Council leader Kris Hopkins takes Keighley for Tories (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Council leader Kris Hopkins takes Keighley for Tories
5:56am Friday 7th May 2010 in News By Newsdesk
Kris Hopkins gives his victory speech today after taking Keighley for the Conservatives
Bradford Council leader Kris Hopkins has become the new MP for Keighley after wresting the seat from Labour.
He polled more than 20,000 votes, with Jane Thomas, the Labour candidate, trailing by 3,000.
In accepting the victory, Kris Hopkins said: "I will represent everybody. This Government has done a huge amount of damage to this country and the work starts now to put that right."
The election does now raise the issue of who will lead Bradford Council.
Andrew Brons (BNP) 1,962
Nader Fekri (Lib Dem) 7,059
Kris Hopkins (Con) 20,003
Paul Latham (UKIP) 1,470
Steve Smith (NF) 1,035
Jane Thomas (Lab) 17,063
Comments(45)
stubull
says...
7:36am Fri 7 May 10
Joedavid
says...
7:37am Fri 7 May 10
Best Election news I've heard.
pete121
says...
7:44am Fri 7 May 10
Thee Voice of Reason
says...
8:17am Fri 7 May 10
Johsay wrote:He is now out of the council, are you saying you'd prefer he wasn't elected?
Hang your heads in collective shame for voting this utterly useless cretin into power. He has presided over the destruction of the very fabric of our once great city.
smallboy
says...
8:46am Fri 7 May 10
rio8uk
says...
9:46am Fri 7 May 10
Frankness
says...
9:54am Fri 7 May 10
What is WRONG with the 20,000 absolute IDIOTS who voted for him?! 20 quid says they're from Ilkley and Craven.
Johsay
says...
10:12am Fri 7 May 10
Mekon
says...
10:23am Fri 7 May 10
Johsay wrote:Free KFC or McDonalds? Or maybe free window blackouts for your car?
I'd prefer he wasn't anything to do with either, yes I'm pleased we got rid of him but dear me, what on earth was he putting in his leaflets as a reason to vote for him?
Johsay
says...
10:30am Fri 7 May 10
Moon on a stick
says...
11:22am Fri 7 May 10
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The only growing business in Bradford is building and fitting "To Let" signs and fly posting. At least the tarmac is mostly being replaced with paving, but public realm is at best papering over the ever increasing number of cracks in Bradford's economy with the cancer of Council apathy causing the death of one retail street after the next.
.
Is there any chance Keighley will take Councillor Adrian Naylor too?
Grumpy Old Woman
says...
12:04pm Fri 7 May 10
rio8uk
says...
12:26pm Fri 7 May 10
Has he missed something out ? Oh yes he has.The damage he did to Bradford.
Thee Voice of Reason
says...
2:15pm Fri 7 May 10
Bradford council might be rid of Mr Hopkins which can only be good, unfortunately Mr Brown still clings on.
lonniejockstrap
says...
2:27pm Fri 7 May 10
markjoe
says...
3:23pm Fri 7 May 10
http://news.bbc.co.u
k/1/shared/election2
010/council/html/366
2.stm
you can see no party has had overall control Bradford council since Labour in 1998, therefore it seems a little unfair to blame the downfall of Bradford on Mr Hopkins, when the last time there was a Tory led council was in 1976. Seems to me looking at the figures, the people to blame for the downfall of Bradford is the current hopefully soon to be ex Labour government
markjoe
says...
3:26pm Fri 7 May 10
Moon on a stick
says...
3:49pm Fri 7 May 10
Johsay
says...
4:47pm Fri 7 May 10
ms walker
says...
5:58pm Fri 7 May 10
markjoe wrote:He was the Leader of the Council and he was utter rubbish. Mis-spent funds, poor decisions and a ruined city. I don't know if you know him personally (after all, he lives in East Morton too) but the man isn't equipped to hold a sweeping-brush, let alone a post in politics (local, or otherwise) in my opinion.
If you look here
http://news.bbc.co.u
k/1/shared/election2
010/council/html/366
2.stm
you can see no party has had overall control Bradford council since Labour in 1998, therefore it seems a little unfair to blame the downfall of Bradford on Mr Hopkins, when the last time there was a Tory led council was in 1976. Seems to me looking at the figures, the people to blame for the downfall of Bradford is the current hopefully soon to be ex Labour government
bcfc1903
says...
8:49pm Fri 7 May 10
bcfc1903
says...
8:57pm Fri 7 May 10
markjoe wrote:The Conservatives have been in power at Bradford City Hall for the last 10 years propped up by the Lib Dems,now that has a familier ring to it doesn't it.The state of Bradford City centre is largely down to Kris Hopkins and his cronies.
