2021 Batley and Spen by-election
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| Date | 1 July 2021 |
|---|---|
| Description | A by-election in the parliamentary constituency of Batley and Spen. |
The 2021 Batley and Spen by-election is scheduled to be held on 1 July 2021 following the resignation of Tracy Brabin MP on 10 May 2021.[1]
Candidates
- Christian Peoples Alliance Paul Bickerdike
- Alliance for Green Socialism Mike Davies
- Independent Jayda Fransen
- Workers Party of Britain George Galloway
- Liberal Democrats Tom Gordon
- English Democrat Thérèse Hirst
- Monster Raving Loony Howling Laud Hope
- Heritage Susan Laird
- Labour Party Kim Leadbeater
- SDP Ollie Purser
- Yorkshire Corey Robinson
- Rejoin EU Andrew Smith
- Conservative Party Ryan Stephenson
- UKIP Jack Thomson
- Freedom Alliance Jonathon Tilt
- For Britain Anne Marie Waters
Labour could lose
On 14 June 2021, The Times reported:
Labour’s support among British Muslims has fallen by a tenth under Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership, a poll reveals, amid party fears that it will lose next month’s by-election in Batley & Spen.
Starmer’s popularity lags far behind that of his party among Muslim voters after criticisms of his stance on Kashmir, Palestine and a report on Islamophobia in the party, according to poll findings seen by The Times.
The Labour leader has a favourability rating of minus 7 per cent among Muslim voters, compared with his party’s rating of 42 per cent.[2]
Number one issue
George Galloway, the Workers Party of Britain candidate, is running on a pro-Palestinian, anti-Keir Starmer platform and launched his campaign on 3 June 2021.[3]
On 14 June 2021, Aaron Bastani of Novara Media tweeted:
"Not long ago former Labour MP Anna Turley wrote that Labour must ignore issues like Palestine if it wants to win. Now everyone I speak to in Batley and Spen says it’s the number one issue (yes, really) among most Labour voters. I guess she’s a former MP for a reason."[4]
On 17 June, Galloway spoke to BBC Newsnight and said that he wants to play a historic part in toppling Starmer, and be a strong voice for Batley & Spen.[5]
On 18 June, Guido Fawkes exclusively reported that Labour was circulating a leaflet in the Mount Pleasant area of the constituency about Palestine.[6]
Leadbeater pulled out of a debate with Galloway on 19 June.[7] Galloway then attended it alone.[8]
Related Documents
| Title | Type | Publication date | Author(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Document:Batley and Spen by-election: Palestine becomes potential dealbreaker | Article | 18 June 2021 | Alex MacDonald | According to Coral, Galloway is currently on 50/1 odds to win, compared to 2/1 for Leadbeater and 2/5 for Conservative candidate Ryan Stephenson. William Hill has the Conservatives on 1/3, Labour at 5/2 and the WPGB at 33/1. |
| Document:Labour has ignored its voters – it is now paying the price | Article | 24 June 2021 | Paddy Hannam | George Galloway speaks to Spiked Online about the problems faced by the Labour Party, and his campaign in the 2021 Batley and Spen by-election |
References
- ↑ "Labour’s Tracy Brabin elected first mayor of West Yorkshire"
- ↑ "Keir Starmer could cost Labour by-election, activists fear"
- ↑ "George Galloway for Batley and Spen by-election campaign launch"
- ↑ "Palestine is the number one issue"
- ↑ "George on Newsnight"
- ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: LEADBEATER’S PALESTINE PLEA LETTER IN BATLEY & SPEN"
- ↑ https://order-order.com/2021/06/21/leadbeater-pulls-out-of-debate-with-galloway/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehd-CwrU_AM&t=316s
