Brent North
Notional 2005 Results:
Labour: 23068 (50.3%)
Conservative: 13134 (28.6%)
Liberal Democrat: 8353 (18.2%)
Other: 1334 (2.9%)
Majority: 9934 (21.6%)
Actual 2005 result
Conservative: 11779 (33%)
Labour: 17420 (48.8%)
Liberal Democrat: 5672 (15.9%)
Other: 811 (2.3%)
Majority: 5641 (15.8%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 9944 (29.3%)
Labour: 20149 (59.4%)
Liberal Democrat: 3846 (11.3%)
Majority: 10205 (30.1%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 15324 (40.1%)
Labour: 19343 (50.7%)
Liberal Democrat: 3104 (8.1%)
Other: 403 (1.1%)
Majority: 4019 (10.5%)
Boundary changes: Major. Retains most of the old Brent North, although loses part of Tokyngton and Welsh Harp to Brent Central, but gains around a third of the old Brent South seat, including Alperton, Wembley and parts of Barnhill and Sudbury.
Profile: A majority ethnic seat - in fact Brent North has the highes proportion of residents born outside of the UK of any seat in the UK, but one which unusually used to be a safe Conservative seat, returning the somewhat eccentric former headmaster Sir Rhodes Boyson. A lot has changed since then, Brent North recorded the largest swing against the Tories in 1997 (18.8%)and a further 9.7% swing to Labour in 2001, rendering the seat safe Labour - at least on paper.
High ethnic population in UK constituencies is normally associated with deprived inner city seats, but Brent North is most owner-occupied residential suburbs. This is a seat of upwardly mobile successful Asians. Despite the high Labour Parliamentary majority, they (as of July 2007) hold only three council seats in the constituency - all in Fryent ward, compared to the Conservative’s 15 and Liberal Democrats 9. Barry Gardiner has a substantial twenty percent majority, but Brent North is not necessarily the Labour stronghold it appears on paper.
Current MP: Barry Gardiner (Labour) born 1957, Glasgow. Educated at Glasgow High School and St Andrews University. Ran a company of international maritime arbitators until his election. Cambridge councillor 1988-1994. First elected as MP for Brent North in 1997. Former PPS to Beverley Hughes 2002-4. Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Northern Ireland office 2004-5, the DTI 2005-6, DEFRA 2006 to 2007 (more information at They work for you)
2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 110762
Male: 48.9%
Female: 51.1%
Under 18: 23.2%
Over 60: 17.1%
Born outside UK: 48.1%
White: 37.7%
Black: 13.8%
Asian: 41.8%
Mixed: 3.1%
Other: 3.6%
Christian: 39%
Hindu: 27.8%
Jewish: 3.5%
Muslim: 12.8%
Sikh: 1.2%
Full time students: 8%
Graduates 16-74: 29.2%
No Qualifications 16-74: 24%
Owner-Occupied: 68.9%
Social Housing: 13.7% (Council: 6.5%, Housing Ass.: 7.2%)
Privately Rented: 14.4%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 5.9%
131 Responses
Pages:« 1 … 5 6 7 8 [9] Show All
Brent
Atiq had no chance of being selected. He jumped before he was pushed. He’ll be out of the party soon. Watch this space for details.
June 26th, 2008 at 1:00 pmBlue Sage,
I never claim that I will be selcted. May I ask you who is going to expel me from the party? I am anxiously waiting for details.
The officers of the Association, or —–? You bet it is not that easy as you think.
I am still member of the Conservative Party and my membership of CCA has been also renewed recently for the year 2008-09( as a member of Democratic Conservative Group).
June 26th, 2008 at 5:24 pmBrent
You will be expelled because you have left their Group and formed another and have brought the Consevatives into disrepute. What will your backers at home say?
June 27th, 2008 at 1:20 pmKeighley
I think that Brent South could well become the next Bradford West come the next election, that is where there is a swing towards Labour thus defying the national trend.
June 27th, 2008 at 1:27 pmKeighley
Naturally I meant to say Brent North.
June 27th, 2008 at 1:28 pmBeckenham
Reading the posts of True Blue, Atiq Malik and Blue Sage reminds me of being back at primary school. What a bunch of goons. Grow up guys and stop being so childish - you all deserve to lose.
June 27th, 2008 at 2:38 pmBlue Sage,
First the Conservative Group under the Leadership of Cllr Bob Blackman has to prove that the election of Group officers for the year 2008-09 was constitutional.
The Group Leader suspended the constitution at group AGM to hold the election of the officers, whereas there is no such provision in the Group constitution.
June 27th, 2008 at 6:18 pmJoseph to win Brent North Conservatives have to reach to Black, Tamil (Hindus) and Muslim voters.
Blacks are 13.8% Muslims 12.8% and Tamil Hindus are 7% of the population (2001 Census). They combined are approx.40% of the population and majority of them will vote for Labour at next GE. Local Association can not compete the resources of Barry Gardiner MP.
June 27th, 2008 at 6:27 pmIMHO, Barry Gardiner is safe here.
June 27th, 2008 at 6:35 pmIt would take an 11% swing for this to fall. That’s at the high end of what polls are showing at the moment so the chances are this seat will stay red
June 27th, 2008 at 6:50 pmIn March 2007, July 2007 and March 2008 at Brent North Association AGM’s members were split between Bob Blackman Group and Cllr Atiq Malik Group. If there is a vote to expel Cllr Malik from the Association it will be very close to call.
Bob supporters are 70+ whereas Cllr Malik has young supporters. At the last AGM there were 120+ members present and it was very close to call. Central Office is fully aware of the split between local Conservatives.
Even Cllr Malik is expelled from Brent North Conservative Association he will remain member of the Conservative Party as he is also member of Brent Central Conservative Association, and one can remain a a member of Conservative Councillors Association as long as he/she is a member of Conservative Association.
I do not know how Brent Central Conservative Association Executive will react if Cllr Malik is expelled from Brent North Conservative Association.
June 28th, 2008 at 6:09 pmPages: « 1 … 5 6 7 8 [9] Show All