If you look here http://news.bbc.co.u k/1/shared/election2 010/council/html/366 2.stm you can see no party has had overall control Bradford council since Labour in 1998, therefore it seems a little unfair to blame the downfall of Bradford on Mr Hopkins, when the last time there was a Tory led council was in 1976. Seems to me looking at the figures, the people to blame for the downfall of Bradford is the current hopefully soon to be ex Labour government
webess
says...
10:00pm Fri 7 May 10
Moon on a stick wrote:Moon on a stick, you're clearly obsessed with this subject. You post the same drivel every day - Have you considered getting in touch with NHS direct on 0845 4647?
Agreed @ the comments above, Bradford is a shadow of its former self even in the 80's and 90's, regeneration is farce as the city has continued to decline, there's a new "To Let" board on Ivegate, a few weeks since a new "To Let" board went up on Tyrrel Street.
.
The only growing business in Bradford is building and fitting "To Let" signs and fly posting. At least the tarmac is mostly being replaced with paving, but public realm is at best papering over the ever increasing number of cracks in Bradford's economy with the cancer of Council apathy causing the death of one retail street after the next.
.
Is there any chance Keighley will take Councillor Adrian Naylor too?
Moon on a stick
says...
12:30am Sat 8 May 10
webess wrote:It's fact I'm afraid, unlike yourself being a council zealot I can call it how it is, Probyns after 100 YEARS in Bradford is proudly announcing on posters in its windows that it's leaving in June, no doubt the heroin sharps bin outside is very customer friendly. Check the council planning site, there are accusations just in the last couple of days published in the public domain that a Bradford business has been supplying alcohol to teenagers, allowing drugs use and causing violence in the city centre and it's not even a pub/club for a change. This city is so out of touch.
Moon on a stick wrote:Moon on a stick, you're clearly obsessed with this subject. You post the same drivel every day - Have you considered getting in touch with NHS direct on 0845 4647?
Agreed @ the comments above, Bradford is a shadow of its former self even in the 80's and 90's, regeneration is farce as the city has continued to decline, there's a new "To Let" board on Ivegate, a few weeks since a new "To Let" board went up on Tyrrel Street.
.
The only growing business in Bradford is building and fitting "To Let" signs and fly posting. At least the tarmac is mostly being replaced with paving, but public realm is at best papering over the ever increasing number of cracks in Bradford's economy with the cancer of Council apathy causing the death of one retail street after the next.
.
Is there any chance Keighley will take Councillor Adrian Naylor too?
.
Ms Walker, is one of the regular posters known for her I would say pragmatism whilst intelligently discussing Bradford issues, so if she says Hopkins was a negative influence on Bradford, then that is FACT.
.
P.S. Look on Ivegate tomorrow and see the fact businesses have been allowed to put up in 1980's style signs facing out in to the street because there are so many To Let signs it's the only way to stand out and prove you're still trading.
Moon on a stick
says...
12:51am Sat 8 May 10
Rambo
says...
1:11am Sat 8 May 10
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Walking by it everyday Id say the Rawson Quarter is the most depressing area in the whole city, and is seemingly ignored by the council and media.
Moon on a stick
says...
1:15am Sat 8 May 10
Rambo wrote:I'd agree with that no doubt webess would describe the derelict businesses and empty streets as peaceful, quiet and an area having potential for improvement. That sounds a lot nicer than failed business, empty streets and a economical cancer, but adds up to the same thing.
KFC refurb? No surprise, the only places in Bradford that make money (no pound shop jokes) are the junk food outlets. 8 Greggs in the city centre says it all.
.
Walking by it everyday Id say the Rawson Quarter is the most depressing area in the whole city, and is seemingly ignored by the council and media.
han247
says...
10:46am Sat 8 May 10
Moon on a stick
says...
10:59am Sat 8 May 10
.
Walk around Bradford centre and raise your head up, above ground level there are 100's of empty office and retail units, there's at least twice the capacity of Westfield empty, here and now.
.
Will someone please admit Bradford has a problem, because until then there is no hope... :-(
Frankness
says...
11:28am Sat 8 May 10
Moon on a stick
says...
11:38am Sat 8 May 10
Frankness wrote:His/her planning application for a house extention is being approved right now. ;-)
Han247, how much did he pay you to write that then?
webess
says...
