Leyton and Wanstead is a constituency in Greater London created in 1997 and represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Calvin Bailey of the Labour Party.
Constituency profile Leyton and Wanstead is an urban and suburban constituency in the boroughs of Redbridge and Waltham Forest in Greater London, located around north-east of the centre of London. It covers the neighbourhoods of Leyton, Wanstead, Leytonstone, Cann Hall, Aldersbrook and South Woodford. Like much of outer London, the area was rapidly developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with Victorian and Edwardian terraced housing. It is served by the London Underground's Central line. The constituency has average levels of wealth; there is some deprivation in Leyton and Cann Hall, which are densely-populated, whilst Wanstead is suburban and affluent. The average house price is lower than the London average but considerably higher than the rest of the country.
In general, residents of Leyton and Wanstead are young and well-educated. Rates of homeownership, income and professional employment are similar to the rest of London. A high proportion of residents work in the health and retail sectors. The percentage of people claiming unemployment benefits is higher than the rest of London and the rest of the country. White people made up 52% of the population at the 2021 census, around two-fifths of whom were of non-British origin including large Romanian and Bulgarian populations. Asians were 23% of residents with Pakistanis being the largest Asian group, and Black people were 13%. At the local borough council level, all seats in the constituency are represented by Labour Party councillors. Voters in the constituency strongly supported remaining in the European Union in the 2016 referendum; an estimated 65% voted to remain compared to the nationwide figure of 48%.
History The seat arose from the enacting of the recommendations of the fourth periodic review of Westminster constituencies of the Boundary Commission for England to take account of demographic population change and seek to equalise electorates whilst in preference retaining the historic connections with the local authorities of the United Kingdom. Political history The constituency has consistently elected Labour Party MPs (Members of Parliament); the narrowest winning majority was 16%; the greatest, 49%, in 2017. Harry Cohen was MP for the Leyton area from 1983 and this seat from 1997. Cohen retired before the 2010 election, after which the seat was retained by John Cryer. At the time of the 2015 result, the seat was the 46th safest of Labour's 232 seats by percentage of majority.
Boundaries
Uniting for general elections areas from the boroughs of Redbridge and Waltham Forest in inner north-east London, the constituency covers Leyton, Wanstead & Leytonstone. The seat was created for the 1997 election succeeding the Leyton constituency, with parts of what had been the formerly safe Conservative Wanstead and Woodford constituency.
1997–2024 The London Borough of Redbridge wards of Snaresbrook and Wanstead; and the London Borough of Waltham Forest wards of Cann Hall, Cathall, Forest, Grove Green, Leyton, and Leytonstone.
Following a review of ward boundaries which became effective in May 2017, the parts in the London Borough of Redbridge comprised the Wanstead Village ward, most of the Wanstead Park ward and part of the South Woodford ward.
Current Further to the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies and taking account of a local government boundary review in Waltham Forest in May 2022, the constituency comprises the following from the 2024 general election:
The London Borough of Redbridge wards of South Woodford, Wanstead Park, and Wanstead Village; and The London Borough of Waltham Forest wards of Cann Hall, Cathall, Forest, Grove Green, Hoe Street (small part), Leyton (most), and Leytonstone.
In Redbridge Borough, the constituency was expanded to include the remainder of the Wanstead Park and South Woodford wards. The boundaries within Waltham Forest Borough were unchanged.
Members of Parliament ElectionMemberParty 1997 Harry Cohen Labour 2010 John Cryer2024Calvin Bailey
Elections
Elections in the 2020s
Elections in the 2010s 2019 notional result Party Vote % Labour 30,823 63.1 Conservative 9,702 19.9 Liberal Democrats 5,209 10.7 Green 1,868 3.8 Brexit Party 836 1.7 Others 427 0.9Turnout48,86568.5Electorate71,330
Elections in the 2000s
Elections in the 1990s
See also Parliamentary constituencies in London
Notes
References
External links Politics Resources (Election results from 1922 onwards) Electoral Calculus (Election results from 1955 onwards) BBC constituency profile Leyton and Wanstead UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK Leyton and Wanstead UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK Leyton and Wanstead UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK