Bassetlaw is an area which has been a Labour stronghold for most of the past few decades.
But the 2019 General Election saw the district elect a Conservative MP for the first time in more than 100 years – a result reversed by Labour in last year’s General Election.
The Tories also picked up six out of the nine Nottinghamshire County Council divisions in the 2021 local election – with Labour winning the other three.
However, could this change at the upcoming county council poll on May 1?
The Worksop East division, which also includes large chunks of Worksop town centre – the historic market town dating back to 1103 coloured with rich heritage and identity.
It is home to the Chesterfield Canal, built in the late 18th century, which played a key role in transporting coal and other goods during England’s industrial revolution.
The previous council elections saw four candidates stand for Worksop East – and this time round there are five. It was secured by Labour’s Glynn Gilfoyle, who is standing for the division again this year, too.
Worksop East division result in 2021: Labour HOLD – Glynn Gilfoyle
Turnout: 26.3 per cent
Electorate: 9,636
Ballot papers issued: 2,531
Majority: 55.4 per cent vote share and a 507-vote majority
Questioning the 2024 candidates
Leon Maurice Duveen – Liberal Democrats
Why should people vote for you?
“I’ve lived in Worksop now for more than 35 years. We’ve been run by a Labour council majority of the time. However, the county is normally run by the Conservatives, and we are often ignored.
“You can just look around where we are now. This whole precinct and shopping centre used to be thriving but now it’s just full of empty shops. Nobody seems to have any idea what to do.
“The current county and district councilors seem to be more involved in their own local party politics. And as Lib Dems, we pride ourselves to getting things done on a local level for the people.”
What are the priorities for Worksop?
“Regeneration. We need to be investing in Worksop and Bassetlaw as a whole. Potholes are a big issue. There’s no point in just throwing a bit of tarmac onto it, as the council has been doing.
“I’ve got potholes on my street that have been repaired several times, and within weeks of them repairing them, the potholes reappear.
“So instead of actually investing the public money into the right places, we’re wasting money doing the same work time and time again.
“We need to start working out what to do with the centre of our town, here in Worksop. We really need to work out how to revitalise our town centres.”
Glynn Gilfoyle – Labour Party
Why should people vote for you?
“The Labour Party is the only party that will deliver a strong education system within the county. We will get to grips with the roads within the county and also the issue of Special Educational Needs, where there are a number of backlog cases of young people not getting the education they need.”
What are the priorities for Worksop?
“There is a big issue with the roads and potholes around Worksop East, and also an issue of flooding within the town centre. We need to get a grip of that and it needs some investment.”
What has Worksop East got going for it?
“Worksop East is a beautiful place to live. The people are warm and friendly and we’ve got a lot to be proud of. It needs someone that understands the locality like myself. I’ve lived in this area for more than 60 years, and I know the district very well.”
Andy Tyler – Conservative Party
Why should people vote for you?
“People should vote for me to get things done. I’ll be a councillor who fights for the people of Worksop to deliver what matters. Roads repaired, more school places and fighting to tackle anti-social behaviour within Worksop.”
What are the most important issues in Worksop?
“The most important issue is the roads. And if elected, I will be fighting to ensure that road repair plans are delivered on roads such as Lincoln St, which is scheduled for a full resurface next year, and surface treatment plans on the B6079 are delivered.
“Another issue is crime and anti-social behaviour. The Conservatives have been clear in Bassetlaw that we want to see Government investment to deliver a custody suite for Bassetlaw to help tackle crime in Worksop.”
What has Worksop got going for it?
“The people. We have fantastic community groups across Worksop and a strong local identity that only wants what is best for our area.”
Margaret Hamilton – Green Party Candidate
Why should people vote for you?
“[In] this election things are different – it’s no longer a two-horse race between Labour and the Tories. A vote for the Green Party is a vote for real change in Bassetlaw. Green councillors are serious about listening to local people, fighting for fully funded, efficient community services and protecting our homes and environment.
“The Green Party doesn’t tell their councillors how to vote, which means that I will always put the interests of residents in my area ahead of party politics, no matter the issue.”
What has Worksop East got going for it?
“I’ve lived and worked in Bassetlaw all my adult life and raised my children here. The people here are what we have going for us – most people are friendly and welcoming.
“Bassetlaw has so much potential, but we need more backing from local government to unlock it. Our beautiful countryside is our most precious resource, but we need to do more to protect it.
“We should have excellent transport links thanks to our railway lines, yet the train service falls short. We have excellent opportunities for building green energy infrastructure, but we need greater investment to retrain local people and push projects forward.”
What are the priorities for Worksop East?
“The cost-of-living crisis represents a real challenge for many in Bassetlaw. Greens are clear that we need to invest more in our future – education, health, homes – by ensuring that the very richest pay their fair share. Around here, we need to provide more opportunities for our young people.
“That means better public transport to get them access to work. It also means more youth clubs, parks, and accessible green spaces in our area to support community well-being for everyone.
“In the future, climate change will get worse, and we are not ready for it. Communities in Bassetlaw have been hard-hit by flooding, and we urgently need new and natural flood defences to protect residents and businesses.”
What is the biggest issue facing the constituency?
“Living standards have been made worse for everyday people across this country. Worksop is no different. We’ve lost a lot of jobs in this area, and the local economy is struggling.
“This is all made worse by the Government’s cuts to welfare and the winter fuel allowance, and by their refusal to remove the two-child benefit cap.
“We would do this by supporting sustainable, green investment in our local economy and by making sure that the wealthiest in society pay their fair share.”
Russell Dodd for Reform UK was unable to attend an interview and did not provide a statement, or answer our direct messages asking for a comment.
