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UK Parliament - Barking

RACE DETAILS

Parents

> United Kingdom > England > London > London > Barking

Office

Parliament

Type

General Election

Filing Deadline

April 20, 2010 - 06:00pm

Polls Open

May 06, 2010 - 01:00am

Polls Close

May 06, 2010 - 04:00pm

Term Start

May 17, 2010 - 12:00pm

Term End

May 07, 2015 - 12:00pm

Contributor

Ralphie

Last Modified

IndyGeorgia May 08, 2015 10:26am

Data Sources

[Link]

Description

BBC Profile:
Barking has been a Labour seat since 1945, but between 1979 and 1987 the Conservatives reduced Labours majority to just 3,409. In the 1990s Labour recovered and Jo Richardson, who became the Member for Barking in 1974, doubled her majority to 6,268 in 1992. Margaret Hodge, who was elected in the 1994 by-election following Richardsons death, gained a majority of 15,896.

Hodge held on to her seat in 2001 and 2005, but her vote in 2005 was over 13% down on 2001. The BNP, with 16.9% of the vote, out-polled the Liberal Democrats for third place and were 27 votes behind the Conservatives. This was one of the largest votes for the BNP outside Burnley and Oldham.

At the election it has gained Albion and Valence wards from the old Dagenham seat as part of the Boundary Commission review. To find out what might have happened had this boundary change been in force at the last election, see a notional - or estimated - result below.

Barking is characterised by a largely homogenous white working-class culture. Only the west of the constituency approaches the multiculturalism found in inner East London.

As part of the Thames Gateway, Barking is one of the areas identified for Londons planned expansion in housing. The new housing development known as Barking Riverside is situated close to Barking town centre. The project will progress over the next 25 years in four phases. The first phase of housing development is already under way and is expected be finished by 2010. When completed it will be a substantial new community, and will be home to more than 26,000 people, with new schools, shopping centres and improved transport links. Business and recreation areas are planned to accompany the new homes, so the development should provide an economic boost to the town.

Transport is a major factor in plans to develop the Thames Gateway. Crossrail will help to improve links to central London, with a new tunnel crossing central London connecting it with rail services in East London. Services are expected to start in 2017.

The East London Transit is a new bus service planned for the area, linking to the Tube, Docklands Light Railway and rail services. Services are scheduled to begin between 2010 and 2013, with the route operating from Barking town centre to Dagenham Dock via Barking Riverside.

Rallings & Thrasher Notional:
Lab 18,293 (49.61%)
C 6,110 (16.57%)
BNP 5,997 (16.26%)
LD 3,973 (10.78%)
UKIP 1,291 (3.50%)
Green 618 (1.68%)
Others 589 (1.60%)