There's a simmering discontent in Keighley that has been bubbling under the surface for more than 25 years.

It's likely to burst through the surface again in the run-up to the General Election.

The issue is Home Rule, or Independence, for the former borough which was swallowed by Bradford in the local government reorganisation of the mid-1970s.

Many Keighley folk still cannot accept that, like it or not, the district is part of one of the biggest metropolitan authorities in the country.

No matter how hard some politicians try to dismiss this discontent, it simmers all the time - and not just from the old die-hards.

Even people too young to remember the huge shake-up in 1974 believe Keighley would be better off as an independent authority.

The issue rears its head in connection with development, mostly housing. Whether true or not, the common perception is that Keighley has become an Eldorado for developers, courtesy of City Hall.

Worth Valley residents in particular believe they are being swamped with new housing. There has also been widespread oppositionto development in Silsden and to 400 homes being built in East Morton.

So development and devolution are likely to be the two main issues that candidates have to deal with when they hit the hustings.

And it will be even more on people's lips because the independence movement in Keighley is even now bidding to establish town-council status for Keighley.

The group is made up of councillors, members of the Aire/Worth Reform Association and other local people. If it can collect enough support, the Govern-ment can grant town-council status.

When Labour's Ann Cryer stormed home to win Keighley and Ilkley at the 1997 general election, she had notched up one of the biggest majorities in the recent history of the constituency.

Even taking into account the amazing Labour victory nationwide, Mrs Cryer's 8,132 majority over longstanding Tory MP Gary Waller was impressive.

For years, Keighley had always been a close fight and was often seen as a barometer for the rest of the country.

In 1974 - the year of two general elections - Mrs Cryer's late husband Bob scraped to victory with just an 878 majority in the February, increasing it to just over 3,000 in the October.

So despite national pundits predicting a comfortable Labour victory this time, Keighley could still have a surprise up its sleeve.

The candidates hoping for victory are Mrs Cryer, Conservative Simon Cooke, who represents Bingley Rural on Bradford Council, Liberal Democrat and North Yorkshire Councty Councillor Mike Doyle and Michael Cassidy of the UK Independence Party.