BBC Profile:
The predecessor seat of Morley and Rothwell was itself only created in 1997 as the successor to Morley and Leeds South. Labour's John Gunnell secured a majority of nearly 15,000 in 1997 and then after ill health forced his retirement in 2001 a negligible swing to the Conservatives left his successor Colin Challen with a 12,000 majority.
In 2005 both the Labour and Conservative share of the vote fell by over 5%, as an independent candidate won 10.8% of the vote with 4,608 votes, and with the BNP picking up 5.3%. Despite losing voter share, a slightly increased turnout meant Colin Challen registered a majority of 12,343.
At this election, the boundary changes reduce West Yorkshire's representation and this constituency is relatively unusual in crossing city boundaries. Rothwell moves from Morley and Rothwell into the new Elmet and Rothwell while Middleton becomes part of Leeds Central. The Wakefield wards around Outwood that come in and replace Rothwell as the second named place were formerly in the Normanton seat. To find out what might have happened had this boundary change been in force at the last election, see a notional - or estimated - result below.
This new West Yorkshire seat is made up of the town of Morley and a number of former pit villages either side of the border between the Leeds and Wakefield city council areas.
The areas traditional industries, such as textiles in Morley and mining in Outwood, have all but vanished, but the constituen
[More...]BBC Profile:
The predecessor seat of Morley and Rothwell was itself only created in 1997 as the successor to Morley and Leeds South. Labour's John Gunnell secured a majority of nearly 15,000 in 1997 and then after ill health forced his retirement in 2001 a negligible swing to the Conservatives left his successor Colin Challen with a 12,000 majority.
In 2005 both the Labour and Conservative share of the vote fell by over 5%, as an independent candidate won 10.8% of the vote with 4,608 votes, and with the BNP picking up 5.3%. Despite losing voter share, a slightly increased turnout meant Colin Challen registered a majority of 12,343.
At this election, the boundary changes reduce West Yorkshire's representation and this constituency is relatively unusual in crossing city boundaries. Rothwell moves from Morley and Rothwell into the new Elmet and Rothwell while Middleton becomes part of Leeds Central. The Wakefield wards around Outwood that come in and replace Rothwell as the second named place were formerly in the Normanton seat. To find out what might have happened had this boundary change been in force at the last election, see a notional - or estimated - result below.
This new West Yorkshire seat is made up of the town of Morley and a number of former pit villages either side of the border between the Leeds and Wakefield city council areas.
The areas traditional industries, such as textiles in Morley and mining in Outwood, have all but vanished, but the constituency has made a good recovery, buoyed by a diversified economy and the proximity to the booming city of Leeds.
The constituency is at the crossroads of the M1 and M62 motorways, and employers include engineering and distributive trades, many on industrial estates.
The area has become commuter territory and new housing is threatening to join up the villages between the two cities into something more like a single giant suburb.
Rallings & Thrasher Notional:
Lab 19,024 (45.96%)
C 10,355 (25.02%)
Others 7,851 (18.97%)
LD 4,159 (10.05%)
[Less...]
18,365 (36.11%)