South Yorkshire has traditionally been one of Labour's safest counties, and Barnsley Central one of its safest seats. Eric Illsey, MP here since 1987, boosted his already substantial 1992 majority of 19,361 to a huge 24,501 in 1997, 67.2% of the vote.
Barnsley provides a stereotypical image of a gritty northern town, wracked with economic and social problems following the collapse of its primary industry. The NUM headquarters are situated here, and the surrounding countryside still bears the scars that the mining industry has left behind.
Barnsley grew up on the back of the mining and glass industries, and though the former has declined to the point of extinction, some diversification has softened the blow. Large employers in the town include Lyons, Slazenger and a leading carpet manufacturer and the council continues to do all it can to promote the growth of hi-tech industries.
Despite these efforts, unemployment remains chronically high and the seat has to contend with numerous other social problems, such as levels of long-term illness which are some 50% above the national average - a legacy of Barnsley Central's coal mining days.