Batley and Spen (UK Parliament constituency)

UK constituency infobox
Name = Batley and Spen
Map1 = BatleySpen
Type = Borough
Map2 = WestYorkshire
Entity = West Yorkshire
County = West Yorkshire
Year = 1983
MP = Mike Wood
Party = Labour
EP = Yorkshire and the Humber

Batley and Spen is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election. It is a marginal seat between Labour and the Conservatives.

Boundaries

This constituency covers the town of Batley (mostly Labour-voting) and the surrounding Spen valley area (more Conservative-inclined).Unusually,the seat has swung more in Labour's favour since 1997.For the purposes of the next general election, Heckmondwike has been included as part of the constituency; a ward that is typically a Labour/BNP ^{[http://www.kirklees.gov.uk/you-kmc/kmc-howcouncilworks/votingandelections/election04/Results.asp?Chosen=2007&ward=16]} stronghold, especially in the local elections. The BNP's representation in the town was cut in half due to a broad-based community campaign by Labour at the 2008 council elections which saw the sitting BNP councillor defeated.

Members of Parliament

* 1983 – 1997: Elizabeth Peacock, Conservative
* 1997 – "present": Mike Wood, Labour

The seat did not exist in its present form prior to 1983. It has seen not insignificant boundary changes during that time - most notably those changes that took effect for the 1997 General Election.

Election results

Election box begin
title=General Election 2005: Batley and SpenElection box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Mike Wood
votes = 17,974
percentage = 45.8
change = −4.1Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Robert Light
votes = 12,186
percentage = 31.1
change = −5.6Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
candidate = Neil Bentley
votes = 5,731
percentage = 14.6
change = +4.3Election box candidate with party link
party = British National Party
candidate = Colin Auty
votes = 2,668
percentage = 6.8
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Green Party of England and Wales
candidate = Clive Lord
votes = 649
percentage = 1.7
change = +0.2Election box majority
votes = 5,788
percentage = 14.8
change = Election box turnout
votes = 39,208
percentage = 62.3
change = +1.8Election box hold with party link
winner = Labour Party (UK)
swing = Election box begin
title=General Election 2001: Batley and SpenElection box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Mike Wood
votes = 19,224
percentage = 49.9
change = +0.5Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Elizabeth Peacock
votes = 14,160
percentage = 36.7
change = +0.4Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
candidate = Kathryn Pinnock
votes = 3,989
percentage = 10.3
change = +1.5Election box candidate with party link
party = Green Party of England and Wales
candidate = Clive Lord
votes = 595
percentage = 1.5
change = +0.7Election box candidate with party link
party = United Kingdom Independence Party
candidate = Allen Burton
votes = 574
percentage = 1.5
change = "N/A"Election box majority
votes = 5,064
percentage = 13.2
change = Election box turnout
votes = 38,542
percentage = 60.5
change = −12.6Election box hold with party link
winner = Labour Party (UK)
swing =

See also

* List of Parliamentary constituencies in West Yorkshire