Tag: leyton&wanstead

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

Leyton and Wanstead candidates, updated

UPDATED: The full list of candidates for Leyton and Wanstead for the general election on 6 May is below. The Wanstead Society held hustings on 24 April; there is a digest of people’s reactions from Twitter and Facebook here. The BBC News constituency profile is here.

[table id=2 /]

UPDATE 6 May:  For Leyton and Wanstead results, click here.

Reactions to Leyton and Wanstead hustings

Reactions via Twitter and Facebook to the hustings between Leyton and Wanstead candidates held at Wanstead House on Saturday 24 April.

Photo: Yenwodt

3.59pm Yenwodt: At Wanstead hustings meeting, where are the Lib Dems? Could be worse no BNP either. (on Twitter)

4.02 Yenwodt: Tory & Labour shock horror at Wanstead hustings ! Both wearing the same outfit! [see picture, above]

5.00 Yenwodt: Wanstead hustings – Local council candidates: Tory quite good, Labour boring, Lib Dem terrible old fart & Green earnest

Dave Buba: The local Tory boy candidate for Wanstead. Jumped up and down alot puffed out a lot of hot air but Ed Northover cannot be allowed in to E11. (on Facebook)

5.23 rhodri: At an election hustings in Wanstead. Sadly no BNP candidate to chuck decaying matter at. (on Twitter)

5.27 Dave Buba: And the lib dem candidate couldn’t even be bothered to turn up!!!

5.40 Dave Buba: is loving John Cryer… John Cryer his northern his gritty and he has done some good things. Voted against the war, led a campaign to save huge areas of Essex marshland and I man we could do business with!

6.04 Dave Buba: John Cryer summing up with a quote from Tony Benn. Suck on those apples Tory boy Ed Northover.

6.08 Yenwodt: Wanstead hustings: National Candidates Tory – good, Labour – very good , Green – not bad.

6.10 markb999: So, why did only half the candidates turn up for Wanstead Hustings? (on Twitter)

8.23 PaulVale: Wanstead hustings. LD candidate a no show. Shame. My vote was up for grabs. Tory chap slick. Labour – classic northern trade unionist. (on Twitter)
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Wanstead Tristram Hunt fans miss out (again)

It must have seemed like a great idea for TV historian Tristram Hunt to plan to give a talk in the Redbridge Book and Media Festival at Wanstead Library. He was, after all, talked about as a possible prospective Labour party candidate in the very safe Labour Leyton and Wanstead seat. And the event was planned for just days before the expected date of the general election – a perfect opportunity to speak to prospective constituents about the life of Friedrich Engels,  the subject of his latest book.

Things didn’t turn out quite like that – John Cryer won the nomination, and Mr Hunt instead turned his ambitions towards Stoke on Trent, where he is hoping to succeed former Labour minister Mark Fisher.

The posters advertising the event at Wanstead Library now have “CANCELLED” across them.