Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2020 16:44:57 GMT
The construction of the M65 is a story of curious decisions, not least the way it bends around Blackburn as though it was considered too dangerous to approach too closely. The (in)famously named A666 takes drivers from the motorway into the town centre, skirting by Blackburn Rovers' ground in doing so. Rovers are no longer the Premier League winning side they once were, and arguably were not at the time, and certainly the town of Blackburn itself is a faded shadow of its former self. Positively for psephologists, however, is the relative stability of constituency boundaries, for Blackburn has barely changed in decades, and even the threatened upheaval of Zombie Reviews barely entertained changing anything around here. Blackburn, the seat, will continue to represent the tight core of the town and its immediate environs whatever happens with boundary machinations.
Blackburn is a divided town. Economically, socially, politically. Its core registers amongst the most deprived LSOA areas in the country, including Shadsworth and Audley in the south-east. Over a quarter of the population is of Asian heritage and the tensions which caused race-charged riots in similar Lancastrian towns in the 2000s (Oldham, Rochdale and Burnley amongst them) did not miss out Blackburn quite as well as the motorway does. Blackburn's history with the Labour Party is very well known - the local council has been more likely to be Labour controlled than otherwise - but from the 1970s onwards flashes of far-right success have disrupted the norm. The National Front initially, and the BNP and England First "Party" more recently, played on the unease and wariness amongst local people about the non-white, predominately Asian, population in the town.
The website of the local council - Blackburn with Darwen (not *and* Darwen, they are particular about that around those parts) - cannot hide some of the harsh truths about the vital statistics of the town. Health, wealth and education are all beneath the national average, and deprivation amongst the highest quartiles.
Certainly Blackburn's town centre feels typical for a place along the "cotton thread" of places across East Lancashire. The refurbished market and food hall is full of authentic world food stalls, with a south Asian bias, and whilst down-at-heel pubs attract decent crowds of regulars, the town centre has its fair share of dessert cafes and sub-continent fashion shops for its predominately Muslim population. Whilst the walk to Ewood Park is proof that the manufacturing wealth has dried up, there is still corners of wealth. Corporation Park is one example of how northern towns represented its Industrial Revolution dividend, and alongside this, the evidence of opposition to Labour Party candidatures in local elections. Many towns along these parts have their "show off" civic parks (Haslam in Preston, Queens in Burnley) and at 44 acres it is certainly worth checking out.
Two names are sewn into the history of Blackburn's political history. Barbara Castle, who took the title Baroness Castle of Blackburn at the end of her career, is often described as "the undoubtable" whenever she is profiled. We on these pages will know her very well, perhaps most famously for "In Place of Strife" which placed her in the middle of an existential argument within Labour about the role, power and influence of Trades Unions. Perhaps it is worth quoting, in the context of Labour's defeat in 2019, what Castle wrote in her diary after the 1970 election: " "I have a haunting feeling there is a silent majority sitting behind its lace curtains waiting to come out and vote Tory."
The second name is Jack Straw, who rose to the rank of Foreign Secretary. Again, we know how things worked out, with two significant strikes against Straw's reputation. The most significant was his role in supporting the Iraq War in a constituency with Muslim population of some significant number, He did suffer reduction in an otherwise large majorities at general elections as a result of the War, although Blackburn's internal problems also encouraged the BNP to stand a candidate in 2005 who saved their deposit. The second shadow against him was the alleged Cash for Access row, during which he sat as an Independent in the Commons. He once argued that the European Parliament should be abolished.
Blackburn's current MP, Kate Hollern, was chosen from an all-woman shortlist, Her majority is the highest any Labour MP has enjoyed for generations. And with her position comfortable, and the boundaries practically secured, she can at least be assured of a place in the Commons for as long as she likes.
Blackburn is a divided town. Economically, socially, politically. Its core registers amongst the most deprived LSOA areas in the country, including Shadsworth and Audley in the south-east. Over a quarter of the population is of Asian heritage and the tensions which caused race-charged riots in similar Lancastrian towns in the 2000s (Oldham, Rochdale and Burnley amongst them) did not miss out Blackburn quite as well as the motorway does. Blackburn's history with the Labour Party is very well known - the local council has been more likely to be Labour controlled than otherwise - but from the 1970s onwards flashes of far-right success have disrupted the norm. The National Front initially, and the BNP and England First "Party" more recently, played on the unease and wariness amongst local people about the non-white, predominately Asian, population in the town.
The website of the local council - Blackburn with Darwen (not *and* Darwen, they are particular about that around those parts) - cannot hide some of the harsh truths about the vital statistics of the town. Health, wealth and education are all beneath the national average, and deprivation amongst the highest quartiles.
Certainly Blackburn's town centre feels typical for a place along the "cotton thread" of places across East Lancashire. The refurbished market and food hall is full of authentic world food stalls, with a south Asian bias, and whilst down-at-heel pubs attract decent crowds of regulars, the town centre has its fair share of dessert cafes and sub-continent fashion shops for its predominately Muslim population. Whilst the walk to Ewood Park is proof that the manufacturing wealth has dried up, there is still corners of wealth. Corporation Park is one example of how northern towns represented its Industrial Revolution dividend, and alongside this, the evidence of opposition to Labour Party candidatures in local elections. Many towns along these parts have their "show off" civic parks (Haslam in Preston, Queens in Burnley) and at 44 acres it is certainly worth checking out.
Two names are sewn into the history of Blackburn's political history. Barbara Castle, who took the title Baroness Castle of Blackburn at the end of her career, is often described as "the undoubtable" whenever she is profiled. We on these pages will know her very well, perhaps most famously for "In Place of Strife" which placed her in the middle of an existential argument within Labour about the role, power and influence of Trades Unions. Perhaps it is worth quoting, in the context of Labour's defeat in 2019, what Castle wrote in her diary after the 1970 election: " "I have a haunting feeling there is a silent majority sitting behind its lace curtains waiting to come out and vote Tory."
The second name is Jack Straw, who rose to the rank of Foreign Secretary. Again, we know how things worked out, with two significant strikes against Straw's reputation. The most significant was his role in supporting the Iraq War in a constituency with Muslim population of some significant number, He did suffer reduction in an otherwise large majorities at general elections as a result of the War, although Blackburn's internal problems also encouraged the BNP to stand a candidate in 2005 who saved their deposit. The second shadow against him was the alleged Cash for Access row, during which he sat as an Independent in the Commons. He once argued that the European Parliament should be abolished.
Blackburn's current MP, Kate Hollern, was chosen from an all-woman shortlist, Her majority is the highest any Labour MP has enjoyed for generations. And with her position comfortable, and the boundaries practically secured, she can at least be assured of a place in the Commons for as long as she likes.
