Batley and Spen (UK Parliament constituency)

Batley and Spen is a constituency in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. The current MP is Kim Leadbeater, a Labour politician, elected in a 2021 by-election by a 323-vote margin. The seat has returned Labour MPs since the 1997 general election.

Batley and Spen
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Batley and Spen in West Yorkshire
Outline map
Location of West Yorkshire within England
CountyWest Yorkshire
Population107,899 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate80,110 (December 2019)[2]
Major settlementsBatley, Cleckheaton, Birstall, Birkenshaw
Current constituency
Created1983
Member of ParliamentKim Leadbeater (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created fromBatley and Morley, Brighouse and Spenborough and Dewsbury

Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat will be subject to boundary changes which will entail the loss of the town of Batley to the new constituency of Dewsbury and Batley. As a consequence, it will be renamed Spen Valley, to be first contested at the next general election.[3]

Constituency profile

The area is in the rolling Pennines of West Yorkshire with considerable commerce, industry, retail and occupational trades. A lower percentage of social housing is present than the regional average, however most of the larger settlements have some social housing.[4] The population in the district is ethnically diverse. Many of the towns in the Spen Valley have few residents from non-white heritage backgrounds (Birstall, Birkenshaw, Cleckheaton, Liversedge and Gomersal, generally more suburban and Conservative areas, with the exception of Cleckheaton, which has Liberal Democrat councillors). However, the constituency's largest town, Batley, has a sizeable number of residents with South Asian backgrounds, namely Pakistani (9.2%) and Indian (mostly Gujarati) (15.9%). Heckmondwike also has a well-established South Asian community with 16.9% residents having Pakistani heritage.[5]

The results of the last fifty years show marginal majorities for Labour and for the Conservatives, and is considered to be part of the "red wall".[6]

In the 2016 EU referendum, Batley and Spen voted 60% in favour of Brexit.[7]

Boundaries
  • 1983–1997: The Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees wards of Batley East, Batley West, Birstall and Birkenshaw, Cleckheaton, Heckmondwike, and Spen.
  • 1997–2010: The Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees wards of Batley East, Batley West, Birstall and Birkenshaw, Cleckheaton, and Spen.
  • 2010–present: The Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees wards of Batley East, Batley West, Birstall and Birkenshaw, Cleckheaton, Heckmondwike, and Liversedge and Gomersal.

The constituency was created in 1983 from parts of the seats of Batley and Morley, Brighouse and Spenborough and Dewsbury. This West Yorkshire constituency covers Batley, Birkenshaw, Birstall, Cleckheaton, East Bierley, Gomersal, Hunsworth, and Liversedge.

History

The constituency did not exist in its present form before 1983 and has seen significant boundary changes since its creation – most notably those that took effect for the 1997 general election.

Heckmondwike was part of the seat from its creation in 1983 until 1997, when it was transferred to Dewsbury. Heckmondwike was returned to Batley and Spen for the 2010 general election.

The seat swung in Labour's favour in the elections of 1997, 2001 and 2005 though the Conservatives reduced the Labour majority in 2010 with a swing below the national average.

The electoral ward of Heckmondwike (which includes part of Liversedge) was considered part of the Spen Valley (although it was not part of the former Spenborough Urban District). Heckmondwike ward was for many years a Labour stronghold, but in the 2000s elected two BNP councillors. The BNP councillors were narrowly defeated by Labour in 2007[8] and 2008.[9]

A by-election in 2016 occurred after the murder of Jo Cox, the sitting MP. Cox was killed on 16 June 2016 after being shot and stabbed multiple times by a man associated with far-right organisations.[10][11][12] The Conservative Party, Liberal Democrats, UK Independence Party and the Green Party announced they would not contest the by-election as a mark of respect.[13]

Another by-election occurred in 2021 following the resignation of Tracy Brabin MP, who was elected Mayor of West Yorkshire on 10 May.[14][15][16][17] The 2021 by-election received considerable media attention because of expectations of a Labour loss following the earlier Hartlepool by-election and a high-profile campaign by George Galloway for the Workers Party of Britain.[18][19][20][21][22][23][24] The by-election was won by Jo Cox's sister, Kim Leadbeater, with a reduced majority.

Members of Parliament
ElectionMember[25] Party
1983 Elizabeth Peacock Conservative
1997 Mike Wood Labour
2015 Jo Cox Labour
2016 by-election Tracy Brabin Labour Co-op
2021 by-election Kim Leadbeater Labour

Elections
Batley and Spen vote share as a percentage 1997–2021 (note: the 2016 by-election is not shown as Labour were the only major party to stand)

Elections in the 2020s
Main article: 2021 Batley and Spen by-election

A by-election was held on 1 July 2021 following the resignation of MP Tracy Brabin to become Mayor of West Yorkshire.

