How we voted last time and in referendum

IF THE Conservatives are to win a majority at the upcoming election, they will want to break-up the red streak that runs through West Yorkshire’s political map.

Slim majorities for the likes of Dewsbury’s Paula Sherriff (3,321) and Mary Creagh (2,176), both Labour, will no doubt be on the Tories’ hit-list.

But equally, Labour will be hoping to overturn Calder Valley Tory candidate Craig Whittaker’s majority of 609.

Labour’s Josh-Fenton Glynn saw the party’s vote increase by nearly 10 per cent in 2017, and will be hoping to regain such momentum this time round.

In Hemsworth, Labour’s

Jon Trickett has a majority of just over 10,000, which did decrease by around 2,000 from the previous election, but could be enough to retain his seat. Similarly, there would have to be a dramatic swing to overturn Tracy Brabin’s 8,961 majority in Batley and Spen.

But the thorny issue of Brexit could of course have a huge say in the final outcomes in this election, and particularly on whether a candidate’s constituents feel they represent their views on the subject.

Labour’s Mary Creagh is a strong remain advocate, but 66.4 per cent of her Wakefield constituency voted to leave the EU.

Likewise, Halifax’s Holly Lynch and Ms Sherriff, also

Labour candidates, represent leave areas, but voted to remain in the referendum.

Conservative candidate for the Calder Valley, Craig Whittaker, voted to remain in the referendum, but with his party leading the bid to leave the EU, could that confuse his position with voters?

Morley and Outwood candidate Andrea Jenkyns voted to leave the EU, but 50.3 per cent of Leeds as a whole voted to leave.