National frustration ‘to be taken seriously’ if Labour is to fight ‘polarised’ communities - Yorkshire MP
The MP for Huddersfield has spoken out on a “divided” Kirklees, after Labour’s catastrophic local election loss.
Harpreet Uppal said “on a national level” people need to see that Labour is “on their side” after the party lost every one of their seats at the Kirklees Council local elections.
The MP expressed her fears Huddersfield’s “diverse communities” were becoming “increasingly polarised” and said the divide must be “taken seriously”.
So far, more than 80 Labour MPs and affiliated trade unions have called for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to stand down after the party was stripped of majority control across 38 councils and lost almost 1,500 councillors.
In the Kirklees elections alone, all 23 Labour Party seats being defended were lost to Reform UK, the Green Party and Independent candidates.
Despite being yet to personally call for Starmer to stand down, she warned something has to be done by the party to “get the basics right”.
She said: “As I have said many times since my election, it is an incredible honour and privilege to represent my home town in Parliament… (Huddersfield) has a lot to be proud of.
“Our diverse communities are a strength, and that is even more important in a world which is becoming increasingly polarised and divided – particularly online. I will do everything I can to bring communities together and explore our commonalities and differences.
“I know people are frustrated, and we must take that seriously. On a national level, people need to see that Labour is on their side…I will continue to work with the Government and local agencies to ensure our town centre is prioritised.
“We also need to do more to get the basics right so people can see change in their neighbourhoods, feel their communities are safe and tackle the cost-of-living crisis. I will continue to raise this at a local and national level.”
She went on to describe the departure of the Labour Party councillors – including long-serving council group leader Carole Pattison – as a “huge loss”.
She added: “(The councillors) worked tirelessly for the good of the communities they represented, and they have much to be proud of. We will now collect ourselves from here and rebuild.”
With three years left of a Labour government, the MP said there were still “many exciting” opportunities to come for Huddersfield that would “change it for the better”.
She added: “Despite the local election results, I am still incredibly excited about the many brilliant things that are going on in our town. Several projects and schemes are now being delivered and will improve Huddersfield, creating jobs and benefiting local people.
“For me, the jewel in the crown is the National Health Innovation Campus at the University. This is going to be a game-changing development that will position our town as a global leader in health and care innovation and will make a massive difference to our communities.”