Harrow East was a Labour seat in the previous landslide victories of 1945 and 1966, and duly fell in 1997. An enormous swing in 1997 gave Labour's Tony McNulty a much larger majority than his two predecessors, and he could hold on even if Labour's national majority disappears at the next election. Even in the Euro election of 1999 Labour had a relatively healthy 4.5% lead, in an election where the Tories would have enjoyed an overall majority. The Tories were probably a little ahead in May 2000.

The East is less exclusive and wealthy than West, although it actually has fewer council tenants and rather more terraces. It includes the Wealdstone district of Harrow, stretches up to the Barnet border at Stanmore and adjoins Brent North at Kenton. It is about a third non-white, mostly Asian, and rather similar to Brent North. Several tube lines weave through it. Harrow East was affected by a local issue, the future of Edgware Hospital, in 1997 which helped Labour then, but Labour have a strong position and Tory, Peter Wilding, a difficult task.

Parliamentary Statistics pre-Election 2001

Labour majority 9,734 (17.1%)  Conservative target 139
MP Tony McNulty
1997 (Turnout 71.4%)
Labour	29,923	52.5%
Conservative	20,189	35.4%
Liberal Democrat	4,697	8.2%
Referendum	1,537	2.7%
UK Independence	464	0.8%
Other	171	0.3%

Politico's Bookstore - General Election Shop

Back to main London page
Back to main UK page

For Harrow East 2001 Election result - click here.