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Leeds
Aug 9, 2023 17:33:08 GMT
Post by BossMan on Aug 9, 2023 17:33:08 GMT
Leeds
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Leeds
Aug 13, 2023 13:47:35 GMT
Post by gibbon on Aug 13, 2023 13:47:35 GMT
Over the last few years quite a number of councillors have not sought re[election inn Leeds. How may due to seek re-election in 2024 will decide to retire?
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Leeds
Dec 7, 2023 10:36:28 GMT
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Post by kvasir on Dec 7, 2023 10:36:28 GMT
In order to avoid a Section 114 notice Leeds City Council have to make pretty big cuts whilst increasing council tax. news.leeds.gov.uk/news/buildings-closures-service-changes-and-price-increases-proposed-as-leeds-city-council-tackles-local-government-budget-crisisBuildings closures, service changes and price increases proposed as Leeds City Council tackles local government budget crisis05 Dec 2023 Initial budget proposals for 2024/25 announced Building closures and sales, new car parking charges, service and staffing reductions and price increases are among wide-ranging changes being proposed as Leeds City Council sets out its annual budget plans for next year. The council has today published its initial budget proposals for 2024/25 which will be discussed by senior councillors at the executive board meeting at Civic Hall on Wednesday 13 December. The proposals identify ways to save a further £58.4million in the year ahead alongside £7.4m of already agreed savings to deliver the required balanced budget. The key elements proposed include: Council tax to increase by 4.99 per cent (with two per cent of this dedicated to support adult social care funding) To explore options to reduce opening hours at community hubs and libraries across the city Knowle Manor Care Home in Morley to close due to the building not being adequate for future care provision, Dolphin Manor Care Home in Rothwell to be repurposed to become a recovery hub Reviews of fees and charges for adult social care in Leeds Review of council-managed children’s centres and Little Owls nurseries, based upon sufficiency need and financial viability Review of fees and pricing for the hiring of community centres in Leeds Charging proposed to be introduced at car parks at Barley Hill Road in Garforth, Netherfield Road in Guiseley, Fink Hill in Horsforth and Marsh Street in Rothwell. Consultation on introducing charges at two car parks in Wetherby is already underway Car parking charging proposed to be introduced at Middleton Park, Roundhay Park and Temple Newsam Park. Initial consultation has already been undertaken about introducing charges at Golden Acre Park and Otley Chevin Forest Park Pudsey Civic Hall which operates at a loss to be closed and potentially made available for sale Council to seek to end lease at Thwaite Watermill Museum (Thwaite Mills) through discussions with owners Canal & River Trust Bulky waste removal charges to remain free for each household’s first collection and then be reintroduced for more than one collection in the same year Council staffing levels to reduce by up to 750 full-time equivalent posts by the end of the 2024/25 financial year (the council currently has approximately 3,440 fewer staff than it did in 2010) with ongoing trade union consultation to avoid compulsory redundancies As confirmed by the council in September (Leeds City Council considering range of significant new measures to meet ongoing budget challenge) all assets and services are being continuously assessed and reviewed to see how they can help mitigate the financial position. The council has also enacted a freeze on recruitment, as well as on non-essential spending except where necessary for health and safety or statutory reasons. The financial difficulty being experienced across local government reflects issues being felt nationally as a result of rising costs and demand for services, especially for looked after children, those with special care and education needs as well as for adult social care, together with an unfunded nationally-agreed pay increase for council staff. These are all factors that have been cited as contributing towards the recent announcements from councils that are issuing Section 114 notices, meaning they are unable to set a balanced budget as is required of all councils every year. The position in Leeds also reflects the impact of funding reductions, cost increases and demand pressures for council services since 2010. Between 2010 and the end of 2024/25, the council will have had to deliver savings totalling £795million in that period. The balance of how the council is funded has also significantly altered over that time. In 2013, the Revenue Support Grant from the government accounted for 35.6 per cent of the council’s annual budget, with 39.9 per cent coming from council tax and 24.4 per cent from business rates. For next year the