Tulip Siddiq- Labour’s candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn with Eddie Izzard and Tessa Jowell. Image@TessaJowell

The Hampstead and Kilburn parliamentary seat is of strategic importance to the Labour and Conservative parties.

The outgoing Labour MP Glenda Jackson has represented the seat since 1992, but has announced her intention to stand down.

During the 2010 general election she narrowly won  42 by votes.

With the incumbent MP retiring and the seat being a three-way marginal the Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats view it as a target.

In order to garner support in Hampstead and Kilburn, the Conservative Party is drumming in the consequences of a potential ‘mansion tax’.

The following electoral wards comprise of the Hampstead and Kilburn parliamentary seat: Belsize, Frognal and Fitzjohns, Queens Park, Kilburn, Hampstead Town, Swiss Cottage, Fortune Green, West Hampstead, Kilburn and Brondesbury.

Fortune Green and West Hampstead are swing wards which will be targeted.

Whichever political party wins the seat is set to win an overall majority in May’s general election.

Various polls, including Lord Ashcroft’s, have suggested a Labour victory.

Seven parties have announced plans to contest the seat.

Tulip Siddiq (born 1982) is Labour’s candidate. She read English Literature at University College London and later completed an MA at King’s London. She is the granddaughter of Bangladesh’s first president. Before being elected councillor at Regent’s Park ward she was a corporate communications expert.

Simon Marcus is Conservative’s candidate. He was born in Hampstead and educated at King’s London. After his education he worked in publishing and in 2012 was elected a councillor in Camden. He also set up a Boxing Academy, which aims to help troubled teenagers.

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Maajid Nawaz (born 1978) is the LibDem candidate. He published his autobiography entitled Radical: My journey out of Islamist Extremism and frequently speaks on Islamic radicalisation. After completing his studies at Oriental School of African Studies and London School of Economics he founded the think tank Quilliam Foundation, which focuses on countering extremism.

Magnus Nielsen is UKIP’s candidate. He is also chairman of UKIP’s Camden branch. Previously he has stood at the 2008 London Assembly election.

Rebecca Johnson, an internationally recognised expert on nuclear disarmament, is the Green Party’s candidate. She was educated at Bristol University, obtained a PhD from the London School of Economics, and is co-chair of Compass Greens.

Robin Ellison is U Party’s candidate. He is a lawyer with Pinsent Masons, where he manages pension arrangements for large companies and private individuals, was a former chairman of the National Association of Pensions Funds, and has written many books on the topic. He is also a visiting professor at City University.

Image: Downshire Hill, Hampstead. Copyright: Christine Matthews

The Eurovisionary Carroll, Ronnie Carrall, (born 1934) was an independent candidate. He was a contestant in the 1962 and 1963 Eurovision Song Contest. He contested many constituencies including Hartlepool and Haltemprice where he garnered 29 votes even though he was aiming for zero.

But he died on Monday (13th April) following the close of nominations after a short illness. He was 80. Under The Representation of the Peoples Act,  the election will proceed with his name on the ballot paper and will be rerun should he win.