campaign == |
== Campaign == |
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When the result of the [[2021 West Yorkshire mayoral election|West Yorkshire mayoral election]] was announced on 9 May 2021, Bob Buxton, [[Yorkshire Party]] |
When the result of the [[2021 West Yorkshire mayoral election|West Yorkshire mayoral election]] was announced on 9 May 2021, Bob Buxton, [[Yorkshire Party]] leader and mayoral candidate, announced that his party would contest the by-election.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ilkleygazette.co.uk/news/news_local/news_archiveotley/19294925.highest-ever-vote-yorkshire-party/|title=Highest ever vote for Yorkshire party|website=Ilkley Gazette|accessdate=12 May 2021}}</ref> Green Party mayoral candidate Andrew Cooper, who finished fourth, immediately followed suit. |
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On 10 May [[George Galloway]] tweeted that his [[Workers Party of Britain]] would contest the election.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Young |first1=Chris |title=Former Bradford West MP George Galloway announces that his party will stand in Batley and Spen by-election |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/19298080.former-bradford-west-mp-george-galloway-announces-party-will-stand-batley-spen-by-election/ |access-date=15 May 2021 |work=Telegraph & Argus |date=12 May 2021}}</ref> |
On 10 May [[George Galloway]] tweeted that his [[Workers Party of Britain]] would contest the election.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Young |first1=Chris |title=Former Bradford West MP George Galloway announces that his party will stand in Batley and Spen by-election |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/19298080.former-bradford-west-mp-george-galloway-announces-party-will-stand-batley-spen-by-election/ |access-date=15 May 2021 |work=Telegraph & Argus |date=12 May 2021}}</ref> |
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On 12 May, ''[[The Guardian]]'' reported that Cox's sister, Kim Leadbeater, and former Labour MP [[Paula Sherriff]] were among Labour's potential candidates.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jo Cox's sister considering standing for Labour in Batley and Spen |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/may/12/jo-cox-sister-labour-batley-spen-byelection-kim-leadbeater |date=12 May 2021 |last=Halliday |first=Josh |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=12 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-57090767|title=Jo Cox: Murdered MP's sister plans to stand in Batley and Spen|date=12 May 2021|work=BBC News}}</ref> On 23 May the Labour Party announced that Leadbeater, a personal trainer and party campaigner, would stand as their candidate.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Pidd|first=Helen|date=2021-05-23|title=Jo Cox’s sister selected as Labour candidate for Batley and Spen byelection|work=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/may/23/jo-cox-sister-labour-candidate-batley-and-spen-byelection-kim-leadbeater|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-23|archive-url=http://archive.today/2021.05.23-235024/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/may/23/jo-cox-sister-labour-candidate-batley-and-spen-byelection-kim-leadbeater|archive-date=2021-05-23}}</ref> It was reported that Leadbeater had only recently joined the Labour Party,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/labour-candidate-batley-spen-election-20618570|title=Labour candidate for Batley by-election has only just joined the party|first=Tony|last=Earnshaw|date=18 May 2021|website=YorkshireLive}}</ref> with the Batley and Spen CLP waiving the requirement of a year's membership prior to her selection. |
On 12 May, ''[[The Guardian]]'' reported that Cox's sister, Kim Leadbeater, and former Labour MP [[Paula Sherriff]] were among Labour's potential candidates.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jo Cox's sister considering standing for Labour in Batley and Spen |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/may/12/jo-cox-sister-labour-batley-spen-byelection-kim-leadbeater |date=12 May 2021 |last=Halliday |first=Josh |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=12 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-57090767|title=Jo Cox: Murdered MP's sister plans to stand in Batley and Spen|date=12 May 2021|work=BBC News}}</ref> On 23 May the Labour Party announced that Leadbeater, a personal trainer and party campaigner, would stand as their candidate.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Pidd|first=Helen|date=2021-05-23|title=Jo Cox’s sister selected as Labour candidate for Batley and Spen byelection|work=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/may/23/jo-cox-sister-labour-candidate-batley-and-spen-byelection-kim-leadbeater|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-23|archive-url=http://archive.today/2021.05.23-235024/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/may/23/jo-cox-sister-labour-candidate-batley-and-spen-byelection-kim-leadbeater|archive-date=2021-05-23}}</ref> It was reported that Leadbeater had only recently joined the Labour Party,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/labour-candidate-batley-spen-election-20618570|title=Labour candidate for Batley by-election has only just joined the party|first=Tony|last=Earnshaw|date=18 May 2021|website=YorkshireLive}}</ref> with the Batley and Spen CLP waiving the requirement of a year's membership prior to her selection. |
