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Huge Tory war chest in battle to capture key seats
THE Tories have pumped tens of thousands of pounds into key Yorkshire target seats in one of the general election's major battlegrounds.
Conservatives' war chest: Special report
With a string of West Yorkshire seats set to play a major role in determining whether David Cameron becomes Prime Minister, key constituencies have benefited from up to 35,000 in grants from party headquarters over the past two years.
The money, which has helped fund campaigning and party infrastructure, has come as part of a drive to revive the party in Yorkshire after years in the doldrums.
In total, accounts reveal that more than 150,000 has been handed in grants to constituencies including Colne Valley, Calder Valley, Brigg & Goole, Harrogate & Knaresborough, York – which oversees the two new seats of York Outer and York Inner – Elmet & Rothwell and Keighley & Ilkley.
Today a Yorkshire Post investigation into the parties' election preparations also shows the extent to which Labour constituencies are reliant on the unions to bankroll them.
Labour constituencies in Yorkshire pocketed nearly 100,000 from trade unions in the past two years as they attempt to fight off challenges in a string of seats from both Tories and the Liberal Democrats.
But while the other parties have filled war chests with private donations, Labour has registered less than 24,000 from supporters or businesses.
In contrast, Tory constituencies have secured donations totalling nearly 150,000, on top of the funding from the central party.
The Liberal Democrats are also posing a headache for sitting Labour MPs having already identified seats in Hull, Sheffield and Bradford as targets.
They registered more than 105,000 in donations to constituencies and nearly 100,000 directly to the regional party.
In recent years the Tories have overhauled their machinery across northern England thanks to the setting up of a Northern Board, charged with regaining a foothold in the three northern regions, and a major fundraising drive headed by William Hague, allowing them to set up a series of campaign centres across the region providing extra support for candidates.
Tory chairman Eric Pickles, a former leader of Bradford Council, admits he was "very worried" about Yorkshire a few years ago because the party was too obsessed with internal affairs, but claims the Tories have proved they now "get it" and dismisses Labour accusations that David Cameron is yet to appeal to northern voters.
The party came top in June's European elections in Yorkshire and the Humber and also made significant gains in local elections in the region last year, which has buoyed campaigners.
Meanwhile Labour Party officials have dismissed any suggestion they are preparing to concede defeat in any marginal constituencies.
The idea – which would allow resources to be concentrated on seats considered more winnable – has been floated by an MP but a party spokesman insisted Labour was better organised in the region than for several years.
One Labour MP said: "Whether Cameron will do as well in the North as in the South is, I think, still a genuinely open political question.
"William Hague is doing a lot and the Conservatives have made some gains in local government but in places like Leeds and Bradford and some of the South Yorkshire cities as well the progress of the Tories hasn't been spectacular."
Rosie Winterton, Labour's minister for Yorkshire and the Humber, said: "I believe very strongly we have the arguments – and the evidence of the action we've taken – to put to the electorate. It's up to the electorate to decide whether they feel that we've taken the right decisions."
Donations records show that the Liberal Democrats have raised more than 45,000 in leader Nick Clegg's Sheffield Hallam constituency, while the party has also been registering significant donations in seats where they aim to oust Labour, including Hull North, Sheffield Central and Bradford East.
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
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