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MPs jostle for slice of £14.6m from axed leisure centre
Bradford’s three Labour MPs are arguing over how to use £14.6m left from a cancelled leisure centre project, after the council said rising costs made it unviable. Their dispute matters because the money could fund alternative local projects, but the MPs disagree over whether it should benefit one constituency or be shared.
The funding came from a £20m government grant and must be spent by 2028; the council leader says the government will not reclaim it, though no scheme has been chosen. Anna Dixon wants some of it to reopen Bingley Pool, Imran Hussain has proposed a youth and community hub in Bradford East, and Naz Shah says Bradford West should retain the money intended for it, citing needs including investment in local fields and neighbourhoods.
In short
- £14.6m remains after Bradford’s leisure centre was cancelled.
- MPs are proposing projects in three constituencies.
- Naz Shah argues the money should stay in Bradford West.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Sharing the £14.6m across Bradford could direct public money towards several communities and address needs beyond the original leisure centre plan. A city-wide approach may also help MPs and the council choose projects that offer broad, lasting benefit before the 2028 spending deadline.
The case against
Keeping the funding in Bradford West, where it was originally intended to be spent, could be seen as honouring the purpose for which residents were promised the investment. With local needs such as fields and neighbourhood improvements still unmet, redirecting the money elsewhere may leave that constituency without the benefit it was meant to receive.
Explained simply
Bradford is a city in West Yorkshire with three parliamentary constituencies: Bradford East, Bradford West and Shipley. Each is represented by a Labour MP: Imran Hussain, Naz Shah and Anna Dixon, respectively.
The council had planned a leisure centre but cancelled the project after costs rose, leaving part of a £20m government grant unspent. The remaining money must be used by 2028, and the council has not yet chosen what to fund.
The MPs have suggested different uses in their areas, including reopening Bingley Pool, creating a youth and community hub, and investing in fields and neighbourhoods. The decision matters because the funding can support local facilities, but there is disagreement over how it should be shared.