Labour’s candidate in the Batley and Spen by-election said the poll was about the people of the area and not a referendum on the leadership of party leader Sir Keir Starmer.
Kim Leadbeater was speaking after welcoming Sir Keir to the constituency on Thursday as bookies backed the Tories to take the lead in the forthcoming poll.
Ms Leadbeater told the PA news agency: “I think it’s really important the Labour leader comes to Batley and Spen.
“I’ve chosen to stand as a Labour candidate but I’m under no illusion that the Labour Party has got some work to do.