Batley East goes into elections today, post the arrest and subsequent resignation of Cllr Fazila Loonat. With an electorate of 13140, Batley East is set to elect a new councillor to replace Fazila.
If we take a look into Batley East’s electoral behaviour in the past five elections since 2018, the seat has stayed with the Labour consistently. However, a closer look reveals that this hold has gradually become weaker.
Looking at statistics, in 2018, Cllr Mahmood Akhtar, won with 3283 votes and a thumping vote share of 75%. In 2019, Labour strongly retained the seat with Habiban Zaman wining the seat with a slightly reduced majority vote share of 70%.
In 2021, Fazila Loonat, for Labour claimed a majority of 68% votes, this hold dropped significantly when Cllr Adam Zaman was elected in 2022, with 2170 votes and a 45% vote share. In 2023, Habiban Zaman returned in a tightly contested elections, with 44% vote share, winning a mere 14 more votes than Hanif Mayet, her conservative counterpart.
Labour’s Ebrahim Dockrat is hoping to keep the Labour stronghold to himself as he competes with Beverley Smith of the Conservatives, Simon Duffy of the Greens, Stephen Long of the Lib-Dems and two other candidates.
With a weakening hold, Ebrahim Dockrat, faces a humungous challenge, as he looks to hold on to Batley East for Labour. While the Conservatives, who for the past five years, have only inched closer are hoping to take over the seat after five years of defeat.
The public will go to the polls on Thursday 31 August and results are likely to be released from 1030pm. Keep visiting Asian Standard for live updates on the election results.
