Battle for Barnsley underway

Mr Burnham joined Labour candidate Dan Jarvis yesterday with less than three weeks until voters go to the polls in the wake of disgraced MP Eric Illsley’s resignation.

The Liberal Democrats have unveiled Dominic Carman, the son of renowned barrister the late George Carman QC, as their candidate.

Mr Carman, a journalist and author, stood against BNP leader Nick Griffin in Barking in last year’s General Election and said he was “honoured” to stand for the South Yorkshire town.

“I want to be an ambitious ambassador for Barnsley,” he said. “If elected, you won’t find me with my feet up in Westminster, I’ll be out there fighting to bring jobs to the area.

“Labour take places like Barnsley for granted, and parties like the BNP would only make things worse. I’ve spent the last seven years fighting the BNP and I will fight just as hard for the people of Barnsley.”

The BNP has vowed to launch its biggest ever campaign in the seat, which Illsley won with a majority of more than 11,000 last year.

The UK Independence Party has also launched its campaign, with Jane Collins fighting the seat. She said families were fed up with being “financially squeezed until the pips squeak” and getting nothing back.