My name is Karen Bruce and I’ve lived and been an active campaigner in what is now the Elmet and Rothwell constituency for all of my adult life. I was born locally and grew up on the Portobello council estate. I’ve lived in Methley and Swillington, and now live in Carlton, Rothwell with my husband Stuart and daughter Esme.
In 1998 I was elected as a councillor for the Garforth and Swillington ward, which also included Methley, Great Preston and Little Preston. I represented the ward for six years until the boundaries changed and we had all out elections in 2004. It was a pleasure and an honour to serve alongside Colin Burgon MP, Councillor Tom Murray and Councillor Andrea Harrison (now McKenna). I was delighted in 2006 when Mark Dobson was elected as I’d already worked with him when he was chair of the Garforth Residents Association.
I was then selected as the Labour council candidate for Rothwell, where I first worked with Colin Challen MP and then when the new constituency was created I was once again working with Colin Burgon and my friends and comrades from Elmet and Rothwell members, I was able to cut the Liberal Democrat majority from about 900 to just over 200 in 2007.
