Unlike the other two seats in the city of Bradford, the southern constituency has been held by Labour since 1945, despite two close shaves in 1983 and 1987.
But like Bradford North, a by-election was called following the death of the sitting Labour MP - Bob Cryer, who died in a car crash in 1994 at the age of 59.
His widow Ann Cryer has since become the member for another West Yorkshire constituency, Keighley; and their son, John, became MP for the London constituency of Hornchurch in 1997.
Gerry Sutcliffe, a former Labour council leader, took advantage of record lows for the Conservatives in the opinion polls to win the seat with ease.
This seat has the lowest number of Asian residents out of the three Bradford constituencies - 6%, although this remains above the national average - and the most council housing.
Bradford South is primarily a residential working class seat with above average numbers for all manual social groups.