Revenue Support Grant is expected to be just 5.5 per cent of the annual budget, with council tax funding 68 per cent and business rates 26.5 per cent, indicating a clear shift away from national government funding to locally delivered taxes underpinning the funding of local services people rely on. The latest Revenue Support Grant figure will be confirmed following the local government finance settlement expected shortly before Christmas. After previously calling the system of local government funding “broken”, the Leader of Leeds City Council Councillor James Lewis is clear that council services will have to change with the aim of avoiding the financial difficulties being currently experienced by councils around the country. Leader of Leeds City Council Councillor James Lewis said: “We know some of the proposals we have set out today will be unpopular as they will have a challenging impact on people’s lives. As is increasingly being seen around the country, councils have only very difficult choices left to use to balance their budgets, meet the needs of residents and not risk being driven to the point of financial distress. Local government cannot continue in this way, it simply isn’t workable. “In the immediate short-term, we call on the government to use the upcoming finance settlement to provide the urgent help all councils clearly need, especially in the face of the rising costs and demand in children’s services to help support and protect our most vulnerable children and young people.” Despite the financial difficulty, the council remains committed to the Best City Ambition for Leeds to be a welcoming city with a strong economy offering opportunities for all, tackling poverty and inequality through the key pillars of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth and zero carbon. Leeds City Council was formally praised last year for how it operates following a peer review carried out by the Local Government Association. The LGA team returned to Leeds this summer for a progress review and were again positive in their findings, while recognising the significant ongoing financial challenge the council is facing. Councillor Lewis added: “As the LGA review identified, a real strength we have in the city is the ‘Team Leeds’ approach, with organisations, groups, and communities coming together to provide collective resilience and a desire to help people and deliver through sharing ideas and embracing new ways of working through innovation. This reflects the people of Leeds as a whole and we will need to continue to draw on that collective strength in order to get through the difficult months ahead, which I am confident we can do, but nobody should be under any illusions as to how hard the position is.” The difficulty of the financial position is further shown by an overspend of £35.3million for the current financial year, while there is also a projected expectation to save a further £60.6m in 2025/26 and £46.1m in 2026/27.
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Leeds
Dec 8, 2023 16:19:58 GMT
Post by gibbon on Dec 8, 2023 16:19:58 GMT
I am reliably informed that for years finance officers have included in the initial draft budget the introduction of car parking fees at Golden Acre, Otley, Roundhay and other parks. It happened in the 1990s, during the time of the Rainbow coalition, and since the beginning of the austerity cuts since 2010. When the politicians rejected these proposals officers found other cuts which went through without anyone noticing what has happened.
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YL
Non-Aligned
Either Labour leaning or Lib Dem leaning but not sure which
Posts: 4,353
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Post by YL on Apr 5, 2024 15:14:58 GMT
Nice and quick: www.leeds.gov.uk/your-council/elections/leeds-city-council-elections(shame about the format) Lab 33 Con 33 Green 33 Lib Dem 33 SDP 19 (not in Adel & Wharfedale, Alwoodley, Calverley & Farsley, Cross Gates & Whinmoor, Garforth & Swillington, Gipton & Harehills, Guiseley & Rawdon, Harewood, Headingley, Kippax & Methley, Kirkstall, Little London & Woodhouse, Otley & Yeadon, Pudsey) Yorkshire Party 12 (Adel & Wharfedale, Alwoodley, Ardsley & Robin Hood, Armley, Burmantofts & Richmond Hill, Chapel Allerton, Cross Gates & Whinmoor, Guiseley & Rawdon, Horsforth, Moortown, Otley & Yeadon, Rothwell) TUSC 7 (Beeston & Holbeck, Burmantofts & Richmond Hill, Gipton & Harehills, Headingley, Hunslet & Riverside, Kirkstall, Little London & Woodhouse) Reform UK 6 (Cross Gates & Whinmoor, Garforth & Swillington, Killingbeck & Seacroft, Morley S, Pudsey, Temple Newsam) Morley Borough Independents 2 (Morley N, Morley S) Alliance for Green Socialism 1 (Chapel Allerton) Garforth & Swillington Ind 1 (guess!) Ind 4 (Garforth & Swillington, Headingley, Morley N, Morley S) no description 1 (Kirkstall) The Independent in Garforth & Swillington is Tyler Wilson-Kerr of Selby & Ainsty by-election "fame".
