Hornsey and Wood Green
2005 Results:
Liberal Democrat: 20512 (43.3%)
Labour: 18117 (38.3%)
Conservative: 6014 (12.7%)
Other: 2687 (5.7%)
Majority: 2395 (5.1%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 6921 (15.7%)
Labour: 21967 (49.9%)
Liberal Democrat: 11353 (25.8%)
Green: 2228 (5.1%)
Other: 1594 (3.6%)
Majority: 10614 (24.1%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 11293 (21.9%)
Labour: 31792 (61.7%)
Liberal Democrat: 5794 (11.3%)
Referendum: 808 (1.6%)
Other: 1800 (3.5%)
Majority: 20499 (39.8%)
No Boundary Changes:
Profile: The western half of the Borough of Haringey, covering Wood Green, Noel Park, Alexandra Palace, Muswell HIll, Crouch End, Cranley Gardens and Highgate (though the famous cemetery is over the border in Holborn and St Pancras). This is a fashionable and trendy areas for young professionals and the middle class intelligensia, though there are also areas of council housing and a diverse ethnic population, including Jewish, Cypriot and afro-carribean communities.
This was a Conservative seat until 1992 but by 1997 had become what looked like a rock solid Labour seat, with Barbara Roche enjoying a majority of over 20,000. The Liberal Democrat however have surplanted the Conservatives as the alternative to Labour here, both at Parliamentary level where they won the seat in 2005 and local level (Haringey council is split almost straight down the middle in political terms – the western part that forms this seat is solidly Liberal Democrat, the eastern part that forms Tottenham is solidly Labour).
Outgoing MP: Lynne Featherstone(Lib Dem) born 1951, London. Educated at South Hampstead High School and Oxford Brookes University. Former design consultant. Haringey councillor 1998-2006, leader of the Lib Dem group 1998-2002. London Assembley member 2000-2005. Contested Hornsey and Wood Green 1997, 2001. First elected as MP for Hornsey and Wood Green 2005. Home affairs spokesman 2005-2006, shadow Liberal Democrat secretary of state for internatonal development 2006-2007, youth and equality spokesman since 2007 (more information at They work for you)
Candidates: 
Richard Merrin (Conservative) Managing director of a PR company.
Karen Jennings (Labour) Former nurse. Head of health at UNISON. Lynne Featherstone(Lib Dem) born 1951, London. Educated at South Hampstead High School and Oxford Brookes University. Former design consultant. Haringey councillor 1998-2006, leader of the Lib Dem group 1998-2002. London Assembley member 2000-2005. Contested Hornsey and Wood Green 1997, 2001. First elected as MP for Hornsey and Wood Green 2005. Home affairs spokesman 2005-2006, shadow Liberal Democrat secretary of state for internatonal development 2006-2007, youth and equality spokesman since 2007 (more information at They work for you)
Pete McAskie (Green) Green party management co-ordinator. Contested Tottenham 2005, Enfield and Haringey 2008 London elections.
2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 107034
Male: 47.6%
Female: 52.4%
Under 18: 20.2%
Over 60: 13.9%
Born outside UK: 30.7%
White: 76.3%
Black: 11.3%
Asian: 5.8%
Mixed: 4.1%
Other: 2.5%
Christian: 49.3%
Hindu: 1.9%
Jewish: 3.7%
Muslim: 7.2%
Full time students: 6.7%
Graduates 16-74: 47.8%
No Qualifications 16-74: 16.9%
Owner-Occupied: 51.4%
Social Housing: 22.6% (Council: 14.5%, Housing Ass.: 8.1%)
Privately Rented: 22.6%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 10.4%
If the counting in London is unusually delayed as local election votes are separated it could be interesting how the national result expectations are affected.
As I’ve discussed elsewhere, some good early results in Scotland had a wake up call when the picture from north east and east London became quickly apparent in the 1979 election.
The rest of the country was delayed and somewhere in the middle of the two trends.
But London perhaps might have a lower swing this time, or compared to the rest of the country, but then it might not.
Putney gave a slightly false impression in 2005. If Edgbaston had come through before Putney it would have been a more realistic pointer. I think in 1997 and 2001 Edgbaston was declared before Putney.
In the Euro elections the North East region usually declares first (because it’s so small) which always makes things look better for Labour than they usually turn out to be, and worse for UKIP.
worth mentioning that the Tory candidate is quoted as describing Hornsey & Wood Green as a “classic three way marginal”… hmmm, I think he might not understand the concept very well!
Which seats have included Muswell Hill?
Any predicitons here? WIll Lynne regain her seat or will Labour win this seat again?
Well the Conservative candidate is the MD of a PR company !
“Which seats have included Muswell Hill?”
In Hornsey since 1918. Before that it formed a detached part of Finsbury central
It would be a huge shock if this seat changed hands in my opinion. The momentum in Featherstone’s favour has been so strong in recent elections and the coverage of Haringey Council so damning that it is very had to see any other outcome than a reasonably comfortable Lib Dem hold.
Of course, I’ve now been so categorical that it will probably come back to haunt me, sod’s law being what it is, but that’s my genuine view.
The incumbency effect is likely to be strong here, simple as that.
The more interesting question here will be whether the LDs can make the gains within this constituency to take control of Haringey council. There are more councillors within the wards of this constituency than there are within Tottenham so if the LDs win all the seats here they would win control. Obviously there are exceptional local factors why they would make gains from Labour here while simultaneously losing seats locally in neighbouring Islington and (possibly) Camden
Pete, I absolutely loved it ages ago, when on here, you complimented that Gloy Plopwell, was, for once, talking some sense.
A bit like when iain mackintosh predicted a huge Labour win at the Glenrothes by-election when everyone else was predicting an SNP gain or at best a very narrow Labour hold. I cant remember what Gloy’s prediction was for this seat but dont doubt it will be a LD hold with an icreased majority. Probably not a huge majority though – maybe up to about 5,000
‘Before that it formed a detached part of Finsbury central’
What do you mean by ‘detached part’, Pete?
As in it was non-contiguous. In other words it was seperated from the rest of the area of the constituency by other constituencies and formed an enclave surrounded by the Hornsey seat. There were some non-contiguous constituencies up until 1983 such as Stirling, Falkirk and Grangemouth but they were much more common before 1918 when many of the Scottish burgh seats in particular were formed of a number of towns which were physically seperated from each other by territory in other constituencies.
Another example of this in London at that time was that Queens Park (the current Westminster ward of that name) formed a detached part of the Chelsea constituency.