11:50am Sat 8 May 10
Moon on a stick wrote:As if to prove my point that you're obsessive about one subject. I guess it's fairly harmless though as most people see your name, first few words then realise it's just the same as your ten other posts for that day and skip onto something else....
webess wrote:It's fact I'm afraid, unlike yourself being a council zealot I can call it how it is, Probyns after 100 YEARS in Bradford is proudly announcing on posters in its windows that it's leaving in June, no doubt the heroin sharps bin outside is very customer friendly. Check the council planning site, there are accusations just in the last couple of days published in the public domain that a Bradford business has been supplying alcohol to teenagers, allowing drugs use and causing violence in the city centre and it's not even a pub/club for a change. This city is so out of touch.
Moon on a stick wrote:Moon on a stick, you're clearly obsessed with this subject. You post the same drivel every day - Have you considered getting in touch with NHS direct on 0845 4647?
Agreed @ the comments above, Bradford is a shadow of its former self even in the 80's and 90's, regeneration is farce as the city has continued to decline, there's a new "To Let" board on Ivegate, a few weeks since a new "To Let" board went up on Tyrrel Street.
.
The only growing business in Bradford is building and fitting "To Let" signs and fly posting. At least the tarmac is mostly being replaced with paving, but public realm is at best papering over the ever increasing number of cracks in Bradford's economy with the cancer of Council apathy causing the death of one retail street after the next.
.
Is there any chance Keighley will take Councillor Adrian Naylor too?
.
Ms Walker, is one of the regular posters known for her I would say pragmatism whilst intelligently discussing Bradford issues, so if she says Hopkins was a negative influence on Bradford, then that is FACT.
.
P.S. Look on Ivegate tomorrow and see the fact businesses have been allowed to put up in 1980's style signs facing out in to the street because there are so many To Let signs it's the only way to stand out and prove you're still trading.
outspoken
says...
11:51am Sat 8 May 10
Moon on a stick wrote:I would hazard a guess and say that online shopping has more to do with Probyns moving.
Just to put the loss of Probyns into context, it's been in Bradford through World War I, through World War II, through recession after recession after recession, now, here and now they can no longer trade in Bradford centre surely that should ring alarm bells somewhere? In the past, the building housed Carters floor after floor of successful retail trade, now business can barely survive on the ground floor alone.
.
Walk around Bradford centre and raise your head up, above ground level there are 100's of empty office and retail units, there's at least twice the capacity of Westfield empty, here and now.
.
Will someone please admit Bradford has a problem, because until then there is no hope... :-(
That I am sad to say is ‘FACT’ of many businesses nowadays moving out of city centres.
Moon on a stick
says...
11:58am Sat 8 May 10
.
The fact that building housed at least 3 floors of successful retail units and now is all but dead, bar the supply of heroin needles is a good thing?
.
The fact from Broadway up, Bradford centre is boarded up, with To Let signs with exception of gambling and a handful of retail units in a reason to rejoice?
Moon on a stick
says...
1:25pm Sat 8 May 10
outspoken
says...
2:21pm Sat 8 May 10
Moon on a stick wrote:Exactly!!! My point, the lack of foot traffic/fall is mainly due to online shopping.
Well poor guess as Probyns is still operating a shop just out of town, citing lack of foot traffic. . The fact that building housed at least 3 floors of successful retail units and now is all but dead, bar the supply of heroin needles is a good thing? . The fact from Broadway up, Bradford centre is boarded up, with To Let signs with exception of gambling and a handful of retail units in a reason to rejoice?
The relocation is to cater for their regular and loyal customers that still shop with them.
Many businesses are now finding that it is not worth having a store in the city centre as consumers are finding cheaper deals on the net. I myself have resorted to shopping online, not because i hate Bradford city centre but i find it more convenient.
ms walker
says...
2:25pm Sat 8 May 10
han247 wrote:Do you live in our city Han247? Have you attended any of the so-called 'Regeneration' meetings and noted Hopkins' reluctance to address the concerns of the two thousand Bradfordians who turned out to hug the Odeon or the people who have repeatedly sought answers from the Council about just how the Westfield debacle was allowed to happen?
I had the pleasure of working with kris hopkins at bradford council several years ago. I was always impressed with his no nonsense approach, and integrity to speak out on issues which mattered. I think he will do a great job representing keighley as an MP. I think he will be a great asset to a parliament who needs some honest straightforward politicians. I congratulate him and wish him every success.
You can 'think' what you like but the facts are that Hopkins and his cronies have repeatedly ignored the requests of the people who live here, have ploughted a ridiculous amount of money into prettifying the front of City Hall while swathes of Bradford rot and fall, and have not, let me repeat NOT engaged with the city or its inhabitants.
I think he'll be a great asset to the Westminster collective of middle-class self-congratulatory ego-building career politicians. There are a few. The shiny squeaky salesman party leader being one of them.