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Leeds
Apr 5, 2024 15:38:23 GMT
YL likes this
Post by robert1 on Apr 5, 2024 15:38:23 GMT
Not checked precisely, and happy to be corrected, but Reform candidates seem to be primarily but not solely in the east of the city.
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YL
Non-Aligned
Either Labour leaning or Lib Dem leaning but not sure which
Posts: 4,353
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Leeds
Apr 5, 2024 15:50:29 GMT
Post by YL on Apr 5, 2024 15:50:29 GMT
Not checked precisely, and happy to be corrected, but Reform candidates seem to be primarily but not solely in the east of the city. Four of the five wards wholly or partly in the new Leeds East constituency, plus Morley S and Pudsey which are elsewhere.
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Post by kvasir on Apr 6, 2024 13:40:12 GMT
Leeds once again continues the practice of having a pretty decent number of candidates for voters to choose from with four parties managing a full roster again: the Labour Party, Conservative and Unionist Party, Liberal Democrats, and the Green Party of England and Wales. There are 185 candidates spread out over 33 wards so an average number of candidates per ward of 5.6. Would be interesting to know if this is the largest this election.
On one extreme, three wards have four candidates only: Calverley & Farsley, Harewood, and Kippax & Methley. At the other end of the scale, the good voters of Morley South have the choice of eight.
The Labour Party are defending 17 seats. Three Labour councillors have stood down this election: Armley, Beeston & Holbeck, and Bramley & Stanningley. This makes 14 Labour incumbents. There are also 13 Labour Party candidates running concurrently for the Co-operative Party (a reduction of two from 2023).
We say goodbye to two political parties that graced our presence last year; the Breakthrough Party, and the Northern Independence Party. There are also only four independent candidates this year, a reduction of one. However, this is more than made up for by other political parties pulling their weight more. The Social Democratic Party has 19 candidates, an increase of six. The Yorkshire Party has twelve, an increase of four. And Reform UK has six, an increase of three. So overall there is an increase of ten candidates from 2023.
The Labour Party currently have a working majority of 23 and are likely to retain that control. The question is whether Labour can increase their majority. An unlikely seat that is seeing real campaigning in is Alwoodley. The Conservative and Unionist Party candidate is the incumbent. He has put out a very deceptive leaflet claiming the Labour Party are responsible for a bus route closure. This is likely because the Labour Party candidate is running on this issue. She was the candidate last year which saw the Labour Party increase their vote share by 7.7% bringing the majority down to 903. It is a big ask but based on resource allocation, the Labour Party clearly think they can make even further gains here.
The Green Party of England and Wales have renominated the former Labour Party councillor Lou Cunningham, who ran for them in 2023 and came within 185 votes of winning. As mentioned, the Labour Party do not have the incumbency advantage here. It may prove a challenging hold. The Green Party of England and Wales are also putting the same candidate up as in 2023 in Hunslet and Riverside. Last year the Labour Party held the seat by 286, but the Green Party of England and Wales won the third seat the year before that narrowly. It will be quite the battle.
Moving South into the NIMBY heartland of Morley, we should note that two of the six elected Morley Borough Independents councillors have left the Morley Borough Independents to sit as independents. This quintessential local party for local people will definitely win Morley North. They will probably win Morley South but the Labour Party and the Co-operative Party are putting up Morley Town Councillor Charlotte Hill from Central Ward who is a solid campaigner and popular. I do not predict that the Labour Party and Co-operative Party will win, but I would not be that surprised if they pulled it off. Then again, it is hard to not bet on NIMBYism in its purist form.
A bright spot for the Conservative and Unionist Party is Amanda Carter is standing for re-election in Calverley & Farsley. The Carter's are an institution and her husband Andrew Carter recently stepped aside as the (very) long standing leader of the Leeds Conservative and Unionist Party. I did wonder if they'd keep going. This means that the Labour Party and Co-operative Party candidate Craig Timmins is in for a tricky election. The Labour Party won last year against the non-Carter, and they are continuing with a very strong campaign.
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Leeds
Apr 7, 2024 23:03:15 GMT
Post by blocktext on Apr 7, 2024 23:03:15 GMT
I predict the following potential changes. In order of liklehood.
