Luton South: Tories court Ukip deserters as rivals battle to dispel Luton’s ‘bad rap’ name

Challenger: Tory Dean Russell
Jeremy Selwyn
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Residents agree Luton has suffered a “bad rap” from ugly scenes at English Defence League and Islamic extremist rallies in recent years. Race, identity and the arrival of east European migrants are issues on the doorstep.

Now Luton South — where nearly 57 per cent of residents voted Leave — is in the Tory crosshairs, aiming to unseat Labour’s Gavin Shuker by mopping up deserting Ukip voters.

At Bury Park mosque, chairman Abul Hussain, 65, said: “Parking and crime, particularly burglary, are the big issues for us. But also people in power have to represent us, to tell the world we are not terrorists or bad people because as a town Luton’s been given a bad name because of issues in the past.”

Fighting the seat for the Conservatives is former councillor Dean Russell, who backs Leave. Mr Russell, 41, said: “The main thing I’m hearing on the doorstep is Labour are not listening or doing what they need to do to sort out the local area. My role here as the Conservative MP will be to give Luton back its voice. When I was at university, I worked on a zero-hours contract at Birmingham airport so I’ve been in their position.”

Incumbent: Labour's Gavin Shuker
PA

Current polls suggest Mr Shuker, a Remainer with a 5,711 majority, could hold onto the seat he won in 2010 — but it’s going to be tight. Mr Shuker, 35, said Brexit and Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership were high on the doorstep concerns, along with living standards, NHS problems and a reduction in Safer Neighbourhood officers.

He said: “Six years into a Tory government, these things manifest in a town like Luton and are being felt acutely. There’s a sizeable minority of traditionally Labour voters who are clear that they want me as their MP but have questions over Jeremy Corbyn as prime minister.”

Asked what Luton needs from Brexit, Mr Shuker said it must “look like a deal that keeps easyJet flying, the airport expanding and Vauxhall building vans”.

On an estate near the airport, one of the biggest employers, Tory canvassers tried to convince Brian Sharp, 74, a retired engineering foreman, to jump from Ukip. Mr Sharp said: “The biggest problem this country’s got now is not having Nigel Farage knocking about. Who’s going to vote for people like Corbyn?” Airport worker Steve Foley, 53, said he planned to vote Tory, despite his anger over police cuts. Mr Sharp said: “I can remember my dad taking me down the town when it was a little market town. Now I don’t know anybody, they’re all foreign, no disrespect.”

Down the road, Kevin Burdett, 57, a father of two, said: “My neighbours are Polish, they’re cracking people who run their own businesses, but for me leaving Europe was about not just taking control of our borders. It was about taking control full stop.”

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