Dudley North
Notional 2005 Results:
Labour: 15727 (43.2%)
Conservative: 11582 (31.8%)
Liberal Democrat: 3871 (10.6%)
Other: 5195 (14.3%)
Majority: 4145 (11.4%)
Actual 2005 result
Conservative: 12874 (31.1%)
Labour: 18306 (44.2%)
Liberal Democrat: 4257 (10.3%)
BNP: 4022 (9.7%)
UKIP: 1949 (4.7%)
Majority: 5432 (13.1%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 13295 (34.5%)
Labour: 20095 (52.1%)
Liberal Democrat: 3352 (8.7%)
BNP: 1822 (4.7%)
Majority: 6800 (17.6%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 15014 (31.4%)
Labour: 24471 (51.2%)
Liberal Democrat: 3939 (8.2%)
Referendum: 1201 (2.5%)
Other: 3183 (6.7%)
Majority: 9457 (19.8%)
Boundary changes:
Profile:
Outgoing MP: Ian Austin(Labour) (more information at They work for you)
Candidates: 
Graeme Brown (Conservative) Contested Ashton-under-Lyne 2005.Ian Austin(Labour) (more information at They work for you)Malcolm Davis (UKIP) Dudley councillor until 2007, having initially been elected as a Liberal Democrat. Led opposition to the building of a Mosque and community centre in Dudley
Ken Griffiths (BNP) Transport manager. Contested West Midlands 2009 European election.
2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 78681
Male: 48.8%
Female: 51.2%
Under 18: 23.3%
Over 60: 23.1%
Born outside UK: 4.9%
White: 90.4%
Black: 2%
Asian: 5.9%
Mixed: 1.4%
Other: 0.4%
Christian: 76.8%
Hindu: 1.1%
Muslim: 3%
Sikh: 1.5%
Full time students: 2.6%
Graduates 16-74: 11.2%
No Qualifications 16-74: 41.6%
Owner-Occupied: 64.1%
Social Housing: 28.6% (Council: 24.9%, Housing Ass.: 3.7%)
Privately Rented: 3%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 16.3%
Was Dudley town centre in Dudley until 1974 (in all probability it was!) and then Dudley East until 1997? Has it been in Dudley North since then?
Has Dudley town centre been in Dudley East until 1997 and in Dudley North since then?
Yes
The BNP have a new candidate here in Ken Griffiths
We need some discussion of the campaign in this seat. Any news please?
Perhaps BNP have hopes of coming third?
Irrespective of BNP vote, I predict Con gain here.
The BNP have been on the wane here as perhaps witnessed by the fact that the previous candidate, party vice chairman Simon Darby is off to fight in Stoke at the next election. He previously represented Castle & Priory on Dudley MBC but their vote has fallen away quite badly there in recent years. They also aren’t helped that one of their other strongest wards, Coseley East is moved out of this seat to join Wolverhampton SE. I’d expect their share to fall here but they could still beat the LDs by default as they are exceptionally weak here and could see their share fall even further. Of course both these parties could be beaten to third place by UKIP who unlike either do now have an elected councillor in the constituency who also happens to be the candidate (i’m getting a sense of deja vu and feel I may be repeating things I already said upthread).
Anyway agree this will be a Tory gain with the battle for third place being close three ways.