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Would-be MPs compete for city's sense of hope | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
By Chris Mason BBC News political correspondent, in Bradford | By Chris Mason BBC News political correspondent, in Bradford |
The Bradford West by-election takes place on Thursday, but what is the mood among voters and candidates? | The Bradford West by-election takes place on Thursday, but what is the mood among voters and candidates? |
A teenager with her school uniform on, but shoes off, splashes around in the water. | A teenager with her school uniform on, but shoes off, splashes around in the water. |
She is one of about 100 enjoying the so-called "mirror pool". | She is one of about 100 enjoying the so-called "mirror pool". |
Bradford City Park has the feel, and mood, of the seaside. | Bradford City Park has the feel, and mood, of the seaside. |
The 4,000 sq metre pool has just opened. It is a couple of inches deep and features 100 fountains. And it has been a long time coming. | The 4,000 sq metre pool has just opened. It is a couple of inches deep and features 100 fountains. And it has been a long time coming. |
The writer Bill Bryson once wrote that Bradford's role in life was to make everywhere else look better. | The writer Bill Bryson once wrote that Bradford's role in life was to make everywhere else look better. |
Many a previously proud Bradfordian has reluctantly agreed with him recently. | Many a previously proud Bradfordian has reluctantly agreed with him recently. |
'No good' | 'No good' |
A city centre renovation project fell through. That area remains a barricaded-off wasteland. Civic pride has been in short supply. | A city centre renovation project fell through. That area remains a barricaded-off wasteland. Civic pride has been in short supply. |
Beyond the screams, the smiles and the splashes, the prospects for many remain bleak. | Beyond the screams, the smiles and the splashes, the prospects for many remain bleak. |
"It's really hard to find work," Michelle, aged 34, says. "I have been trying to find a job for a few months now. Everyone on the social seems to be going on holiday and when you are actually looking for a job you don't get nothing. The politicians need to sort out their priorities." | "It's really hard to find work," Michelle, aged 34, says. "I have been trying to find a job for a few months now. Everyone on the social seems to be going on holiday and when you are actually looking for a job you don't get nothing. The politicians need to sort out their priorities." |
"I went to college but that was no good," adds Rhiannon, 19. "Then I left and I started looking for work. I've still not got anything." | "I went to college but that was no good," adds Rhiannon, 19. "Then I left and I started looking for work. I've still not got anything." |
Natasha, who is also 19, reveals that she has been out of work for a year. | Natasha, who is also 19, reveals that she has been out of work for a year. |
Bradford West has been a Labour seat since 1974. The outgoing MP Marsha Singh stood down due to ill health, triggering a by-election. | Bradford West has been a Labour seat since 1974. The outgoing MP Marsha Singh stood down due to ill health, triggering a by-election. |
'Finished article' | 'Finished article' |
But voters here can buck national trends. In 1997, the year of the Labour landslide nationally, there was a swing to the Conservatives. In 2010, when Labour lost power, there was a swing to the party here. | But voters here can buck national trends. In 1997, the year of the Labour landslide nationally, there was a swing to the Conservatives. In 2010, when Labour lost power, there was a swing to the party here. |
The Labour candidate Imran Hussain, 33, is a barrister, and long-standing chairman of the local Labour Party. | The Labour candidate Imran Hussain, 33, is a barrister, and long-standing chairman of the local Labour Party. |
"These are difficult times for people here," he says, knocking on a door in Allerton, a leafy part of the constituency overlooking the city centre. | "These are difficult times for people here," he says, knocking on a door in Allerton, a leafy part of the constituency overlooking the city centre. |
"One of the things that is coming across very strongly on the doorsteps is long-term youth unemployment. That has tripled here since this time last year." | "One of the things that is coming across very strongly on the doorsteps is long-term youth unemployment. That has tripled here since this time last year." |
But could the left-leaning vote be split? The former Labour MP George Galloway is running for Respect, complete with an advertising van and a recorded message delivered via megaphone. "I know how to do the job. I am the finished article," it booms. | But could the left-leaning vote be split? The former Labour MP George Galloway is running for Respect, complete with an advertising van and a recorded message delivered via megaphone. "I know how to do the job. I am the finished article," it booms. |
Mr Galloway sees an opportunity emerging out of the so-called "donations-for-dinner" row at Westminster in the last few days. | Mr Galloway sees an opportunity emerging out of the so-called "donations-for-dinner" row at Westminster in the last few days. |