By-election 2021: Batley and Spen[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Kim Leadbeater 13,296 35.3 ―7.4
Conservative Ryan Stephenson 12,973 34.4 ―1.6
Workers Party George Galloway 8,264 21.9 N/A
Liberal Democrats Tom Gordon 1,254 3.3 ―1.3
Yorkshire Corey Robinson 816 2.2 N/A
English Democrat Thérèse Hirst 207 0.55 N/A
UKIP Jack Thomson 151 0.4 N/A
Monster Raving Loony Howling Laud Hope 107 0.3 N/A
Alliance for Green Socialism Mike Davies 104 0.3 N/A
CPA Paul Bickerdike 102 0.3 N/A
Freedom Alliance Jonathon Tilt 100 0.3 N/A
For Britain Anne Marie Waters 97 0.3 N/A
Rejoin EU Andrew Smith 75 0.2 N/A
SDP Ollie Purser 66 0.1 N/A
Independent Jayda Fransen 50 0.1 N/A
Heritage Susan Laird 33 0.1 N/A
Majority 323 0.9 ―5.8
Turnout 37,695 47.5 ―19.0
Labour hold Swing ―2.9

Elections in the 2010s
General election 2019: Batley and Spen[27][28]
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 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
General election 2017: Batley and Spen[29][30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Tracy Brabin 29,844 55.5 +12.3
Conservative Ann Myatt 20,883 38.8 +7.6
Liberal Democrats John Lawson 1,224 2.3 ―2.4
Independent Aleks Lukic 1,076 2.0 ―16.0
Green Alan Freeman 695 1.3 ―1.1
Independent Mohammed Hanif 58 0.1 N/A
Majority 8,961 16.7 +4.7
Turnout 53,780 67.1 +2.7
Labour Co-op hold Swing +2.3[a]

a. ^ Swing is calculated from the 2015 election, not the 2016 by-election which was not contested by major parties. Aleks Lukic's vote change is in comparison to the 2015 election, when he stood as a UKIP candidate.

By-election 2016: Batley and Spen[31][32][33][n 1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Tracy Brabin 17,506 85.8 +42.6
English Democrat Therese Muchewicz 969 4.8 N/A
BNP David Furness 548 2.7 N/A
Independent Garry Kitchin 517 2.5 N/A
English Independence Corbyn Anti 241 1.2 N/A
Liberty GB Jack Buckby 220 1.0 N/A
Independent Henry Mayhew 153 0.8 N/A
Independent Waqas Ali Khan 118 0.6 N/A
National Front Richard Edmonds 87 0.4 N/A
One Love Ankit Love 34 0.2 N/A
Majority 16,537 81.0 +68.0
Turnout 20,393 25.8 ―38.6
Labour Co-op hold Swing N/A
General election 2015: Batley and Spen[34][35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jo Cox 21,826 43.2 +1.7
Conservative Imtiaz Ameen 15,769 31.2 −1.8
UKIP Aleks Lukic 9,080 18.0 N/A
Liberal Democrats John Lawson 2,396 4.7 −11.1
Green Ian Bullock 1,232 2.4 +1.3
TUSC Dawn Wheelhouse 123 0.2 N/A
Patriotic Socialist Karl Varley 53 0.1 N/A
Majority 6,057 12.0 +3.5
Turnout 50,479 64.4 −3.4
Labour hold Swing +1.7
General election 2010: Batley and Spen[36][37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mike Wood 21,565 41.5 −3.7
Conservative Janice Small 17,159 33.0 +1.3
Liberal Democrats Neil Bentley 8,925 17.2 +1.8
BNP David Exley 3,685 7.1 +1.1
Green Matt Blakeley 605 1.2 −0.5
Majority 4,406 8.5 −5.0
Turnout 51,939 67.7 +6.9
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 2000s
General election 2005: Batley and Spen[38]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mike Wood 17,974 45.8 −4.1
Conservative Robert Light 12,186 31.1 −5.6
Liberal Democrats Neil Bentley 5,731 14.6 +4.3
BNP Colin Auty 2,668 6.8 N/A
Green Clive Lord 649 1.7 +0.2
Majority 5,788 14.7 +1.5
Turnout 39,208 62.3 +1.8
Labour hold Swing +0.8
General election 2001: Batley and Spen[39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mike Wood 19,224 49.9 +0.5
Conservative Elizabeth Peacock 14,160 36.7 +0.3
Liberal Democrats Kathryn Pinnock 3,989 10.3 +1.5
Green Clive Lord 595 1.5 +0.7
UKIP Allen Burton 574 1.5 N/A
Majority 5,064 13.2 +0.2
Turnout 38,542 60.5 −12.7
Labour hold Swing +0.1

Elections in the 1990s
General election 1997: Batley and Spen[40]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mike Wood 23,213 49.4 +6.3
Conservative Elizabeth Peacock 17,072 36.4 −9.0
Liberal Democrats Kathryn Pinnock 4,133 8.8 −1.7
Referendum Ed O.C. Wood 1,691 3.6 N/A
BNP Ron Smith 472 1.0 N/A
Green Clive Lord 384 0.8 −0.2
Majority 6,141 13.0 N/A
Turnout 46,965 73.2 −6.5
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +7.7
General election 1992: Batley and Spen[41][42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Elizabeth Peacock 27,629 45.4 +2.0
Labour Eunice Durkin 26,221 43.1 +2.0
Liberal Democrats Gordon Beever 6,380 10.5 −3.8
Green Clive Lord 628 1.0 N/A
Majority 1,408 2.3 0.0
Turnout 60,858 79.7 +0.7
Conservative hold Swing 0.0