Guiseley & Rawdon LAB Gain from CON - I'd say this one is a definite. LAB have won the last two years and won against as strong Tory incumbant. Calverley & Farsley LAB Gain from CON - I think the Carter era is now over. Middleton Park SDP Gain from LAB - No reason to think that the SDP won't take the third seat in a row here. Ardsley & Robin Hood LAB Gain from CON - Although there is also a LDem campaign here - so there is a slim chance of a CON incumbant hold or even a LDem win. Farnley & Wortley LAB Gain from GRE - The Greens have been dropping back here dramatically and are down to just one seat, albeit their leader. Morley North LAB Gain from MBI - There is trouble in the MBI's with two recent resignations and I assume the IND candidate will take votes from the MBI to let LAB in. Headingley & Hyde Park GRE Gain from LAB - Perhaps a long shot but GRE have been getting closer and have the same candidate. Defending the seat as the Lord Mayor is not always easy.
Outside chances (again in order) Pudsey LAB Gain from CON - Has been LAB in the past and with the CON unpopularity nationally and especially in the North, this seat could be vulnerable. Armley GRE Gain from LAB - popular GRE candidate who was a former LAB councillor and just missed out on holding her seat last year despite party switch. Weetwood LDem Gain from LAB - previous LDem councillor trying to win back his seat. Wetherby GRE Gain from CON - very unlikley given it is the new CON leader, but they did lose the seat last year so given national unrest this could be on the radar Hunslet & Riveside GRE Gain from LAB - GRE were unable to pick up a second seat last year, but you never know.
GRE have been building their position up in Leeds, but have not been brilliant at targeting wards. They could get anywhere from 2-7 Seats, LDem continue to fail to make any headway and are likely to remain on 6 seats but on a good day could go to 8. SDP will either be on 2 or 3 seats. GSI will remain on 3 seats. MBI will be on 3 or 4 seats. CON anywhere between 13-17 seats and LAB 56 to 67 seats.
My prediction though is LAB 64 (+3) CON 15 (-3) LDEM 6 (nc) MBI 3 (-1) GRE 3 (nc) GSI 3 (nc) SDP 3 (+1) IND 2 (nc)
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Leeds
Apr 8, 2024 12:45:21 GMT
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Post by kvasir on Apr 8, 2024 12:45:21 GMT
I predict the following potential changes. In order of liklehood. Guiseley & Rawdon LAB Gain from CON - I'd say this one is a definite. LAB have won the last two years and won against as strong Tory incumbant. Calverley & Farsley LAB Gain from CON - I think the Carter era is now over. Middleton Park SDP Gain from LAB - No reason to think that the SDP won't take the third seat in a row here. Ardsley & Robin Hood LAB Gain from CON - Although there is also a LDem campaign here - so there is a slim chance of a CON incumbant hold or even a LDem win. Farnley & Wortley LAB Gain from GRE - The Greens have been dropping back here dramatically and are down to just one seat, albeit their leader. Morley North LAB Gain from MBI - There is trouble in the MBI's with two recent resignations and I assume the IND candidate will take votes from the MBI to let LAB in. Headingley & Hyde Park GRE Gain from LAB - Perhaps a long shot but GRE have been getting closer and have the same candidate. Defending the seat as the Lord Mayor is not always easy. Outside chances (again in order) Pudsey LAB Gain from CON - Has been LAB in the past and with the CON unpopularity nationally and especially in the North, this seat could be vulnerable. Armley GRE Gain from LAB - popular GRE candidate who was a former LAB councillor and just missed out on holding her seat last year despite party switch. Weetwood LDem Gain from LAB - previous LDem councillor trying to win back his seat. Wetherby GRE Gain from CON - very unlikley given it is the new CON leader, but they did lose the seat last year so given national unrest this could be on the radar Hunslet & Riveside GRE Gain from LAB - GRE were unable to pick up a second seat last year, but you never know. GRE have been building their position up in Leeds, but have not been brilliant at targeting wards. They could get anywhere from 2-7 Seats, LDem continue to fail to make any headway and are likely to remain on 6 seats but on a good day could go to 8. SDP will either be on 2 or 3 seats. GSI will remain on 3 seats. MBI will be on 3 or 4 seats. CON anywhere between 13-17 seats and LAB 56 to 67 seats. My prediction though is LAB 64 (+3) CON 15 (-3) LDEM 6 (nc) MBI 3 (-1) GRE 3 (nc) GSI 3 (nc) SDP 3 (+1) IND 2 (nc) I would think Morley South is more likely than Morley North to flip.
