Can Jo Cox's Sister Fend Off The Tories In The Batley And Spen By-Election?

[ToraToraTora]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-57205425
less than 3000 majority.

[dannyk13]

Kim Leadbeater
https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1440166/Kim-Leadbeater-who-is-kim-leadbeater-partner-how-related-to-jo-cox-EVG

[Sunk]

I wonder which came first, Kim Leadbeaters conversion to the Labour Party, or the knowledge that Tracy Brabin was standing as City Mayor, and there would be a vacancy to fill?

[New Judge]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/nov/02/tracy-brabin-pays-tribute-to-jo-cox-in-maiden-commons-speach

“Labour MP Tracy Brabin, who was elected to replace Jo Cox, has paid a moving tribute to her friend and predecessor,…”

“Brabin was elected without opposition from the major parties at the by-election to replace Cox,…”

“ ‘I wasn’t elected in a conventional way and it was in the darkest of circumstances through the loss of my friend and inspiration, Jo Cox, that I came to be here,’…’ Brabin said.”

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/actress-tracy-brabin-reveals-how-9002471

“Born only a few miles and 12 years apart, Jo and Tracy went to the same school in Heckmondwike and when Tracy volunteered for Jo’s general election campaign in 2015, they found they were “cut from the same cloth”. “

I think that made them fairly good mates. As youngmaf says, the electorate doesn’t get to choose a party’s candidate.

[Sunk]

Thanks NJ

[Khandro]

Would she make a good MP & what is her track record in politics?
I don't think being the sister of someone murdered will cut it for thinking voters, but this is a desperate act by the Labour party, hungry for good news in a sea of misery, who knows?

[Zacs-Master]

You’re not familiar with the demographic of Batley & Spen, are you Khandro?

[Khandro]

No, enlighten me.

[Jackdaw33]

42% of the electorate are of Indian or Pakistani descent.

[Sunk]

Khandro

Jo Cox was a murdered woman, but she was also a well liked former local MP.

Brabin effectively resigned as MP when she got the nomination for Mayor of West Yorkshire last October. Presumably Leadbeater decided to join the Labour Party after that.

Brabin has got a pay rise to £105,000 for what is probably a lot less work.

[Sunk]

Jackdaw,
Are you sure that demographic is for Batley ?

https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/yorkshireandthehumber/west_yorkshire/E35001456__batley/

[Khandro]

sunk's link shows more like 20% Asian population, but how would that benefit the rookie sister of a murdered former MP?

[Sunk]

I used to go to Batley quite often, and there is a sizeable Asian population, but 42% sounded high. From what I have found 15K out of 76K is more accurate.

Whatever the mix, a 3,500 majority is small and easily overturned.

[Jackdaw33]

My mistake. Three towns in the constituency have 42% Asian population. Other parts will dilute that somewhat.

[Sunk]

Jackdaw,
From the constituency profile on wikipedia:
// The population in the district is diverse[. Cleckheaton and many of the towns in the Spen Valley have few residents from non-white heritage backgrounds, while Batley has a sizeable number of residents with South Asian backgrounds, namely Pakistani (9.2%) and Indian (Gujarati) (15.9%). Heckmondwike also has a well-established South Asian community with 16.9% residents having Pakistani heritage. //

[Jackdaw33]

That's where I got my figures from; added them up and got the wrong answer.

[jourdain2]

Kim L. is a much better bet for Labour than the brother of the chap who is leading the witch-hunt against the poor teacher at Batley for daring to expect academic fair-mindedness. He was being supported by a percentage of the population. I daresay sentimentality will shove a lot of votes towards Kim. It's a numbers exercise. I saw Batley change as I grew up,so can't really opine with any authority these days. A closer vote than it was i.m.o.p..