Elections in the 1980s
General election 1987: Batley and Spen[43]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Elizabeth Peacock 25,512 43.4 +3.8
Labour Kenneth Woolmer 24,150 41.1 +3.1
SDP Keith Burke 8,372 14.3 −7.2
Moderate Labour Allan Harrison 689 1.2 N/A
Majority 1,362 2.3 +0.7
Turnout 58,723 79.0 +5.6
Conservative hold Swing +0.3
General election 1983: Batley and Spen[44]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Elizabeth Peacock 21,433 39.6 N/A
Labour Kenneth Woolmer 20,563 38.0 N/A
SDP Stephen Woollery 11,678 21.5 N/A
Ecology Clive Lord 493 0.9 N/A
Majority 870 1.6 N/A
Turnout 54,167 73.4 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)

See also

Notes
  1. Conservatives, UKIP, Greens and Liberal Democrats declined to field a candidate out of respect for the previous holder of the post, Jo Cox, who was murdered in office

References
  1. "Batley and Spen: Usual Resident Population, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 12 January 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  2. "Constituency data: electorates – House of Commons Library". Parliament UK. 15 June 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  3. "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume one: Report – Yorkshire and the Humber | Boundary Commission for England". boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  4. "Local statistics - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk.
  5. "Kirklees Census 2001". Kirklees Council. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  6. Steerpike (3 May 2021). "Coming soon: the next red wall by-election". The Spectator. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  7. Lavigueur, Nick (12 February 2017). "Which Kirklees constituency voted against Brexit?". YorkshireLive. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  8. "Kirklees Election Results 2007". Kirklees Council. 2007. Retrieved 21 February 2009.
  9. "Kirklees Election Results 2008". Kirklees Council. 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  10. Boyle, Danny (16 June 2016). "Labour MP Jo Cox dies after being shot and stabbed in her constituency near Leeds". The Telegraph. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  11. Booth, Robert; Dodd, Vikram; Parveen, Nazia (16 June 2016). "Labour MP Jo Cox has died after being shot and stabbed". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  12. Cobain, Ian; Parveen, Nazia; Taylor, Matthew (23 November 2016). "The slow-burning hatred that led Thomas Mair to murder Jo Cox". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  13. Stone, Jon (17 June 2016). "Jo Cox death: Parties stand down in killed Labour MP's seat as Corbyn and Cameron call for unity". The Independent. Independent Print Limited. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  14. "Is Batley and Spen Labour's next by-election headache?". The Independent. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  15. "West Yorkshire Mayoral election results". www.leeds.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  16. Halliday, Josh; Mistlin, Alex (9 May 2021). "Labour's Tracy Brabin elected first mayor of West Yorkshire". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  17. "West Yorkshire devolution deal". GOV.UK. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  18. Al-Othman, Hannah (6 June 2021). "Batley and Spen by-election: are Muslim voters the next brick to crumble in Labour's red wall?". Sunday Times. London. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  19. "Labour could lose a by-election over the issue of Palestine". The Economist. 26 June 2021. Archived from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  20. Drury, Colin (28 June 2021). "Batley and Spen by-election: Labour's Muslim vote collapsing as Palestine - and potholes - cause anger". The Independent. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  21. "Jo Cox's sister, Labour candidate Kim Leadbeater, heckled and chased on campaign trail". The Independent. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  22. Diver, Tony (25 June 2021). "Labour candidate in Batley and Spen by-election left 'intimidated' by anti-LGBT protester". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  23. Blackall, Molly (26 June 2021). "Kim Leadbeater, sister of Jo Cox, chased and heckled on Batley and Spen by-election campaign trail". i. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  24. "Batley and Spen by-election: Labour 'egged and kicked'". BBC News. 28 June 2021. Archived from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  25. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "B" (part 1)
  26. "🗳️ UK Parliamentary by-election 🗳️ Batley and Spen constituency". Who Can I Vote For?. Archived from the original on 5 June 2021.
  27. "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.
  28. "Batley & Spen parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". BBC News. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  29. "Candidates for Batley and Spen". Democracy Club Candidates.
  30. "Election battle begins in earnest". The Press.
  31. Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll Archived 12 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine"
  32. "Election results for Batley and Spen, 20 October 2016". 20 October 2016. Archived from the original on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  33. "Labour's Tracy Brabin wins Batley and Spen by-election following death of MP Jo Cox". The Independent. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  34. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  35. "Batley & Spen". BBC News. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  36. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  37. "UK > England > Yorkshire & the Humber > Batley & Spen". Election 2010. BBC. 7 May 2010. Archived from the original on 1 May 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  38. "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  39. "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  40. "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  41. "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  42. "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  43. "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  44. "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

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