The Labour Party can trace its roots back to Bradford, a West Yorkshire city that once thrived as a mill town during the Industrial Revolution. However, as local elections approach, this city, which has battled deindustrialisation, may be moving on from its political birthplace. Dan Haygarth reports.
Voter Disillusionment
John Varey, 59, a florist at Blossoms in Bradford city centre, expresses a desire for change: 'It'd be nice to get a clear out and start again.' He believes many people are losing grip with the Labour Party, adding, 'But they don't do themselves any favours.' Varey suggests the party's support comes from affluent areas with green belts and thatched roofs, not from cities like Bradford.
Varey will not vote for Sir Keir Starmer's party, and polls indicate many Bradford residents feel similarly. Bradford Council, covering the city and surrounding areas, has been Labour-controlled since 2014, but that could change.
Shifting Political Landscape
Currently, Labour holds 46 of 90 council seats, with 14 Conservatives, 10 Greens, and 15 independents (nine as the Bradford Independent group). PollCheck data suggests Labour could lose 33 councillors, while Reform UK could gain 17 and the Greens 12, potentially making Greens the largest party in a hung council.
John Wilkinson, 87, a retired brick layer, laments Bradford's decline since deindustrialisation. 'This was the textile city of the world,' he says, noting the Wool Exchange, now a Waterstones. He believes Margaret Thatcher could solve the city's problems, calling her 'the lady, she should have been made Queen.' Wilkinson plans to vote Conservative but was tempted by Reform UK, though he is wary of Nigel Farage's changing stances.
Economic Challenges
Prithpal Singh, 60, who runs ICreams ice cream shop, notes that Bradford once attracted visitors from Leeds but now struggles with anti-social behaviour, poor public transport, and low footfall. 'This is probably one of the busiest places, but there's three businesses for sale on that street,' he says. Singh, a past Labour voter, is undecided, questioning what councils can do with limited budgets after years of funding cuts.
Marina Chapman, 78, who moved from Colombia in the 1970s, shares this scepticism: 'Whether it's Labour or Conservative, it's the same. We are beholden to London.' She believes the council faces a difficult job regardless of which party is in power.
Bradford's architectural grandeur remains, but empty shops and lack of variety deter visitors. Varey sums up the sentiment: 'Give people a reason to come into the city centre.' As locals head to the polls, the city's political future hangs in the balance.
