Pudsey
Notional 2005 Results:
Labour: 19687 (45.2%)
Conservative: 14936 (34.3%)
Liberal Democrat: 7783 (17.9%)
Other: 1195 (2.7%)
Majority: 4751 (10.9%)
Actual 2005 result
Conservative: 15391 (33.1%)
Labour: 21261 (45.8%)
Liberal Democrat: 8551 (18.4%)
UKIP: 1241 (2.7%)
Majority: 5870 (12.6%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 16091 (35.6%)
Labour: 21717 (48.1%)
Liberal Democrat: 6423 (14.2%)
UKIP: 944 (2.1%)
Majority: 5626 (12.5%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 19163 (36.3%)
Labour: 25370 (48.1%)
Liberal Democrat: 7375 (14%)
Referendum: 823 (1.6%)
Majority: 6207 (11.8%)
Boundary changes: loses Yeadon, gains a small part of Rawdon and a sliver of Horsforth.
Profile: A long spindly seat between Leeds and Bradford, stretching from Hawksworth Moor in the North to include the town of Guiseley (the site of Harry Ramsden`s first restaurant and still home to the largest fish and chip restaurant in the world), the Leeds suburb of Horsforth, the rural village of Calverley and the town of Pudsey itself to the South. The constituency is mostly an affluent residential area for Leeds and Bradford commuters. It had been solidly Conservative up until 1997, when it was won by Labour`s Paul Truswell.
Current MP: Paul Truswell(Labour) born 1955, Sheffield. Educated at Firth Park Comprehensive and Leeds University. Former journalist and local government officer. Leeds city councillor 1982-97. First elected in Pudsey in 1997. Will stand down at the next election (more information at They work for you)
Candidates: Stuart Andrew (Conservative) Leeds councillor.
David Morton (Liberal Democrat) Housing Support Agency Worker. Leeds city councillor.
2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 87286
Male: 48.1%
Female: 51.9%
Under 18: 21.3%
Over 60: 21.5%
Born outside UK: 3.9%
White: 96.1%
Black: 0.2%
Asian: 2.5%
Mixed: 0.7%
Other: 0.4%
Christian: 74.3%
Muslim: 0.8%
Sikh: 1.3%
Full time students: 3.6%
Graduates 16-74: 21.7%
No Qualifications 16-74: 25.9%
Owner-Occupied: 78.1%
Social Housing: 14.6% (Council: 13.3%, Housing Ass.: 1.3%)
Privately Rented: 4.7%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 18.6%
Thanks Andrea – 2 open shortlists in West Yorks in a row!
It will be interesting to see if UKIP field a candidate in this seat.
I am guessing they will as the Tory candidate is well known for his pro European views.
Looks like the Lib Dems will have all on to save Greg Mulholland in Leeds NW based on the new poll published today.
I think UKIP and the BNP will stand here, and possibly the Greens as well
I think all the formally strong Tory seats that fell to Blair will revert to them. The UKIP factor will be interesting.
Matt, I think you are right about both UKIP and the BNP.
In Pudsey ward itself, the BNP has had significant support in recent years and this may lead them to think that the constituency as a whole will allow them to stand and save their deposit.
UKIP have a very keen activist living in the Farsley & Calverley Ward, who I am reliable told is more than able to finance his own campaign or that of any other little englander willing to contest the constituancy.
The Greens won’t touch the seat at all. They have no history of activism here – well not since the early 1990s when their local activists split from the rest of the party and they withered away. Of course, they will be throwing all their efforts into Leeds West next door.
Up until the LibDem’s 3rd place in 1992, this was a seat in which the Liberals had come a respectable second over a number of general elections with some very good candidates over the years. I don’t think that the Lib Deems and David Morton will be in a position to pick up the baton dropped by the likes of Julian Cummins. Stephen Cooksey, Trevor Wilson and Richard Wainwright….so there might be the impetus for some other local radical to put forward a truly progressive message…