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Post by Ron Swanson on Apr 8, 2024 14:57:51 GMT
I'd be very surprised if Morley North went to Labour.
Morley South would be one to keep an eye on, Labour have held a seat there for most of the last 20 years.
The area is very parochial, even rejecting MBI leader Robert Finnigan in 2018 when he swapped from the much safer Morley North, to try and make Morley a Labour free zone.
There are 8 candidates standing this time, Tory candidate lives in Bradford, probably works for Andrea Jenkyns... though I do know they were struggling to fill all the vacancies in Leeds (the area manager's wife is standing in Rothwell... lol).
The MBI candidate for Morley N is a good guy, and the one for Morley S is probably the most visible of all the sitting MBI Cllrs... would be a shame if she got beat. A much bigger shake up would be welcome on the town council, they attempted a stitch up last time to get a few Tories on and folk voted for the better known of the Labour candidates instead.
Other than Harewood I could well see the Tories defeated in all the seats they are defending here. They've punched above their weight in the Pudsey constituency at local level for a few years, but I think that luck could run out, Pudsey ward I could see them holding but they'll lose in Guiseley for sure, Farsley potentially.
They were thrashed in Wetherby last year... Alan Lamb is up against it, you'd expect Labour & Lib Dem to tactically vote Green...
Ardsley... I saw Mike Foster out leafleting yesterday, with his wife & son - nice bloke actually who has tried his best with no support from the local party... can see him finishing 3rd behind Labour and LD, which would be a shame. Not a reflection on him I don't think.
Greens could take Hunslet, and Headingley, but I think they'll be a bit short in both, Labour majorities of under 500 in both cases would be my guess.
SDP will probably take Middleton again, which will give them two years of a full slate and give them an indication of where to target next, though I don't see them making much progress. Places like Ardsley, Morley S would be naturally friendly territory but it would take years to get a foothold... I'd not waste my time personally.
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Post by blocktext on Apr 8, 2024 20:49:23 GMT
You may both be right about Morley South, my rationale was that Bob Gettings (former Lord Mayor of Leeds) resgined from the MBI in Morley North this month and went IND and he was their most popular councillor (vote wise) and last year their leader also in Morley North dropped 6.8%. I note that there is an independent candidate in Morley North - Jill Gettings-Bellhouse. I know nothing about her, but wonder if she is related to (and backed) by Bob Gettings. IF she is, she could take some of the MBI vote, whilst the LAB vote may not go up by much it might just be enough to let LAB in. A slight technicality but I think LAB have held a seat in Morley South for 10 years (half not most) of the last 20 years.
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Leeds
Apr 8, 2024 21:23:41 GMT
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Post by Ron Swanson on Apr 8, 2024 21:23:41 GMT
You may both be right about Morley South, my rationale was that Bob Gettings (former Lord Mayor of Leeds) resgined from the MBI in Morley North this month and went IND and he was their most popular councillor (vote wise) and last year their leader also in Morley North dropped 6.8%. I note that there is an independent candidate in Morley North - Jill Gettings-Bellhouse. I know nothing about her, but wonder if she is related to (and backed) by Bob Gettings. IF she is, she could take some of the MBI vote, whilst the LAB vote may not go up by much it might just be enough to let LAB in. A slight technicality but I think LAB have held a seat in Morley South for 10 years (half not most) of the last 20 years. The MBI candidate for Morley N is ex military, which would no doubt count for a lot here. I’m not an enthusiastic MBI supporter by any means but would support him, and as I’m south of the border will vote MBI for this candidate specifically. Finnigan has a lot of (political) bodies in his rear view mirror, they fall out every five minutes yet still maintain a hegemony over the voters here, given that he lives in Kirklees and has no obvious ongoing connection to Morley I’m not sure why he remains a councillor for here tbh. Phil Bennett sells meat and lives in Pontefract, a few people I know who’ve pledged their support for him live in Beeston. Meanwhile Nigel Perry of the SDP is a nice bloke, he was a supply teacher at Hugh Gaitskell Primary 30 years ago when I was there.
