Keighley
Notional 2005 Results:
Labour: 20720 (44.7%)
Conservative: 15868 (34.3%)
Liberal Democrat: 5484 (11.8%)
Other: 4240 (9.2%)
Majority: 4852 (10.5%)
Actual 2005 result
Conservative: 15868 (34.3%)
Labour: 20720 (44.7%)
Liberal Democrat: 5484 (11.8%)
BNP: 4240 (9.2%)
Majority: 4852 (10.5%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 16883 (39%)
Labour: 20888 (48.2%)
Liberal Democrat: 4722 (10.9%)
UKIP: 840 (1.9%)
Majority: 4005 (9.2%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 18907 (36.7%)
Labour: 26039 (50.6%)
Liberal Democrat: 5064 (9.8%)
Referendum: 1470 (2.9%)
Majority: 7132 (13.9%)
No boundary changes:
Profile: To the North the seat extends over part of Rombald`s Moor (including the iconic Ilkley Moor) to the towns of Addingham and Ilkley in Wharfedale. Ilkley is a prosperous Victoria Spa town that remains a popular tourist destination. To the south the seat follows the preserved heritage steam railway through villages like Haworth, again a popular tourist destination thanks to its association with the Bronte sisters.
While the north and south of the seat are Conservative, Keighley itself is a former textile town and provides most of Labour`s support in the seat. The town contains somewhat troubled estates like Braithwaite and has in the past been a prime target for the BNP. Keighley`s population is around 15% muslim. West Keighley was briefly the BNP`s safest council seat after they won in 2004 and the seat was contested by the BNP leader Nick Griffin in 2005 after a furore over alleged grooming of young white girls in Keighley by Asian men. The mother of the girl at the centre of the allegations later stood for the Labour party in West Keighley, defeating the BNP, who no longer have any councillors in Keighley.
Outgoing MP: Ann Cryer(Labour) born 1939, Lytham St Annes. Educated at Spring Bank Secondary Modern, Darwen and Bolton Technical College. Former ICI and Post Office clerk. She is the widow of Bob Cryer, MP for Keighley from 1974-1983 and Braford South 1987-1994 and was his Parliamentary assistant until his death in a car crash in 1994. First elected as MP for Keighley in 1997. She is a member of the Socialist Campaign Group and has frequently rebelled against the Blair government. Her son John Cryer was MP for Hornchurch from 1997-2005. Will stand down at the next election (more information at They work for you)
Candidates: 
Kris Hopkins (Conservative) College Lecturer. Leader of Bradford Council. Contested Halifax in 2005, Leeds West in 2001.
Jane Thomas (Labour) Director of Network North. Former University lecturer.
Nader Fekri (Liberal Democrat) History lecturer. Calderdale councillor. Contested Keighley 2005, Yorkshire and Humberside 2009 European election.Paul Latham (UKIP)
2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 90174
Male: 47.9%
Female: 52.1%
Under 18: 24%
Over 60: 22.3%
Born outside UK: 7.3%
White: 89.3%
Black: 0.3%
Asian: 9.4%
Mixed: 0.8%
Other: 0.2%
Christian: 68.8%
Muslim: 8.4%
Full time students: 2.8%
Graduates 16-74: 19.7%
No Qualifications 16-74: 30.8%
Owner-Occupied: 77.6%
Social Housing: 11% (Council: 8.8%, Housing Ass.: 2.2%)
Privately Rented: 8.2%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 19.9%
I think in response to Paul Latham’s above comments, there is a reason why some of the electorate are not always listened to, and that is usually a complete lack of intellectual understanding of the matters they talk about
Unionist – that has to be one of the most patrician comments on this site and why voters are turned off by politicians who ‘know best’
It looks to me that BNP took Tory as well as Labour votes in 2005; indeed we see a Con/Lab swing here then.
As BNP now have no councillors here perhaps they will not stand in 2010?
We need news of the campaign here but in this traditionaly marginal seat over many elections, I am inclined to go for a Con gain narrowly.
The BNP fielded no local election candidates here in the most recent elections in 2008 and it did certainly seem to benefit the Conservatives then as they won 5 of 6 wards and enjoyed a far bigger than usual lead in the popular vote, so this would support your theory (which has been argued often especially in relation to West Yorkshire). I would be surprised if the BNP did not have a candidate here, though it is possible I suppose. It does seem inevitable that given the problems they have had in this borough that if they do stand they will sufrfer a substantial drop in support compared with 2005
Good news from Bradford – all 5 seats in the area will count on the night.
http://tinyurl.com/yc7359c
Ladbrokes’ odds on this seat:
Cons 1/3
Labour 2/1
BNP 50/1
Lib Dems 100/1
UKIP 100/1
Yes I can’t see Labour hanging on here.
Nor me at the moment, without Ann Cryer – but if the polls were to narrow further it would become possible. At present however I fear the bookies are right.
Although Ladbroke’s odds may include the BNP I have not had sight nor heard a sound from them in the Keighley area this year.
We need new blood running this country, labour held such promise to the common man but sadly they have let everyone
down. Even with the best intentions a new party and I hope it is UKIP have to be strong but fair even to the point of appearing radical. Labour do not have any MP’s who know how to govern they are a party of “dont do as we do…do as we say” they are more confused than the lost shoppers employed as toy police. yes tis time for change… as long as it is for the better.
One interesting question is where would the BNP’s 4240 votes go to and how their non-standing would affect the results here?
@Joseph Brayson
The BNP vote appears to have come from both Tories and Labour but slightly more the tories in this seat. If you compare the fall in vote for both parties from 2001 to 2005 factor in a small lab to lib and small lab to con swing then it appears the BNP voters would have been Tory about 65-35. But then it is entirely possible that this is an illusion and many of these voters wouldn’t have voted at all.
I suspect that most of the BNP’s 4240 voters from last time will not vote if there is no BNP candidate.
I believe the BNP is good at finding “new votes” and getting them to vote once. It’s usually the follow-up where they start to fail in subsequent elections. So if the BNP doesn’t stand, it all depends if they have any preference AND can get their supporters out to support this preference at the polls. Since they don’t seem to like what they call the “Lib-Lab-Con Old Gang”, hate UKIP and don’t accept the Green line on climate change, you pays your money and you takes your choice.
@Brendan Marren
With the current showdown at westminster concentrated on personality of the three leaders, I’am not going to base my vote on the goings on at westminster but rather who would be the best MP for Keighley. Unfortunatly people seem to look at the name of the party and vote for the party, not the candidate. This is wrong.
I am sure that if people did some research into the candidates in the weeks coming up to the general election we would get the best choice for Keighley.
I would predict a narrow Labour win. Labour and Tories would inevitably lose votes and maybe the liberals gain or UKIP who knows.