Hayes and Harlington

Boundary changes: Gains most of West Drayton and part of Botwell from Uxbridge.

Profile: A West London seat covering Heathrow airport which is both a major source of employment and a major political issue, due to the planned building of a third runway to the north of the existing airport in the area of Sipson and Harmondsworth (the site of the detention centre used for asylum seekers detained pending deportation from Heathrow).

Apart from Heathrow the seat covers Harlington, West Drayton, Hayes and Yeading. This is historically an industrial residential area, housing for those working on the railways and Grand Union canal and in the light industries that grew up in the 1920s and 30s, aviation and broadcasting. About a third of the population is from ethnic minorities and, like neighbouring Southall and Heston, there is a large Sikh population here. It is normally a Labour seat – it was won by the Conservatives in 1983 after the defection of the previous Labour MP, Neville Sanderson, to the SDP and held by the Tory right-winger Terry Dicks (famously described by Tony Banks as a “pigs bladder on a stick”) until 1997. Since 1997 it has returned to form as a safe Labour seat, represented by serial Labour rebel and left-wing ringleader John McDonnell.

Current MP: John McDonnell(Labour) born 1951, Liverpool. Educated at Great Yarmouth Grammar and Brunel University. Former trade union official. GLC member for Hayes and Harlington 1981-1986. Deputy leader of the GLC from 1981-1985 until he felt out with Ken Livingstone due to his support for setting no rate in the face of government rate caps. Contested Hayes and Harlington 1992. First elected as MP for Hayes and Harlington in 1997. McDonnell is chairman of the Socialist Campaign Group and effectively the leader of what remains of the far lef of the Labour party. Naturally he is one of Labour`s most rebellious MPs, reliably opposing top-up fees, foundation hospitals, 90-day detention, the war in Iraq, the renewal of Trident. In 2007 he attempted to contest the Labour leadership but, despite persuading rival left wing candidate Michael Meacher to stand down in his favour, he was eventually unable to secure enough nominations to appear on the ballot paper (more information at They work for you)

2010 election candidates:
Scott Seaman-Digby (Conservative) Born 1972. Educated at Royal Holloway. Commercial consultant. Hillingdon councillor since 1998.
John McDonnell(Labour) born 1951, Liverpool. Educated at Great Yarmouth Grammar and Brunel University. Former trade union official. GLC member for Hayes and Harlington 1981-1986. Deputy leader of the GLC from 1981-1985 until he felt out with Ken Livingstone due to his support for setting no rate in the face of government rate caps. Contested Hayes and Harlington 1992. First elected as MP for Hayes and Harlington in 1997. McDonnell is chairman of the Socialist Campaign Group and effectively the leader of what remains of the far lef of the Labour party. Naturally he is one of Labour`s most rebellious MPs, reliably opposing top-up fees, foundation hospitals, 90-day detention, the war in Iraq, the renewal of Trident. In 2007 he attempted to contest the Labour leadership but, despite persuading rival left wing candidate Michael Meacher to stand down in his favour, he was eventually unable to secure enough nominations to appear on the ballot paper (more information at They work for you)
Satnam Kaur Khalsa (Liberal Democrat)
Jessica Lee (Green)
Chris Forster (BNP) Born 1956. Former local authority auditor and accountant, now working as a psychic and psychic event organiser. Contested London assembly list in 2008. Contested London in 2009 European election.
Cliff Dixon (English Democrat)
Aneel Shahzad (Christian Party)
Andrew Cripps (National Front)