BBC Profile:
Colne Valley has a history of being fought over by Labour and the Liberals but is now considered a three-way marginal. Liberal Richard Wainwright became MP in 1966, lost to Labour's David Clark in 1970 but won it back in 1974 and held it until his retirement in 1987.
The Conservatives, through Graham Riddick, won the contest to replace him, pushing Labour into third place. Mr Riddick held the seat in 1992, but lost in 1997 to Labour's Kali Mountford, who was returned with a majority of 4,841. She held off a Conservative challenge in both the subsequent general elections, but her majority in 2005 was cut to 1,501. She will not be defending the seat.

At this election boundary changes match redrawn local government ward boundaries within Kirklees Borough. The constituency is now made up of the Colne Valley, Crosland Moor and Netherton, Golcar, Holme Valley North, Holme Valley South and Lindley wards. To find out what might have happened had these changes been in force at the last election, see a notional - or estimated - result below.

Situated in West Yorkshire but bordering Lancashire, Derbyshire and South Yorkshire, the Colne Valley constituency has stretches of open countryside as well as a number of small towns and villages, including Holmfirth and Marsden.

The area was once a centre of the West Riding wool industry, and some people are still employed in textiles and allied trades.

The constituency has a high level of owner-occupancy and a higher t

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BBC Profile:
Colne Valley has a history of being fought over by Labour and the Liberals but is now considered a three-way marginal. Liberal Richard Wainwright became MP in 1966, lost to Labour's David Clark in 1970 but won it back in 1974 and held it until his retirement in 1987.
The Conservatives, through Graham Riddick, won the contest to replace him, pushing Labour into third place. Mr Riddick held the seat in 1992, but lost in 1997 to Labour's Kali Mountford, who was returned with a majority of 4,841. She held off a Conservative challenge in both the subsequent general elections, but her majority in 2005 was cut to 1,501. She will not be defending the seat.

At this election boundary changes match redrawn local government ward boundaries within Kirklees Borough. The constituency is now made up of the Colne Valley, Crosland Moor and Netherton, Golcar, Holme Valley North, Holme Valley South and Lindley wards. To find out what might have happened had these changes been in force at the last election, see a notional - or estimated - result below.

Situated in West Yorkshire but bordering Lancashire, Derbyshire and South Yorkshire, the Colne Valley constituency has stretches of open countryside as well as a number of small towns and villages, including Holmfirth and Marsden.

The area was once a centre of the West Riding wool industry, and some people are still employed in textiles and allied trades.

The constituency has a high level of owner-occupancy and a higher than average proportion of professional and managerial workers, with many travelling to work in Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield.

The biggest single employer in Colne Valley is the NHS, with St Luke's and Holmfirth hospitals and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary all in the area.

The south west of the constituency is in the Peak District and part of the Pennine Way passes through here.

Rallings & Thrasher Notional:
Lab 17,862 (35.42%)
C 16,595 (32.91%)
LD 12,370 (24.53%)
Others 2,232 (4.43%)
Green 1,371 (2.72%)

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