Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Starmer bullish about Labour’s chances in Batley and Spen byelection

Starmer bullish about Labour’s chances in Batley and Spen byelection

By Tony Earnshaw

Sir Keir Starmer has brushed off suggestions that he could be out of a job by Christmas.


In Batley at the Bulldogs’ rugby ground to support Kim Leadbeater in the looming July 1 byelection, he said the focus should be on local issues and local people.

And in an oblique reference to George Galloway, who wants to take votes from Labour in a bid to damage Sir Keir, he said the “circus” surrounding the scrabble for votes was “disrespectful” to the community of Batley and Spen.

In his first visit to the constituency since Leadbeater was selected as the Labour candidate, Sir Keir would have found it hard to ignore the placards and posters advertising Galloway.

And with Galloway’s overt message – that he wanted to see Labour lose the by election to see – ringing in his ears, does he consider the byelection to be his biggest challenge to date?

What’s more, if Labour loses, will he face a leadership challenge that could see him ditched by the end of the year?

Sir Keir said: “This by-election is not about me.

“I don’t have any sympathy for any candidate who’s trying to make this byelection about themselves, about me or about anything other than the people of Batley and Spen.

“And it tells you everything about some of these candidates; that that’s their argument.”

He suggested that the lack of what he called “a bold, powerful case” for the area from many of the other 15 candidates showed they were not serious contenders.

“Once the circus of the byelection is gone – and the cameras and microphones have gone – all those other candidates will be gone. Kim will still be here fighting for her community.

“She’s the only candidate who actually wants to represent Batley and Spen because she wants to do the best by those communities.

“Everybody else is trying to make it about something else. That tells you everything about them – and everything about Kim.”

Asked directly if the circus atmosphere made George Galloway “the clown”, Sir Keir said he was focused on the positive campaign being run by Leadbeater.

“Being an MP is an incredible privilege. Your first duty is to stick up for your constituents and communities, you need to know those communities and you need to care.

“It’s about the people of Batley and Spen and whether they get a fantastic MP who’s going to stick up for them – here, in parliament and anywhere they need a champion.

“All the others – anybody else who’s making an argument about me or national issues – are being pretty disrespectful to the people of Batley and Spen.”

Asked if she was feeling undue pressure in trying to avoid a repeat of Labour’s humiliating by-election defeat in Hartlepool and what that could mean for the party and Sir Keir, Ms Leadbeater said she was trying to put it out of her mind.

“If I start to think too much about the bigger picture I’m not sure how healthy that would be for me.

“It’s really important that I stay focused on the job that I’ve got to do for the next three weeks. We’ve seen 16 candidates put themselves forward for selection and I am the only one that lives in Batley and Spen.

“Lots of other people are going to make this by-election about lots of other issues. There is one very clear message for me and that’s what is best for the people of this area.

“In my view that’s being represented by somebody who has lived here all their life and cares deeply about the future of Batley and Spen.”

Referring to Kirklees’ high Covid-19 infection rates Sir Keir said he did not agree with what some have suggested could be the threat of lockdown 3.0 for the borough.

Instead he challenged the government to bolster its border policy.

“People have been let down by the government.

“The Delta variant got in because we didn’t have a strong enough border policy. There were delays in shutting down the border, particularly in relation to India, for reasons in relation to the prime minister’s proposed trip there.

“But, more generally, we haven’t had a robust border policy pretty well throughout the pandemic. It’s people in Kirklees who are now paying the price for that.

“I don’t want to see people in Kirklees go through more agony of local lockdowns because the government’s got this wrong.

“I call on the government, even at this late stage, to take more robust measures and to level with the people of Kirklees. They bear responsibility for what’s happening here and if we can’t fully unlock on June 21.

“There’s going to be one reason for that: the government left the back door open.”

(Local Democracy Reporting Service)

More For You

Minouche Shafik

Shafik served as deputy governor for markets and banking at the Bank of England between August 2014 and February 2017.

Reuters

Starmer appoints Minouche Shafik as chief economic adviser in reshuffle

Highlights:

  • Minouche Shafik named chief economic adviser to Keir Starmer.
  • Darren Jones moves into Downing Street role; James Murray replaces him.
  • Wider reshuffle includes changes in Starmer’s private office and communications.
  • Appointment comes ahead of a budget expected to include further tax rises.

Prime minister Keir Starmer has named Minouche Shafik, a former deputy governor of the Bank of England, as his chief economic adviser. The appointment comes as he looks to strengthen his team ahead of what is expected to be a difficult end to the year.

Keep ReadingShow less
modi putin

Before their formal meeting, Putin offered Modi a ride in his Aurus limousine.

X/@narendramodi

Six key takeaways from the SCO summit

INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi met Russian president Vladimir Putin and Chinese president Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China.

Modi pressed for ending the Ukraine conflict at the earliest, reaffirmed India’s long-standing ties with Russia, and discussed trade and border issues with Xi.

Keep ReadingShow less
Afghanistan earthquake

Afghan volunteers and Taliban security personnel carry an earthquake victim evacuated by a military helicopter from the Nurgal district of Kunar province onn September 1, 2025.

Getty Images

Afghanistan earthquake kills more than 800, thousands injured

A MAJOR rescue operation was underway in Afghanistan on Monday after a powerful earthquake and several aftershocks destroyed homes in a remote mountainous region, killing more than 800 people, according to Taliban authorities.

The quake struck just before midnight and was felt as far as Kabul and in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ganpati festival

The Ganpati festival celebrates Ganesha as the god of new beginnings, and the god of wisdom and intelligence. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Hindu community centre in London damaged in fire after Ganapati Visarjan event

A HINDU community centre in east London caught fire on Saturday evening, causing major damage to the building. The London Fire Brigade brought the fire under control and confirmed that no injuries were reported.

The incident took place at the Shree Sorathia Prajapati Community Centre on Cleveland Road in Ilford, which had been decorated for a Ganapati Visarjan event attended by members of the Hindu community.

Keep ReadingShow less
Modi ,Xi & Putin

Narendra Modi talks with Vladimir Putin and Xi jinping ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025 at the Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Centre in Tianjin on September 1, 2025.

Getty Images

SCO declaration slams Pahalgam attack, calls for united action on terror

Highlights:

  • SCO condemns terror attack in Pahalgam and echoes India’s stance on “double standards”.
  • Leaders call for justice for perpetrators of attacks in Pahalgam and Balochistan.
  • Declaration criticises Israeli military strikes in Gaza causing civilian casualties.
  • SCO stresses UN’s central role in global counter-terrorism strategy.

THE SHANGHAI Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Monday condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam and agreed with India’s position that “double standards” in tackling terrorism are not acceptable.

Keep ReadingShow less