LOCAL Tories believe they now have a chance of winning Labour stronghold Bradford South, after securing a landslide victory in a council by-election.

Bradford South has returned Labour MPs since the end of the Second World War, but the Conservatives say their resounding win in the the constituency’s Queensbury ward on Thursday night means they have a shot at turning the seat blue on June 8.

Bradford Council’s Conservative group leader, Councillor Simon Cooke, said while they had been expecting to win the seat, they had not been expecting a win of this size.

He said: “I don’t think we have ever got more than 50 per cent of the vote in Queensbury. To get 56 per cent is an absolutely brilliant result.”

He said he hoped the national party would take note and make Bradford South a target seat - a move which would see the Tories invest more time and money into campaigning there.

He said: “It’s not my decision, that’s for the party to decide, but the scale of this result is going to signal to them that actually it’s a constituency that only needs a nine per cent swing and we got an 18 per cent swing last night.”

The Conservatives are expected to announce candidates for all three Bradford seats shortly.

Incumbent Labour candidate Judith Cummins said: “The Tories have held their one and only seat in Bradford South. The General Election however is about a clear choice for local people - re-electing a hardworking local MP who will stick up for Bradford South or a Tory who will stick the boot in.”

The by-election result leaves the Council’s composition unchanged, as it had been triggered by the resignation of a Conservative councillor.

New councillor Andrew Senior gained 2,175 votes, a majority of 1,443 over nearest rival Jason Smith, an independent who took 732 of the votes.

In third position was Labour candidate Mobeen Hussain with 697 votes, fourth was Eithne Dodwell, of the Green Party and fifth was Mary Whitrick of the Liberal Democrats.

Speaking after his win, Cllr Senior said: “I’m tremendously proud of the people of Queensbury for voting for me. The journey has been amazing but I suppose the hard work starts now.”

In the town council elections in Baildon South East Cllrs Christine Flecknoe (173 votes) and Matthew Ward (223 votes) were elected.

The other candidates were David Robertshaw (124) and Karen Reddy (117).