Chelsea and Fulham
Notional 2005 Results:
Conservative: 19786 (55.8%)
Labour: 9062 (25.5%)
Liberal Democrat: 4717 (13.3%)
Other: 1910 (5.4%)
Majority: 10725 (30.2%)
New Seat: combines Chelsea from the old Kensington & Chelsea and Fulham from the old Hammersmith & Fulham seat into one new constituency, leaving stand alone Hammersmith and Kensington constituencues.
Profile: The combination of affluent Chelsea and the gentified Fulham should make Chelsea and Fulham an unassailable Conservative stronghold, perhaps at the expense of making both Hammersmith and Kensington more favourable to Labour.
Candidates: 
Greg Hands (Conservative) born 1965 in New York to British parents. Educated at Dr Challoner`s Grammar School and Cambridge University. Former banker. Former Hammersmith & Fulham councillor and Conservative group leader. MP for Hammersmith & Fulham since 2005. 
Alex Hilton (Labour) born 1976. Author of `Recess Monkey` blog and founder of LabourHome. Redbridge councillor until 2006. Contested Canterbury 2005.
2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 99749
Male: 47.1%
Female: 52.9%
Under 18: 16.6%
Over 60: 16.9%
Born outside UK: 35.6%
White: 84.8%
Black: 5.5%
Asian: 3.5%
Mixed: 3.1%
Other: 3.1%
Christian: 67.8%
Hindu: 0.8%
Jewish: 1.5%
Muslim: 5%
Full time students: 5.8%
Graduates 16-74: 49.8%
No Qualifications 16-74: 14.1%
Owner-Occupied: 48.7%
Social Housing: 24.4% (Council: 13.6%, Housing Ass.: 10.8%)
Privately Rented: 22.1%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 10.2%
Ironically, considering Norsheen Bhatti’s reason for defecting, the Lib Dems have in the last few days, selected a black councillor in James Allie in Brent North, as well as Nigel Bakhai in Ealing Southall a few weeks ago
Well the reason she gives for defecting may well be a true reason, but I’m sure there’ll be other things behind it as well.
From the Telegraph article it sounds like a cynical careerist move rather than any matter of princilple. Basically she had no chance of winning this seat and figured if she jumped ship to the Tories she’d get to the top of the A-list as they bend over backwards to demonstrtae their ‘diversity’ credentials. Doesnt sound like she is actualy a Conservative, but that would count in her favour in the modern Conservative party.
It’s a bit strange to hear Eric Pickles talking about the Tories and LDs having “much in common.” I’m sure a party like UKIP will be listening with interest to comments like this.
Well, Andy it’s true we in the Lib Dems don’t have a great deal in common with UKIP (I haven’t seen Pickles’s remarks, but I can’t immediately think of huge amounts in common with Tories either), but judging by body language, polite conversation (or lack of it) at recent election counts around here, Lib Dems are very much more able to rub along with both sets of activists than Tories and UKIP can between them!!
Part of Chelsea had Labour councillors till 2002.
This changed when the Labour South Stanley (with crumbling terraces and Worlds End Estate) was merged with the safe Tory North Stanley ward to form Stanley in 2002.
The Southern parts of Stanley look very basic even today, and similar in character to much of Fulham.
Labour did badly from the 2002 boundary changes which merged South Stanley with much of North Stanley. This was to create 3 councillor wards and Stanley had two 2 member wards.
Labour would most probably have lost the seat anyway in the current political environment but the new boundaries do make the seat harder to get back.
http://www.rbkc.gov.uk/YourCouncil/LocalDemocracy/le_results_stanley.asp
Labour get nothing in the combined Stanley ward now!!!
Demographic change or what??
Conservatives polled 48.3% in borough of Kensington & Chelsea in the Euro elections, probably the highest percentage of any party in any district/borough. Not a surprise of course. Up 4.0% from 2004.
South Stanley merged with part of Cheyne ward to form Cremorne. The Stanley ward includes no part of the old South Stanley it is basically North Stanley plus part of the old Church ward,
“Conservatives polled 48.3% in borough of Kensington & Chelsea in the Euro elections, probably the highest percentage of any party in any district/borough”
Yes it was if you exclude Gibraltar where the Tories topped 50% (but down from the 70% last time). The Conservatives topped 40% in several places but the only other party to do so was Labour and only in Newham (40.3%)
Plaid Cymru got 49% in Caernarfon