Lewisham West and Penge

Boundary changes: Major changes due to Lewisham being considered alongside Bromley in the latest review. The new Lewisham West seat loses around a third of its electorate to the other Lewisham seats, mostly Lewisham East which gains Catford and Rushey Green although part of Crofton Park ward is transferred to Lewisham Deptford. Meanwhile Lewisham gains a large chunk from Beckenham which makes up the Penge part of the new seat.

Profile: A new cross-borough seat, taking in four wards from Lewisham (Bellingham, Forest Hill, Perry Vale and Sydenham) and three from Bromley (Clock House, Crystal Palace, Penge and Cator). However the Bromley wards tend to be strong for Labour and the Liberal Democrats rather than the Conservatives and the seat remains strong for Labour – Bellingham Estate in particular is still largely council rented and is strong Labour territory. There is also a high proportion of voters from ethnic minorities, with around 35% of the electorate non-white (mainly Afro-Carribean).

Crystal Palace is named for the park where the Crystal Palace was rebuilt after the Great Exhibition in 1851, where it remained as a tourist attraction until it burnt down in 1936, The grounds remain as a public park and also the site of the National Sports Centre, an international athletics and swimming venue.

The old Lewisham West had been a Conservative held marginal seat in the 1980s (once occupied by John Maples, now Conservative MP for Stratford upon Avon) but had become increasingly safe for Labour, partly because of an increase in ethnic minority population and the slow transformation of suburban family homes into flats and houses of multiple occupancy. The boundary changes will help the Conservatives slightly, but not enough to move Lewisham West and Penge onto the target list.

Current MP: Jim Dowd(Labour) born 1951, Germany. Educated at Sedgehill Comprehensive School and London Nautical School. Before his election worked as a telephone engineer. Lewisham councillor from 1974-1997 and deputy leader of Lewisham council from 1984-1986. Contested Beckenham 1983, Lewisham West 1987. First elected as MP for Lewisham West in 1992. Served as an opposition whip from 1994-5, a shadow Northern Ireland spokesman from 1995-7 and a government whip from 1997-2001. His partner is Janet Anderson, MP for Rossendale and Darwen (more information at They work for you)

2010 election candidates:
Chris Phillips (Conservative) Architect. Bromley councillor since 2002.
Jim Dowd(Labour) born 1951, Germany. Educated at Sedgehill Comprehensive School and London Nautical School. Before his election worked as a telephone engineer. Lewisham councillor from 1974-1997 and deputy leader of Lewisham council from 1984-1986. Contested Beckenham 1983, Lewisham West 1987. First elected as MP for Lewisham West in 1992. Served as an opposition whip from 1994-5, a shadow Northern Ireland spokesman from 1995-7 and a government whip from 1997-2001. His partner is Janet Anderson, MP for Rossendale and Darwen (more information at They work for you)
Alex Feakes (Liberal Democrat) born 1975. Educated at Imperial College. Runs a film and video production company. Lewisham councillor since 2006. Contested Lewisham Mayoralty 2002. Contested Greenwich and Lewisham in the London Assembly elections 2004. Contested Beckenham 2001, Lewisham West 2005.
Romayne Phoenix (Green) Sculptor and former teacher. Lewisham councillor since 2006.
Pete Staveley (UKIP) Born 1962, Crawley. Educated at St Wilfrid`s and Ploytechnic of Central London. Transport Consultant.