Batley and Spen by-election

There is a suggestion that the Tories have reached peak popularity, and now that the vaccine is up and running Johnson will no longer be able to rely on that for support.

It is gradually getting back to politics as usual, so now let’s see if the population begin to turn their attention to other issues.

Well done Ms.Leadbetter.

Good.

Excellent news. Perhaps people will lay off KS for a bit.

Good result for Kim Leadbetter but pretty shocking that Galloway got so many votes.

good result- much better than the gloomy predictions.

A good outcome in the end after a very dirty fight - surprised to see Galloway polled so many votes.

I hope the far rights lost their deposits.

This isn’t just a win for Labour but a win for decency and honour and all round niceness. Well done the people of Batley as well.

I'm so relieved. Well done Kim and her team.?

'Morning all.
Well done Kim. Excellent result.
I'm putting on the kettle too!

Very happy to see that despite Galloway dividing the vote , Labour have held the seat albeit by a small majority. Kim Leadbeter will be a good constituency MP with her constituents’ welfare at the heart of her policies and loyalties.

Well done to Kim Leadbeater and her team! Fantastic win!

Just woke up, put the iPad on straight away to find out. I’m overjoyed!!! Going to celebrate with a cup of tea!!

Labour hold. Today will be a good one.

Yorki Claiming that the UK would be under shariah law if Corbyn had won a GE is straying into ridiculous loony tune territory.

PS. I'm not a Corbyn supporter. I'm not even a Labour voter. However, this kind of assertion is just silly. In any case, Corbyn sits as an Independent.

Saetana

Kim Leadbetter was nominated for the Labour Party candidate because she is the sister of Jo Cox - no other reason, she has zero political experience and only joined the Labour Party this year. Voters are naturally reluctant to be manipulated in this way and, whilst I do not have a crystal ball, I would expect the Conservatives to win the seat. Leadbetter is not qualified for the job, its just Labour dog whistle politics that have made her their candidate.

Exactly how were voters "manipulated"?

Lin52.. I'm totally with you on your views.
Also, If Corbyn had his way we'd all be under shariah law by now. He is one crazy SOB. If another labourite sharing his views got into power
this country would have no hope. I like Boris, he's not a snow flake yes man. And I 'm glad we're out of the EU, we should never have gone into it. I'm sure all you lefties would like to argue, but I'm proud of our country and that's how it should remain. I'm a big supporter of our war veterans and not so long ago I was speaking to one, who told me that if his comrades were alive to see what they had fought for, regarding immigration control and the lack of harsh consequences for terrorists and Muslim extremists, they'd feel like they'd died for nothing. Britain is seen as the land of milk and honey, its time our leaders got tough and made British people proud again. I can never see this happening under a Labour government, maybe once, but certainly not now.

I still feel terribly sorry for Jo's children. Not a political opinion, they have just been on my mind frequently due to coverage of this by election.

Kim Leadbetter was nominated for the Labour Party candidate because she is the sister of Jo Cox - no other reason, she has zero political experience and only joined the Labour Party this year. Voters are naturally reluctant to be manipulated in this way and, whilst I do not have a crystal ball, I would expect the Conservatives to win the seat. Leadbetter is not qualified for the job, its just Labour dog whistle politics that have made her their candidate.

I am somewhat dismayed to see the criticism of KL having just joined the Party prior to the by-election. She was given special dispensation by the party because she has been involved with the charity work associated with her family and did not want to be seen to favour one party over another in the distribution. Seems reasonable to me. She is not the only candidate to have been given such dispensation. People in the armed forces who decide to change career and stand are also given it. They are prevented from belonging to a political party. It is quite normal for it to happen in such circumstances. You can get dispensation if you stood for another party in recent years but one faction now wants you in their camp. To those of you who say she is looking for the 'sympathy' vote - it is 5 years since her sister was assassinated. A long time to wait. Memories fade. She is standing because a perfectly good Labour candidate moved on, creating a vacancy. She has worked in the area with charities and perhaps feels she can now do more good as an MP. Good on her. I'm rooting for her and I hope she wins. At least her politics are those of 'unite' rather that 'divide and rule'.

winterwhite

Yes, I do think it is cynical (in response to a question above) to make assumptions about KL's other work drying up. I thought she had just shown little interest in politics until the by-election drew it to her attention. Is there anything so very wrong with that? Has happened before. I'm not a Labour Party supporter but I certainly hope she wins

What happened to the people who always say that MPs should have "real world" experience? I hope she wins too, although I fear she won't.

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Yes, I do think it is cynical (in response to a question above) to make assumptions about KL's other work drying up. I thought she had just shown little interest in politics until the by-election drew it to her attention. Is there anything so very wrong with that? Has happened before. I'm not a Labour Party supporter but I certainly hope she wins

Anniel

Some of you fail to recall that it was a Labour Govt that encouraged immigration and naturally you cannot blame the Muslims from bringing their Islamic beliefs here. Younger Muslims are probably much more progressive and open minded than their parents. Labour might have dug their own grave in this Constituency by making Jo Cox’s sister their candidate. She is a Lesbian and Muslims disapprove and i understand that of the local members who wanted to represent Labour one was a Muslim but they were passed over for the choice of candidate. I read that Ms Leadbetter was only a very recent new mrmber of the party. I read that the Muslim population will play a pivotal
role in the vote. It is most upsetting that no candidate has openly supported that poor teacher who fears for his life. None of them has the backbone to stand up for him. That includes the Consevatives. Whatever your party preferences all of us should be against hounding this teacher just as Ms Leadbetter’s sexuality is none of anyone’s business. But maybe we will find that the policy of multiculturalism has divided us rather than brought us altogether. Varian et al will be along to criticise my remarks along with other Labour Loyalists. Quite frankly the current bunch if politicians regardless of party are pygmies compared to those who went before them and i do not see those we elect getting any better in the near future. At least i can see that!

I'm sorry to disappoint you Anniel but I am not a Labour Loyalist. I am a fully paid up member of the Liberal Democrats.

I am appalled by this corrupt Tory government. I am appalled by the negative behaviour of the left wing of the Labour Party, but mostly I am appalled by the fact that our country is not a democracy. The appalling Tory government was foisted upon us by a minority of voters.

The only way we can ever get rid of these Tory chancers is by winning elections which are run under the totally undemocratic FPTP system and it is therefore necessary for all of us who do not want a Tory MP in our constituency to vote for the candidate best placed to beat the Tory candidate.

In Batley and Spen that candidate is the Labour Party candidate, Kim Leadbetter and so although I might prefer the LibDem candidate to win, I know he has very little hope of winning (and I think he also knows that) so I recommend everyone who has a vote in this by-election to vote for Kim Leadbetter.

Would it be very cynical to note that Kim Leadbetter's personal trainer work probably dried up during the epidemic? And that she showed no interest in becoming an MP before that. She wasn't even an LP member until very recently