Until 1997 the idea of Labour representing the lush suburbs of Harrow West was preposterous. Gareth Thomas's victory was, to those who know Pinner and Harrow-on-the-Hill, one of the most unbelievable results of the evening. The seat also includes tracts of suburbia around Headstone Lane and Rayner's Lane. Labour had never won here, and failed to come within 9,000 votes of the Conservatives even in 1945. Unlike Harrow East, it has no Labour history and until recently no Labour wards.

Labour's victory was rounded out in May 1998 with the capture of Harrow Borough Council, the first time the party has had a majority on the authority. The wards making up Harrow West contributed to the win, and Labour were still 0.5% ahead in the seat, even gaining a councillor in the Harrow-on-the-Hill ward. This proved that the 1997 result was not a total freak and that Labour had gathered a strong core of support in Harrow West. The Conservatives led by 8.5% in Euro 99 not overwhelming in so marginal a seat and probably around 19% in 2000.

Danny Finkelstein, former director of the Conservative Research Department and one-time close associate of David Owen in the SDP, has what should, at least in theory, be the easy task of regaining the seat for the Tories.

Parliamentary Statistics pre-Election 2001

Labour majority 1,240 (2.4%)  Conservative target 16
MP Gareth Thomas
1997 (Turnout 72.2%)
Labour	21,811	41.5%
Conservative	20,571	39.2%
Liberal Democrat	8,127	15.5%
Referendum	1,997	3.8%

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For Harrow West 2001 Election result - click here.