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On 19 May the Conservative Party announced that it had selected [[Harewood (ward)|Harewood]] councillor Ryan Stephenson as its candidate for the by-election.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/politics/conservatives-choose-leeds-councillor-ryan-stephenson-as-candidate-for-batley-and-spen-by-election-3243396|title=Conservatives choose Leeds councillor Ryan Stephenson as candidate for Batley and Spen by-election|first=Rob|last=Parsons|date=19 May 2021|website=Yorkshire Post}}</ref> |
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On 26 May the Yorkshire Party announced that its members had voted for Corey Robinson, a Senior Medical Research Engineer who spent his childhood in the constituency, to be their candidate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/yorkshire-party-reveals-batley-spen-20680865|title=Yorkshire Party reveals Batley and Spen by election candidate|first=Alexandra|last=Rogers|date=26 May 2021|website=Yorkshire Post}}</ref> |
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|party = Green Party of England and Wales |
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|candidate = Kim Leadbeater |
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|party = UK Independence Party |
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|candidate = Jack Thompson |
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Revision as of 18:24, 26 May 2021
Batley and Spen constituency | |||
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 Location of Batley and Spen within West Yorkshire | |||
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A by-election will be held in the UK parliamentary constituency of Batley and Spen following the resignation of current Member of Parliament (MP) Tracy Brabin, who was elected Mayor of West Yorkshire.[1][2] Under the devolution agreement, the position holds the powers and responsibilities of a police and crime commissioner, meaning the occupant of the office cannot simultaneously sit as an MP.[3][4] The by-election will likely be the fourth to the 58th Parliament, elected in 2019.[5] It may be held on 22 July.[6]
Background
Constituency
Batley and Spen is a working-class constituency in the Pennines at the centre of West Yorkshire. Considered to be part of the red wall, Batley and Spen has been held by Labour since 1997.[7] The largest town of Batley has a sizeable number of residents with South Asian backgrounds, namely Pakistani (9.2%) and Indian (Gujarati) (15.9%). Heckmondwike also has a well-established South Asian community with 16.9% residents having Pakistani heritage. Other towns in the constituency include Birstall, Birkenshaw and Cleckheaton.
In the 2016 EU referendum, Batley and Spen voted 60% in favour of Brexit.[8]
Representation
Batley and Spen has been represented by a Labour MP since 1997.[9][10] Elizabeth Peacock has been the constituency's only Conservative MP, serving from 1983 to 1997. Brabin had held the seat since the 2016 Batley and Spen by-election, which was called after the murder of Jo Cox.
In the 2019 general election, the Labour majority in the constituency narrowed significantly, with a 12.8% drop in vote share compared to the 2017 result.[11]
On 6 May 2021, Brabin won the inaugural election for the Mayor of West Yorkshire. She was appointed Steward and Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds on 10 May, vacating her Commons seat.[12]
Brabin expressed concern the constituency could switch to the Tories in the by-election, given Labour's heavy defeat in the 2021 Hartlepool by-election.[13][14] However, Stephen Bush from the New Statesman argued that Labour is in a stronger position in Batley and Spen, compared to their position in Hartlepool.[15]
Campaign
When the result of the West Yorkshire mayoral election was announced on 9 May 2021, Bob Buxton, Yorkshire Party leader and mayoral candidate, announced that his party would contest the by-election.[16] Green Party mayoral candidate Andrew Cooper, who finished fourth, immediately followed suit.
On 10 May George Galloway tweeted that his Workers Party of Britain would contest the election.[17]
On 12 May, The Guardian reported that Cox's sister, Kim Leadbeater, and former Labour MP Paula Sherriff were among Labour's potential candidates.[18][19] On 23 May the Labour Party announced that Leadbeater, a personal trainer and party campaigner, would stand as their candidate.[20] It was reported that Leadbeater had only recently joined the Labour Party,[21] with the Batley and Spen CLP waiving the requirement of a year's membership prior to her selection.
On 19 May the Conservative Party announced that it had selected Harewood councillor Ryan Stephenson as its candidate for the by-election.[22]
On 26 May the Yorkshire Party announced that its members had voted for Corey Robinson, a Senior Medical Research Engineer who spent his childhood in the constituency, to be their candidate.[23]
Previous result
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour Co-op | Tracy Brabin | 22,594 | 42.7 | −12.8 | |
| Conservative | Mark Brooks | 19,069 | 36.0 | −2.8 | |
| Heavy Woollen District Independents | Paul Halloran | 6,432 | 12.2 | N/A | |
| Liberal Democrats | John Lawson | 2,462 | 4.7 | +2.4 | |
| Brexit Party | Clive Minihan | 1,678 | 3.2 | N/A | |
| Green | Ty Akram | 692 | 1.3 | ±0.0 | |
| Majority | 3,525 | 6.7 | −10.0 | ||
| Turnout | 52,927 | 66.5 | −0.6 | ||
| Labour Co-op hold | Swing | -5.0 | |||
See also
- 2016 Batley and Spen by-election, another by-election for the constituency which resulted in Brabin's election to Parliament
References
- ^ "Is Batley and Spen Labour's next by-election headache?". The Independent. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
- ^ "West Yorkshire Mayoral election results". www.leeds.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
- ^ "Labour's Tracy Brabin elected first mayor of West Yorkshire". The Guardian. 9 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
- ^ "West Yorkshire devolution deal". GOV.UK. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
- ^ "By-elections since the 2019 General Election". UK Parliament. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
- ^ Mistlin, Alex (10 May 2021). "Batley and Spen voters' view of Starmer shows the size of his challenge". The Guardian.
- ^ Steerpike. "Coming soon: the next red wall by-election". The Spectator. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Lavigueur, Nick (12 February 2017). "Which Kirklees constituency voted against Brexit?". YorkshireLive. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Jones, Bryony (7 June 2017). "How tragedy propelled a former actor into politics". CNN. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
The Batley and Spen seat has been held by Labour since 1997.
- ^ Simons, Ned; Waugh, Paul (17 June 2016). "Jo Cox's Batley And Spen Seat Will Not Be Contested By Conservative Party, David Cameron And Jeremy Corbyn Set To Pay Joint Tribute". HuffPost. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
Cox's seat, Batley and Spen, has been held by Labour since 1997.
- ^ "Batley & Spen parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". BBC News. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
- ^ "Three Hundreds of Chiltern: Tracy Brabin". 10 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
- ^ Rogers, Alexandra (9 May 2021). "'It's a concern' - Tracy Brabin's fears that Batley and Spen could turn blue". Retrieved 10 May 2021.
- ^ "Batley and Spen: Labour's by-election headache". ITV News. 9 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
- ^ Bush, Stephen (10 May 2021). "Who will win the Batley and Spen by-election?". New Statesman. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
- ^ "Highest ever vote for Yorkshire party". Ilkley Gazette. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ Young, Chris (12 May 2021). "Former Bradford West MP George Galloway announces that his party will stand in Batley and Spen by-election". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
- ^ Halliday, Josh (12 May 2021). "Jo Cox's sister considering standing for Labour in Batley and Spen". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ "Jo Cox: Murdered MP's sister plans to stand in Batley and Spen". BBC News. 12 May 2021.
- ^ Pidd, Helen (23 May 2021). "Jo Cox's sister selected as Labour candidate for Batley and Spen byelection". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
- ^ Earnshaw, Tony (18 May 2021). "Labour candidate for Batley by-election has only just joined the party". YorkshireLive.
- ^ Parsons, Rob (19 May 2021). "Conservatives choose Leeds councillor Ryan Stephenson as candidate for Batley and Spen by-election". Yorkshire Post.
- ^ Rogers, Alexandra (26 May 2021). "Yorkshire Party reveals Batley and Spen by election candidate". Yorkshire Post.
- ^ "Statement of persons nominated, notice of poll and situation of polling stations" (PDF). Kirklees Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
- ^ "Batley & Spen parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". BBC News. Retrieved 18 December 2019.