Although Halifax has a majority of blue-collar workers and unemployment around the national average, Tory support is bolstered by a 70% owner-occupancy rate, and rural areas on the outskirts of the constituency which are attractive to affluent commuters.
Ususally solid Conservative wards include Northowram and Shelf, Warley to the west of the town, and the best residential area, Skerton, around Savile Park, south of the town centre.
Halifax is synonymous with its mills and chimneys which spring up among dark terraces of housing. The town grew up as a textile producer, specialising in wool. That industry has been in decline for some years now, but attempts at industrial diversification have been made.
Food-processing, machine-tool manufacture and engineering all take place in the town now, which was also home to the world's largest building society before it became a bank.