My commiserations to Keighley. As for Bradford, well I'm hopeful that some of our new Councillors might start infusing some energy into the old regime...I won't hold my breath, but I really hope they do.
Moon on a stick
says...
2:46pm Sat 8 May 10
outspoken wrote:You're missing the point entirely Probyns business was corporate and business based for the most part, they don't get all that from the internet, businesses still prefer face to face. But anyway you're right it's better closed, it's all the internets fault, Probyns closed, the mobile shop next door closed, the cafe closed, the shoe shop closed, Firth's closed, MaShed still not occupied years on, Raffles still empty, in fact I give up counting on that street alone.
Moon on a stick wrote:Exactly!!! My point, the lack of foot traffic/fall is mainly due to online shopping.
Well poor guess as Probyns is still operating a shop just out of town, citing lack of foot traffic. . The fact that building housed at least 3 floors of successful retail units and now is all but dead, bar the supply of heroin needles is a good thing? . The fact from Broadway up, Bradford centre is boarded up, with To Let signs with exception of gambling and a handful of retail units in a reason to rejoice?
The relocation is to cater for their regular and loyal customers that still shop with them.
Many businesses are now finding that it is not worth having a store in the city centre as consumers are finding cheaper deals on the net. I myself have resorted to shopping online, not because i hate Bradford city centre but i find it more convenient.
.
Obviously business rates, chargeable parking etc have no impact...
Moon on a stick
says...
2:50pm Sat 8 May 10
I think he'll be a great asset to the Westminster collective of middle-class self-congratulatory ego-building career politicians. There are a few. The shiny squeaky salesman party leader being one of them." Amen to that Ms Walker... The part you've addressed ofinhabitants not being engaged is spot on, local business wants to succeed, they have issues frankly they need the council to listen; I'm sure the park for example is low down the priorities and is just the council's own self indulgence.
enviroMENTAL
says...
3:08pm Mon 10 May 10
peedoffratepayer
says...
3:58pm Mon 10 May 10
Johsay wrote:Could not agree more, apparently he's going to "stay on" until his suc cessor is appointed, at a reported £52,000 "expenses" claimed last year, another month will give him a nice leaving present! - another lunatic running the asylum.
Hang your heads in collective shame for voting this utterly useless cretin into power. He has presided over the destruction of the very fabric of our once great city.
ms walker
says...
9:24am Tue 11 May 10
enviroMENTAL wrote:Yes. If they didn't behave like that, I wouldn't use it as a stick to beat them with.
''I think he'll be a great asset to the Westminster collective of middle-class self-congratulatory ego-building career politicians.'' Good to see classism is alive and well.
Respect For All
says...
8:05am Fri 14 May 10
Having said that, Keighley, although it has its problems, is definitely not a down and out kind of place, neither is it an unpleasant place to be, and shop in! I rarely go shopping in bradford. not because i don't want to, but because i don't have to. It only has a few shops we don't have, but who knows, the way things are going here, we might get those shops too. With good private investment, we've planned and carried out works and developments pretty much to planned schedule, and all in all things are looking an awful lot brighter for Keighley now, than say, 10 years ago, when I first moved here.. if only we could sort a few of the more social.. or anti-social problems, then we'd be laughing... that, hopefully will come once the jobs start to come back again... and they will, i have no doubt about that...
but yes, it's bad news Keighley is now Tory, I believe that they, and particularly him don't know how to engage with the lower classes, or even how they CAN help them... lower classes will without doubt be the big losers of this election...
but there's still hope on the horizon.. because although Mr Hopkins is the MP for Keighley, Labour is still the predominant party at local level, with more Councillors than the Tories... therefore, he's not totally responsible for the running of the council, and hopefully, we can muster enough common sense between our Councillors (if they ever stop the in-fighting and backbiting and swindling and overt discrimination, that is) to ensure that Keighley continues to grow and gain.
security code= date-cost.. how apt?!
enviroMENTAL
says...
8:19am Fri 14 May 10
ms walker wrote:Just for clarity; what you are saying all middle class people behave like exactly? Or is it just that you see 'middle class' as being some sort of general insult and you have no argument of substance to back that up.
enviroMENTAL wrote: ''I think he'll be a great asset to the Westminster collective of middle-class self-congratulatory ego-building career politicians.'' Good to see classism is alive and well.Yes. If they didn't behave like that, I wouldn't use it as a stick to beat them with.
I would suggest you are being rather narrow minded if you are implying that there is something inherently wrong with people being middle class; which is what apparently most of the population today class themselves as belonging to.
Johsay says...
6:11am Fri 7 May 10
He has presided over the destruction of the very fabric of our once great city.