Elmet and Rothwell
Notional 2005 Results:
Labour: 24642 (44.7%)
Conservative: 18347 (33.3%)
Liberal Democrat: 9617 (17.4%)
Other: 2514 (4.6%)
Majority: 6295 (11.4%)
Actual 2005 result
Conservative: 17732 (37.6%)
Labour: 22260 (47.2%)
Liberal Democrat: 5923 (12.6%)
BNP: 1231 (2.6%)
Majority: 4528 (9.6%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 17867 (38.9%)
Labour: 22038 (48%)
Liberal Democrat: 5001 (10.9%)
UKIP: 1031 (2.2%)
Majority: 4171 (9.1%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 19569 (36.2%)
Labour: 28348 (52.4%)
Liberal Democrat: 4691 (8.7%)
Referendum: 1487 (2.7%)
Majority: 8779 (16.2%)
Boundary changes:
Profile:
Current MP: Colin Burgon(Labour) Will stand down at the next election (more information at They work for you)
Candidates: Alec Shelbrooke (Conservative)
Stewart Golton (Liberal Democrat)
James Lewis (Labour) Leeds councillor since 2003.
2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 99014
Male: 48.8%
Female: 51.2%
Under 18: 21.8%
Over 60: 22.8%
Born outside UK: 2.8%
White: 98.4%
Black: 0.2%
Asian: 0.7%
Mixed: 0.5%
Other: 0.2%
Christian: 80.6%
Jewish: 0.6%
Full time students: 2%
Graduates 16-74: 18.7%
No Qualifications 16-74: 28.6%
Owner-Occupied: 79%
Social Housing: 14.6% (Council: 13.2%, Housing Ass.: 1.4%)
Privately Rented: 3.8%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 9.1%
“It comprises of two safe Conservative wards (Wetherby and Harewood)”
Rather an understatement.
What must be remembered about this constituency is the very split nature of it.
I’ve seen articles referring to Labour worry here about increasing BNP support in the mining areas. The BNP though will have no effect in Wetherby and Harewood.
As to the Labour prospective candidates two of them would be disasterous here.
Which two would they be?
James Lewis confirmed as candidate for Labour.
http://www.karenbruce.co.uk/2009/10/05/congratulations-to-james-lewis/
James was a contemporary of Kevin Bonavia (Rochford & Southend East) in Birmingham University Labour Students where they both campaigned in the 1997 General Election in Birmingham Edgbaston.
Whereas Kevin has got to where he is primarily because of his intellectual brilliance combined with genuine personability, James has got to where he is primarily through tireless, unceasing hard work – which certainly seems to have paid off in his continued electoral success as a City Councillor – perhaps evidence that he has built up a personal vote in his ward.
I truly wish them both all the best – they would both make excellent MPs.
Do we have pics or at least the ages of any of the PPCs here?
I think Alec Shelbrooke is 34-35, and it sounds like James Lewis is slightly younger