Amber Valley
Labour hold

In spite of its attractive name, this is a decidedly industrial ex-coal mining part of the less beautiful section of Derbyshire (south rather than north, and east rather than west). Gritty little towns like Alfreton and Heanor and Ripley are not known for their Conservative traditions, and it was only at the Tory-highpoint of Thatcherism that Phillip Oppenheim could secure his three successive victories (1983-92). He was thrashed in 1997 by Judy Mallaber, and his political activities diverted into a thoughtful and independently minded newspaper column. The Conservatives apparently did outstandingly well in the May 2000 Amber Valley council elections, but beware: most of their success came in wards placed outside this seat, such as those in Belper (West Derbyshire constituency).

Judy Mallaber, elected in 1997, belies a sectarian past including Communist Party membership and chairmanship of the Left-wing independent Labour Research Department, as a witty, fluent Blairite loyalist. With the impeccably elitist academic pedigree of North London Collegiate and St Anne’s College, Oxford, she worked for ten years as research officer for NUPE, whose commitment to a national minimum wage she has duly reflected in Commons interventions. Frizzy-haired and wire-rimmed spectacled in Guardianesque mode, her lack of ministerial advancement may well be linked to her advancing years, as she hits 50 this year.

Derbyshire County Council

Amber Valley Borough Council

Area Percent GB Percent Index GB=100   Thriving Wealthy Achievers, Suburban Areas 11.10% 14.99% 74.04 Affluent Greys, Rural Communities 0.11% 2.13% 5.30 Prosperous Pensioners, Retirement Areas 0.10% 2.49% 4.06 Expanding Affluent Executives, Family Areas 1.47% 4.43% 33.32 Well-Off Workers, Family Areas 9.04% 7.27% 124.34 Rising Affluent Urbanites, Town & City Areas 0.03% 2.56% 1.12 Prosperous Professionals, Metropolitan Areas 0.00% 2.04% 0.00 Better-Off Executives, Inner City Areas 0.00% 3.94% 0.00 Settling Comfortable Middle Agers, Mature Home Owning Areas 13.74% 13.04% 105.35 Skilled Workers, Home Owning Areas 39.96% 12.70% 314.58 Aspiring New Home Owners, Mature Communities 14.97% 8.14% 183.83 White Collar Workers, Better-Off Multi Ethnic Areas 0.00% 4.02% 0.00 Striving Older People, Less Prosperous Areas 3.69% 3.19% 115.75 Council Estate Residents, Better-Off Homes 5.30% 11.31% 46.84 Council Estate Residents, High Unemployment 0.09% 3.06% 3.05 Council Estate Residents, Greatest Hardship 0.39% 2.52% 15.56 People in Multi-Ethnic, Low-Income Areas 0.00% 2.10% 0.00 Unclassified Unclassified 0.00% 0.06% 0.00

Area Percent GB Percent Index GB=100   £0-5K 9.80% 9.41% 104.08 £5-10K 18.53% 16.63% 111.38 £10-15K 18.65% 16.58% 112.47 £15-20K 14.87% 13.58% 109.48 £20-25K 10.85% 10.39% 104.38 £25-30K 7.66% 7.77% 98.50 £30-35K 5.36% 5.79% 92.56 £35-40K 3.77% 4.33% 86.94 £40-45K 2.67% 3.27% 81.77 £45-50K 1.91% 2.48% 77.10 £50-55K 1.39% 1.90% 72.93 £55-60K 1.02% 1.47% 69.20 £60-65K 0.76% 1.15% 65.89 £65-70K 0.57% 0.91% 62.93 £70-75K 0.43% 0.72% 60.29 £75-80K 0.33% 0.57% 57.92 £80-85K 0.26% 0.46% 55.79 £85-90K 0.20% 0.37% 53.86 £90-95K 0.16% 0.31% 52.12 £95-100K 0.13% 0.25% 50.54 £100K + 0.58% 1.34% 43.52