West Lancashire
Notional 2005 Results:
Labour: 20746 (48.1%)
Conservative: 14662 (34%)
Liberal Democrat: 6059 (14%)
Other: 1688 (3.9%)
Majority: 6084 (14.1%)
Actual 2005 result
Conservative: 14662 (34%)
Labour: 20746 (48.1%)
Liberal Democrat: 6059 (14%)
UKIP: 871 (2%)
Other: 817 (1.9%)
Majority: 6084 (14.1%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 13761 (32%)
Labour: 23404 (54.5%)
Liberal Democrat: 4966 (11.6%)
Other: 840 (2%)
Majority: 9643 (22.4%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 15903 (29.1%)
Labour: 33022 (60.3%)
Liberal Democrat: 3938 (7.2%)
Referendum: 1025 (1.9%)
Other: 841 (1.5%)
Majority: 17119 (31.3%)
Boundary changes:
Profile:
Current MP: Rosie Cooper(Labour) born 1950, Liverpool. Educated at Bellerive Convent Grammar School and the University of Liverpool. Foremr corporate manager for Littlewoods. Liverpool councillor for the Liberal party from 1973-2000. Contested Liverpool Garston for the Liberals in 1983, Knowlsey North by-election for the Liberals in 1986, Knowsley North for the Liberals in 1987 and Liverpool Broad Green in 1992 as a Liberal Democrat. She defected to the Labour party prior to contested the European Parliament North West Region in 2004 and was elected as Labour MP for West Lancashire in 2005 (more information at They work for you)
Candidates: 
Adrian Owens (Conservative) born Wirral. Educated at Cambridge University. Business consultant. West Lancashire District Councillor since 1999. Contested South Ribble 2001. 
Roy Green (UKIP)
2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 93315
Male: 48%
Female: 52%
Under 18: 23.2%
Over 60: 21.3%
Born outside UK: 2.6%
White: 98.5%
Asian: 0.5%
Mixed: 0.6%
Other: 0.4%
Christian: 83.5%
Full time students: 5%
Graduates 16-74: 18.2%
No Qualifications 16-74: 29.9%
Owner-Occupied: 72.3%
Social Housing: 19.5% (Council: 17.5%, Housing Ass.: 2%)
Privately Rented: 5%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 4.9%
What do you think we should do about it?
Stop EU immigration until the recession is over.
I don’t think so.
If pay rates are uncompetitive, they need to be squeezed. Try telling that to a voter though.
One bright spot is I think outsourcing to India is somewhat out of fashion. In 2003 and 2004 the firm I was at was keen to do that with data programming. The Indians would undercut us, and would also offer flexible response on jobs by working over night British time on a shift system. But in fact they would work on a tram line mentality - all the queries would be sent back to us, and when something complicated needed doing, it became a pointless exercise.
Mind you, a lot of British staff now work on a tram lines mentality aswell - they’ll only do what you tell them to do, - if something deviates from the norm, they won’t do it, and they’ll have a log book of why it’s not their fault.
(!)
On the seat, though, and on the subject of the BNP, could there perhaps be a rise in support for them in Skelmersdale?
I think, Richard, the longer term answer is we have to create the conditions for more businesses to do well in these older industrial areas, so people are not so in this plight, undercut by cheap labour and dependant on a few large employers.
Unfortunately, the economic growth of the last few years has been a largely wasted opportunity to do that in the right way, too often with public sector jobs propping up these areas. There needs to be a big cut in tax on businesses, and less regulation.
“Stop EU immigration until the recession is over.
I don’t think so.”
There’s a significant difference between immigrants working for an existing business which has unfilled vacancies with the money remaining in this country and the Immingham floating barracks with unemployed local workers. I can’t imagine Total (or the French government) ever allowing that in France.
Ultimately importing cheap labour whether in a boom or a bust never helps the working classes (of whatever origin). To a guardianista it might mean cheap plumbers and cleaners and a wider selection of ethnic restaurants but to the working class it means less money and a disrupted community. When thinking about how much immigration to allow governments need to ask whether the supposed economic benefits are worth the inevitable social drawbacks.
“I think, Richard, the longer term answer is we have to create the conditions for more businesses to do well in these older industrial areas, so people are not so in this plight, undercut by cheap labour and dependant on a few large employers.
Unfortunately, the economic growth of the last few years has been a largely wasted opportunity to do that in the right way, too often with public sector jobs propping up these areas. There needs to be a big cut in tax on businesses, and less regulation.”
Totally agree. Better education and training too as well as ending unemployment/welfare as a career choice.
“If pay rates are uncompetitive, they need to be squeezed. Try telling that to a voter though.”
Lower pay could be tolerated if living costs were lower. This country needs much cheaper housing on a permanent basis for this to happen though.
We could be singing ‘Goodbye Rosie’ on election night!
GE Prediction:
Conservatives: 21000
Labour: 14500
Liberal democrats: 6000
Did anyone read about Rosie’s ‘confectionary’ bill claim in ‘The Sun’ the other day. I fear that she is ‘comfort eating’ prior to the next GE.