Leyton and Wanstead
Notional 2005 Results:
Labour: 15660 (45.7%)
Liberal Democrat: 8538 (24.9%)
Conservative: 7795 (22.7%)
Other: 2294 (6.7%)
Majority: 7121 (20.8%)
Actual 2005 result
Conservative: 7393 (22.2%)
Labour: 15234 (45.8%)
Liberal Democrat: 8377 (25.2%)
Green: 1523 (4.6%)
UKIP: 591 (1.8%)
Other: 155 (0.5%)
Majority: 6857 (20.6%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 6654 (19.7%)
Labour: 19558 (58%)
Liberal Democrat: 5389 (16%)
Green: 1030 (3.1%)
Other: 1087 (3.2%)
Majority: 12904 (38.3%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 8736 (22.2%)
Labour: 23922 (60.8%)
Liberal Democrat: 5920 (15.1%)
Other: 744 (1.9%)
Majority: 15186 (38.6%)
Boundary changes: Minor changes to bring into line with ward boundaries. Gains parts of Snaresbrook and Wanstead wards from Ilford North.
Profile: This was created as a cross-borough seat in 1997, shoving together somewhat ill-matched wards from Waltham Forest and Redbridge. It covers Leyton, Leytonstone, Snaresbrook, Aldersbrook and Wanstead and includes Whipps Cross hospital and New Spitalfields Market.
Leyton – the Waltham Forest part of the seat – is an inner-city, multicultural working class area. Recent redevelopement has seen the demolition of the old tower blocks in estates like Oliver Close and their replacement with modern low rise developments, but this remains an area with problems of crime and deprivation. In contrast Wanstead is more suburban and middle-class, with attractive Edwardian housing set amongst open green spaces like Wanstead Flats. The two normally safe Conservative wards though are easily outvoted by safely Labour Leyton rendering this a safe Labour seat, though Harry Cohen saw his share of the vote drop by 12% at the last election, mostly to the benefit of the Liberal Democrats who took second place. No doubt the fall was partly due to oppositon to the war in Iraq from the 16% of the population who identified themselves as Muslim in the last census, despite the fact that Cohen himself was a staunch opponent of the war.
Outgoing MP: Harry Cohen(Labour) born 1949, Hackney. Educated at George Gascoigne secondary and Birkbeck College. Former local government officer and accountant. First elected as MP for Leyton in 1983. A member of the Socialist campaign group and opponant of the war in Iraq. Will stand down at the next election (more information at They work for you)
Candidates: 
Edwin Northover (Conservative) Born Liverpool. Lawyer specialising in corporate law, mergers and aquisitions. Waltham Forest councillor.
John Cryer (Labour)
Farooq Qureshi (Liberal Democrat) born Tahlian-Wala, Pakistan. Businessman, radio presenter and poet. Waltham Forest councillor since 2003, Mayor of Waltham Forest 2006-7. Ashley Gunstock (Green)Graham Wood (UKIP)
2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 89340
Male: 48.9%
Female: 51.1%
Under 18: 23.2%
Over 60: 14.9%
Born outside UK: 29.7%
White: 59.1%
Black: 17.3%
Asian: 17.9%
Mixed: 3.8%
Other: 2%
Christian: 52.7%
Hindu: 2.5%
Jewish: 1.6%
Muslim: 16.6%
Sikh: 1.2%
Full time students: 7.3%
Graduates 16-74: 30%
No Qualifications 16-74: 25.1%
Owner-Occupied: 56.7%
Social Housing: 22.4% (Council: 14%, Housing Ass.: 8.4%)
Privately Rented: 18.1%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 11.5%
Telegraph reporting police investigation into Mr Cohen’s expenses claims