It isn't just 15 years of Tory cuts though, Labour have been failing Bradford for much longer under both coloured ties at Westminster. I actually know the leader of Bradford Council Susan Hinchliffe through family ties, and I'll be quite frank speaking to her has never really given me any confidence despite rising to the highest possible position in the council. The Labour party simply haven't delivered on much over a very long time, and have certainly done far more damage than good. For example once upon a time Bradford was renowned for it's live music scene which brought a lot of people into the city, but Labour councillors were more interested in Bradford competing with Leeds in the retail sector, so made life increasingly difficult for venues and promotors (and I know a few who would agree). But Leeds was always light years ahead, and instead of admitting that Bradford could never really compete the council pushed on, eventually leading to the infamous city centre hole that existed because Bradford Council's ambitions way exceeded what the private sector thought was viable, and so the 2004 Westfield shopping centre build was mothballed even though a large swath of retail space had been raised to the ground. By the time Broadway as it is known now finally got built and opened a decade later, the damage was already done. The live scene was all but dead, and retail had shrunk, as had the footprint of the new shopping centre. And its still shrinking further.
This was all because local Labour representatives couldn't bring themselves to admit that competing with our nearest and dearest city neighbour in the retail sector was folly. Ironically now the same council has staked all it's hopes in the 2025 City of Culture, promoting culture and arts in the area. However Labour seem to be determined to gub this one up too, the farce that surrounds the Interchange bus station and a complete silence from both council and regional authorities on what happens next, along with late running works to pedestrianise the centre and re-route local buses is leaving locals more cynical than ever that anything good will come of next year. The City of Culture 2025 is in danger of becoming the City of Late Running Projects, Diversions & Demolition Sites....
Honestly, I've lived under Labour stewardship long enough to know they ain't that great. Under someone like Blair they at least had a direction and for a while at least purpose. Starmer for me has none of that, nor just his central party politicians. if after the next five years of a Labour government I'm proved wrong, I'll happily admit it. I just don't think I will be, I think they will collapse into the same cluster-you-know-what we've all seen in Westminster, and us Bradfordians have been witness to for decades.