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Leeds
Apr 8, 2024 21:37:10 GMT
Post by blocktext on Apr 8, 2024 21:37:10 GMT
Given the St.George's Day Patriotism in Morley I get that, I wasn't aware of the MBI candidate's pedigree - its not my area. A former partner of mine lives in Morley and always votes MBI as they are all 'none of the above'. If that plays out then it will be an MBI hold. IIRC there are 3 criteria to be eligible to stand for LCC 1) Live in LCC area 2) own property in LCC area 3) work in LCC area. If you are an incumbant councillor that alone gives you eligibility. He either continues to have a passion for Morley or likes the financial compensation!
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Leeds
Apr 9, 2024 11:58:24 GMT
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Post by Ron Swanson on Apr 9, 2024 11:58:24 GMT
Given the St.George's Day Patriotism in Morley I get that, I wasn't aware of the MBI candidate's pedigree - its not my area. A former partner of mine lives in Morley and always votes MBI as they are all 'none of the above'. If that plays out then it will be an MBI hold. IIRC there are 3 criteria to be eligible to stand for LCC 1) Live in LCC area 2) own property in LCC area 3) work in LCC area. If you are an incumbant councillor that alone gives you eligibility. He either continues to have a passion for Morley or likes the financial compensation! I think MBIs will hold north, possibly lose south. The Labour majority here is already uncomfortably large, with so many of their councillors having complete tenure too, massive majorities in many seats. Of course it is up to the opposition groups to get their house in order and challenge them as the SDP have, and LDs do successfully in Rothwell & Otley, though not so much elsewhere.
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Leeds
Apr 18, 2024 20:38:52 GMT
Post by blocktext on Apr 18, 2024 20:38:52 GMT
Morley Update - due to the fracturing of the party and the Independent candidates in both wards, I now expect that Labour could charge through the middle and gain both Morley seats as the Independent candidates will take votes from the Morley Borough Independents.
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Leeds
Apr 18, 2024 20:54:55 GMT
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Post by Ron Swanson on Apr 18, 2024 20:54:55 GMT
Morley Update - due to the fracturing of the party and the Independent candidates in both wards, I now expect that Labour could charge through the middle and gain both Morley seats as the Independent candidates will take votes from the Morley Borough Independents. A few businesses in the town centre are displaying posters in support of Phil Bennett, and indeed he had an ex Corrie actor doing a BBQ last Saturday using some of his meat… the burger was pretty good actually. Not a clue where the Labour candidate for Morley N is from, would be a shame if an outsider beat Simon Brown. I’m wondering if Mr Bruce is related to Karen Bruce, formerly a Lab cllr for Rothwell, or just a coincidence?
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Leeds
Apr 18, 2024 21:16:34 GMT
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Post by kvasir on Apr 18, 2024 21:16:34 GMT
Morley Update - due to the fracturing of the party and the Independent candidates in both wards, I now expect that Labour could charge through the middle and gain both Morley seats as the Independent candidates will take votes from the Morley Borough Independents. A few businesses in the town centre are displaying posters in support of Phil Bennett, and indeed he had an ex Corrie actor doing a BBQ last Saturday using some of his meat… the burger was pretty good actually. Not a clue where the Labour candidate for Morley N is from, would be a shame if an outsider beat Simon Brown. I’m wondering if Mr Bruce is related to Karen Bruce, formerly a Lab cllr for Rothwell, or just a coincidence? Stuart Bruce is Karen Bruce's husband and is a former Labour Party councillor of Middleton Park. He was pretty high up in the Labour Party during the new Labour years. Very much a Blairite.
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Leeds
Apr 18, 2024 21:18:01 GMT
Post by blocktext on Apr 18, 2024 21:18:01 GMT
I believe Mr and Mrs Bruce are an item. He was Labour Councillor for Middleton from 2000 to 2006 whilst she was Labour Councillor for Rothwell from 2010 to 2019
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Leeds
Apr 22, 2024 9:37:10 GMT
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jamie likes this
Post by bluelabour on Apr 22, 2024 9:37:10 GMT
Saw plenty of election signs driving through various parts of Leeds yesterday. Labour and Lib Dem in Weetwood ward, lots of Green ones in Headingley and Boston Spa. A single Tory one in Adel.
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