Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

The keenly-contested race for the Shipley Parliamentary seat could quite easily be billed as the Battle of the Sexes.

Philip Davies, the town’s MP since 2005, faces opposition, among others, for his place in Parliament from a fresh political source; the Women’s Equality Party’s Sophie Walker.

Certainly the pre-election night build-up has focused on a two-horse race, in what promises to be one of the most dramatic showdowns of the General Election.

If elected, Ms Walker would become an MP for the first time. Meanwhile Mr Davies has dismissed the party’s candidacy as nothing more than a publicity stunt.

But he did welcome the mother-of-four’s decision to stand. He said: “She is very welcome. I am a democrat. The more people stand the better. I’m very happy for her to stand in Shipley.” 

Ms Walker, a former journalist, has criticised Mr Davies’s previous comments about women, claiming he has a “track record of misogyny that should have no place in Parliament.”

Mr Davies denies these claims. Meanwhile, the Shipley Feminist Zealots groups, set up in opposition to Mr Davies, published an open letter last month stating that despite opposing him, it would not be backing any of his opponents in the election.

The Green Party, which finished fourth in 2015 polling 2,657 votes, has stood aside and endorsed Ms Walker.

Mr Davies is defending a 9,624 majority won in 2015 when there was a 71.7 per cent turnout by voters.

Away from the big boxing fight-style trash talking, Mr Davies has pledged to try to set up separate councils for Shipley and Keighley, away from Bradford Council.

Elsewhere in his election leaflet, he says he will continue to lobby for a Shipley Eastern Bypass, which he claims would relieve the terrible congestion between Baildon and Shipley.

He added: “Bradford Council have built more and more houses in Baildon, but done nothing to deal with the increased traffic which has resulted. The current situation is dire.”

But it’s a four-way battle for the Shipley seat, the least number of candidates standing in any of the five Bradford district constituencies.

Also in the running are Labour’s Dr Steve Clapcote and Liberal Democrats’ candidate Caroline Jones.

Dr Clapcote has made a return to candidacy in Shipley after finishing second to Mr Davies in 2015.

Meanwhile, Mrs Jones is a former Ilkley Parish Council vice-chairman and was the first chairman of Burley Parish Council.

Bookmakers William Hill has Mr Davies as the clear favourite, offering odds of a Tory win of 1/33 in Shipley. It is offering odds of 20/1 on the Women’s Equality Party, 50/1 on a Labour win and 100/1 on a Lib Dem victory.

A key issue for whoever is elected in Shipley on June 8 will be to tackle the growing problem of drug-taking and aggressive begging in the town centre.

The Telegraph & Argus highlighted day and night drug dealing on Shipley streets, including St. Paul’s Road, Wycliffe Road, Park Grove and Baker Street.

Indeed earlier this month, needles discarded by drug addicts forced the closure of public toilets at Shipley Library.

However the people of Shipley vote for in this election, the fight for the seat will gain national headlines and notoriety.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS: Shipley candidate statements

The word on the street

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

David Fagg (top left), 50, of Albert Street, Baildon said: "Philip Davies has always been fine and never said anything out of place. I think Shipley is coming up now. I will be voting Conservative."

Joyce Jowett (top middle), 77, of Saltaire, said: "The Conservatives are not advertising themselves in Shipley, their posters are a few and far between. There are lots of Labour posters. I will be voting for the Conservatives."

Peter Bowdalo (top right), 56, of Brierley Close, Shipley, said: "I will be voting for Labour, without a doubt. I had to give up work in 2012 due to health issues. The loops I had to go through to get benefits were unbelievable. The Trident missile monney should be invested into the NHS instead. Young people should be voting too."

Peter Grant (bottom left), 74, of Hall Lane, Windhill, said: "Theresa May is worse than Margaret Thatcher. I want to know what Mrs May is doing for pensioners. I will be voting for Labour. We need a few more bobbies on the streets in Shipley at night."

Lili France (bottom middle), 58, of Albert Street, Baildon, said: I will be voting Conservative. I have always voted Conservative. Brexit is the main thing for me at the election. I have confidence in Theresa May.

Brandon Fisher-Hall (bottom right), 19, of Norwood Avenue, Shipley, said: "It is my first time voting. I will be voting for the Conservatives on one issue: us leaving the EU. We need to get the NHS fixed.

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