"The political class that we have at the top as was shown in the cash-for-honours extensive police enquiry and now this new scandal involving the Tories shows a revolving door between multi-millionaires and political funding. And it is definitely an issue that is beginning to emerge in the by-election." | "The political class that we have at the top as was shown in the cash-for-honours extensive police enquiry and now this new scandal involving the Tories shows a revolving door between multi-millionaires and political funding. And it is definitely an issue that is beginning to emerge in the by-election." |
Jockeying | Jockeying |
Nearby, Conservative candidate Jackie Whiteley is introducing herself to staff at one of the constituency's biggest employers, Seabrooks Crisps. As we don hairnets and overalls for a tour of the factory, we are told they make a million bags of crisps a day here. Mrs Whiteley is here to make friends and meet apprentices. | Nearby, Conservative candidate Jackie Whiteley is introducing herself to staff at one of the constituency's biggest employers, Seabrooks Crisps. As we don hairnets and overalls for a tour of the factory, we are told they make a million bags of crisps a day here. Mrs Whiteley is here to make friends and meet apprentices. |
I put it to her that the Conservatives need to win seats like this if they are to gain an overall majority at the next general election. | I put it to her that the Conservatives need to win seats like this if they are to gain an overall majority at the next general election. |
She replies that "it is" the case, adding: "I think it is going to be really close, and I am very positive. Bradford West has never had a woman MP and I want to change that." | She replies that "it is" the case, adding: "I think it is going to be really close, and I am very positive. Bradford West has never had a woman MP and I want to change that." |
Among the other parties in contention here, there is an interesting jockeying for position. | Among the other parties in contention here, there is an interesting jockeying for position. |
The yardstick both the Liberal Democrats and the UK Independence Party use to measure their own success is not winning, but beating each other. | The yardstick both the Liberal Democrats and the UK Independence Party use to measure their own success is not winning, but beating each other. |
Is it all about coming third? I ask Sonja McNally, the UKIP candidate. | Is it all about coming third? I ask Sonja McNally, the UKIP candidate. |
'Rock 'n' roll' | 'Rock 'n' roll' |
"Yes, it is," she says, before explaining her recent conversion from the Green Party to Nigel Farage's outfit. | "Yes, it is," she says, before explaining her recent conversion from the Green Party to Nigel Farage's outfit. |
With the Liberal Democrats' poll ratings ranging from the lacklustre to the downright dire, the party appears to have lost its by-election mojo since the coalition was formed. | With the Liberal Democrats' poll ratings ranging from the lacklustre to the downright dire, the party appears to have lost its by-election mojo since the coalition was formed. |
So much so here that, while Messrs Cameron and Miliband have paid a visit, when I meet Lib Dem candidate Jeanette Sunderland, her leader is in South Korea. | So much so here that, while Messrs Cameron and Miliband have paid a visit, when I meet Lib Dem candidate Jeanette Sunderland, her leader is in South Korea. |
"It is a damned good job Nick Clegg is in Korea," she says defiantly. "Have you seen the amount of business that is going to come Britain's way as a result of him being there? I think you can do a damned sight more for Bradford West there than coming here for half an hour and only talking to journalists." | "It is a damned good job Nick Clegg is in Korea," she says defiantly. "Have you seen the amount of business that is going to come Britain's way as a result of him being there? I think you can do a damned sight more for Bradford West there than coming here for half an hour and only talking to journalists." |
My rapid-fire relay around Bradford concludes with a chat to Dawud Islam, running for the Green Party. | My rapid-fire relay around Bradford concludes with a chat to Dawud Islam, running for the Green Party. |
"I think this election is about who can bring real hope. I don't see it in the main three parties, and then you have got a showbiz rock 'n' roll politician (Mr Galloway), who brings all sorts of baggage with him." | "I think this election is about who can bring real hope. I don't see it in the main three parties, and then you have got a showbiz rock 'n' roll politician (Mr Galloway), who brings all sorts of baggage with him." |
And yes, jobs, hope - however that is articulated - and a deeper-seated feeling that politicians care is what people here appear to crave. | And yes, jobs, hope - however that is articulated - and a deeper-seated feeling that politicians care is what people here appear to crave. |
The two other candidates running in the by-election are Neil Craig of Democratic Nationalists and Alan "Howling Laud" Hope, who will stand for the Monster Raving Loony William Hill Party. | The two other candidates running in the by-election are Neil Craig of Democratic Nationalists and Alan "Howling Laud" Hope, who will stand for the Monster Raving Loony William Hill Party. |
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