Leyton and Wanstead election result – Labour hold

Labour have held Leyton and Wanstead; John Cryer is the new MP. There was a small swing to the Lib Dems from Labour – 2.6% – and the Conservatives were third. All other candidates, including BNP and Green, lost their deposits. Turnout was 63.2%, up 9.3% on 2005.

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From around the web

9.20am. John Cryer wins Leyton and Wanstead

Polling station at Christ Church, Wanstead (Picture: Yenwodt)

7am: Turnout was 63.1%, but counting has taken much longer than expected, and Dominic Binns is reporting that no declaration is expected until 9am.

1.40am

BBC estimate of Leyton and Wanstead declaration is 3am. Wanstead Guardian’s Daniel Binns reports that not many candidates are at the count yet – though John Cryer and Edwin Northover are there – and that a result is not expected for “many more hours yet”.

FRIDAY 1.30am.

Redbridge election officials say there were no problems with polling stations and queues in Leyton and Wanstead, the Wanstead Guardian reports.

23.15
Yellow Advertiser reports rumours that one count in Wanstead which normally has a 30% turnout has reportedly had 75%.

10.30pm

@zzgavin voted in leyton & wanstead, ex-MP H Cohen. Voted #libdem for chance at reform plus might be a marginal 7k to Lab, but lots of libdem posters

iamjamesward It has been FIVE MINUTES since I invited the candidates standing in Leyton & Wanstead to try to win my vote and I have heard NOTHING.

blue_harvest Didn’t know wanstead even had a BNP candidate until i saw it on my ballot paper. Strangely enough, i didn’t vote for him. Come on the blues!

BACKGROUND
For information, the 2005 Leyton and Wanstead result, adjusted to reflect recent boundary changes, was:
Labour 45.8%
Liberal Democrat 24.7%
Conservative 22.8%
Others 6.7%

Leyton and Wanstead hustings in colour

Atmospheric photo of the Leyton and Wanstead hustings held on Sunday, courtesy of ace snapper Clive Power.

Leyton and Wanstead hustings - copright ClivePower.com
Leyton and Wanstead hustings at St John's Church, Leytonstone - Sunday 2 May: R: John Cryer (Labour), Ashley Gunstock (Green), Martin Levin (Independent), (vicar) (vicar helper) Edwin Northover (Conservative), Graham Wood (UKIP)

Subdued last Campaign Saturday in Wanstead

Wanstead might have expected the High Street to be a-buzz with last-minute feverish campaigning on the last Saturday morning before polling day. After all, it seems there’s plenty to play for – 6,000 is a respectable majority but not an unassailable one, and though the Conservatives have been very active campaigners, some are still tipping the Lib Dems to cause an upset here.

But it was a subdued atmosphere which greeted shoppers. There were token campaign tables from Labour and Tory groups, though not, it appeared, the candidates. And the other parties – Lib Dems, UKIP, Greens, BNP and Christian – were not in attendance.

Comments today on Twitter and Facebook about the contest include:

@mapsadaisical Leyton and Wanstead? Labour probably favourites, but I reckon both Lib Dems and Tories think they have an outside chance.
@markb999 Tories and Labour on Wanstead High Street this morning. No Lib-Dems. However, they have started sending me letters. v.odd.


@sajarina Well, still had no response to my question about abortion rights from any Leyton & Wanstead candidates except the Labour one (pro-choice)

Jenna Hedges The Leyton and Wanstead Lib Dem candidates were not present at the prospective candidates meeting/hustings with the public today and have apparently pulled out of all the Questions debates in the area. Very strange and feel compelled to find out why!

Dave Buba Iain Duncan Smith in Waitrose South Woodford

Campaign for a nicer bit of Wanstead?

Wansteadium reader Roger Estop writes in reaction to the news that Andrews Builder’s Merchants is to close:

Great shame. I have bought some excellent wire, screws, glue, undercoat and gardening gloves here and always enjoyed browsing the brooms and rope. Such regrets – why did I still go to Homebase? The big Andrews sign is a local landmark. Mind you, this is also one of the most charmingly scruffy bits of Wanstead with the forecourt mixed up with display goods, car parking, pavement and the adjacent exposed yard behind cafe Brunch. Whatever happens next, let’s enhance this little spot (and the public conveniences opposite). A nicer Woodbine Place campaign?

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