Just in case you're interested.
I define East London as the following boroughs:
Barking and Dagenham
Havering
Redbridge
Newham
Tower Hamlets
I'll start with Barking and Dagenham.
Census info:
http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/AreaProfileFrames.asp?PF=Y&AREA=&PC=&TID=13&AID=175508Not as white as Havering, but less so than the inner boroughs.
Slightly more unemployment than the national average.
Note the number for terraced accomodation and council renting- the Becontree Housing Estate is the largest council estate on the planet.
Crime levels were nearly double the national average in 2000/1.
Council Makeup:
The 2002 results were
Lab 42
Con 2
LD 3
Residents 4
The BNP got a council seat here in September, so this has certainly changed.
The MPs and their seats
Dagenham- Labour won this in 1983. It's solidly Labour. Its MP is Jon Cruddas (2001 entry), who to me seems like 'furniture'. He only spoke in 6 debates last year and asked 19 questions (theyworkforyou.com). He hardly ever rebels either. Duller than ditchwater.
Barking- Again solidly Labour. Hodge is Children's Minister, coming in through a 1994 by-election. Pretty controversial over her time in charge of Islington Council, where there was a lot of child abuse going on in the local care homes.
