Enfield is as far north as you can get and still be in Greater London. The northern seat of Enfield is a rather peculiar marginal constituency, which has so far during its existence been won by the party that formed the government. When the Conservatives held it during the 1980s it seemed to be becoming a safe seat, but Labour dealt a knockout blow in 1997. Despite neighbouring Edmonton being a designated target marginal seat and getting the full treatment of top name visits and outside volunteers, the swing in Enfield North, just over 16%, was a bit larger. It is a rather volatile constituency.

Enfield North was created by a merger of Labour Enfield East and the bulk of Tory Enfield West, and the join still shows. East Enfield, down by the Lea river and various parallel canals, highways and railway lines, is an industrial area and the wards down here - Enfield Lock, Enfield Wash and Ponders End - are strongly Labour. Up by the old town centre and further west Enfield is strongly Tory. Labour won 50.7% of the vote in Enfield North in 1997 and still led by 4.3% in 1998, but the Tories pulled ahead by a little over 6% in Euro 99 and probably around 10% in 2000. Labour's sharp and witty Joan Ryan defends the seat against Tory candidate Nick De Bois, a marketing manager who fought Stalybridge and Hyde in 1997.

Parliamentary Statistics pre-Election 2001

Labour majority 6,822 (14.3%)  Conservative target 117
MP Joan Ryan
1997 (Turnout 70.4%)
Labour	24,148	50.7%
Conservative	17,326	36.3%
Liberal Democrat	4,264	8.9%
Referendum	857	1.8%
BNP	590	1.2%
UK Independence	484	1.0%

Politico's Bookstore - General Election Shop

Back to main London page
Back to main UK page

For Enfield North 2001 Election result - click here.