Yes I believe that was plan and there were similar occurences in Liverpool (Garston) and Glasgow (Cathcart)

Pete

The leadership of the appropriate Labour parties belonged in jail in that case. Inflicting substandard housing on people for personal political gain is unbelievable. Didn’t Silvio Berlesconi say something like socialists love the poor and create more of them

I recommend the southern council estates of Sheffield if you want to see some more poverty pornography. The council flats of Gleadless look particularly out of place along a lovely wooded valley. They probably resemble something out of Dante during winter.

Yes I have seen this area although it was probably close to 20 years ago.
By the way in relation to your other point, I note the Lib Dems advanced more in this constituency and led Labour by more than they did in Central
(changes from 2007)

Heeley
LD 8628 36.2 +2.9
Lab 7739 32.4 -6.7
Con 3571 15.0 +2.6
G 2285 9.6 +0.7
UKIP 844 3.5
BNP 525 2.2
Left 271 1.1

Central
LD 7878 36.8 +2.8
Lab 7649 35.7 -0.1
G 4044 18.9 -2.0
Con 1712 8.0 -0.6
UKIP 115 0.5

As you say there is a greater Conservative vote here to squeeze. In central the Green vote is obviously much more significant and may be more susceptible to a squeeze. WHetehr that will go predominantly to the Lib Dems is a moot point, but presumably that is what they are planning/hoping

Was reading in the Almanac of British Politics that the LDs lead Labour across Heeley by 23% in 2000. Given this, is there not a line of thought that their 4% lead in 2008 is less than impressive compared to their potential? Im also curious as to why the turnaround, perhaps it is do with local factors? (becuase national trends would surely imply the Lib Dems would do better now against Labour than 8 years ago)

In addition, its seem surprising (given the local activism and the generally good-sized swing against Labour in its northern heartlands towards the Lib Dems) to see that the Lib Dem vote actually fell in 2005. Again any local reasons for this?

The 2 facts above dont seem to imply much potential for an upset here next time.

“Im also curious as to why the turnaround, perhaps it is do with local factors?”

There are two main reasons:

Firstly, the Lib Dems ran Sheffield City Council from 1999, achieved their best results throughout the city in 2000, but were widely thought to have done badly and were in particular accused by Labour of squandering money - a charge which stuck. As a result, they lost control and fell well back at the next elections in 2002.

Secondly, the 2000 Heeley constituency included the old wards; the 2008/9 constituency sees some trimming round the edges, but the main change is the gain of the remainder of the heavily Labour Richmond ward. I’m unsure why the notional results show an increase in the Lib Dem share; the only reason I can think of is that it gains the part of Lowedges formerly in Dore ward and Hallam constituency, which both have the Lib Dems first and Conservatives second, but Lowedges is a council estate and likely to be heavily Labour in a general election.

The reason for the greater Lib Dem advance here than in central is also twofold. Labour ran the council until the recent local elections, and they were planning to sell a site attached to Graves Park for the development of a hospice; the Lib Dems opposed, and gained lots of votes in the area from this.

Secondly, the Lib Dem vote in Central ward (in Central constituency) collapsed as it moved from being a three horse race to being a Labour/Green marginal. The Labour vote actually increase significantly in Central ward, and was the main reason why it was down so little in Central constituency.

If the Graves Park issue was still alive at the next general election, I’d expect a strong Lib Dem performance. As it is, they have just taken control of the council; they will presumably kill the plans quickly, and if so, it may be largely forgotten by the election.

There will be some places where during the period when it was obvious the Tories weren’t going to be forming a government - ie. 1997 to 2005 - a lot of Labour supporters felt free to stray to other parties such as the Lib Dems and Greens in local elections. This could be one of those constituencies. The Lib Dems ahead by 23% in 2000 but only 4% in 2008 could indicate that those Labour voters sense a possible Tory government is on the way.

“Labour ran the council until the recent local elections, and they were planning to sell a site attached to Graves Park for the development of a hospice; the Lib Dems opposed, and gained lots of votes in the area from this.”

I’m baffled - does opposing a hospice make you popular?

“I’m baffled - does opposing a hospice make you popular?”

Yes, when the hospice is seen as being built on what was previously used as public parkland, and there are many other sites nearby where a hospice could be built. While there were some objections to the tactics used by the hospice management, anger locally was directed at the Labour group on the council who appear to have suggested the site and were certainly pushing for the development there.

The part of Graves Park that was targetted is land held in charitable trust and is not available for sale.
Lies were told by many parties to suggest that it was available despite the Charities Commission saying ‘No way, Jose!’