Labour candidate Rupa Huq will need just under a four percent swing to win the West London constituency from Conservative candidate Angie Bray.
The constituency is on Labour’s list of target marginal seats and the party was ahead in a December poll by Lord Ashcroft, by 40 per cent to 34 per cent.
The constituency has also seen a recent apparent movement in support of the smaller parties.
There’ve been many last minute additions to the ballot.
Green Party policy communications manager Tom Sharman will be contesting the seat, along with Peter Florence for UKIP.
Scott Dore will run for the Workers Revolution Party, Tammy Randle for the Above and Beyond Party, Andrzej Rygielski for the Europeans Party and Jonathan Notley as an Independent.
However, the pressure on the marginal parties is growing as Labour and Conservatives increase the amount of time and money being spent on canvassing the area.
Already celebrities are being recruited to encourage support for the candidates in this increasingly important marginal – with Boris Johnson visiting for the Conservatives and comedian Eddie Izzard promoting Labour.
Candidates
Conversative – Angie Bray
In 2008, Angie stood down from the London Assembly to campaign for election as the MP for Ealing Central & Acton, winning in 2010.
Angie Bray currently sits on the Commons’ Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee and is also a member of All-Party Groups on Crossrail and International Religious Freedom.
Labour – Rupa Huq
The sociology lecturer at Kingston University has said the health service and closure of local A&E units are what most concern people of this constituency.
Rupa Huq promises to fight for Ealing Hospital’s maternity unit, which is threatened with closure despite the area having the third highest birth rate in London.
Click here for her official website.
Liberal Democrat – Jon Ball
Jon Ball has lived in Ealing for 20 years and since 2002 he has represented Ealing Common ward on Ealing Council.
Green Party – Tom Sharman
Tom Sharman is the Green Party policy communications manager.
Click here for his official website.
UKIP – Peter Florence

Peter Florence, UKIP candidate. Pic: http://ukip-ealing-central-acton.org/Peter_Florence.asp
According to his website, Peter Florence joined UKIP ‘when it had become increasingly clear to him that the EU vision of Europe was flawed with the UK losing control of its own law making and its own borders.’
Click here for Peter Florence’s UKIP website.
Workers Revolutionary Party – Scott Dore
Candidate Scott Dore recently spoke outside Ealing Hospital A&E concerning its threat of closure:
We are demanding that the trade unions occupy to defend these services. We are fighting for a workers government to defend the NHS.
Click here for the full story from the Worker Revolutionary Party website
The Above and Beyond Party – Tammy Rendle

Above and Beyond Party candidate Tammy Rendle. Pic: http://www.voteaboveandbeyond.org/
On her website, Tammy Rendle states she is running ‘to empower others, from young people to those that feel a minority or no affinity to current representatives.’
Click here for the Above and Beyond party website.
Europeans Party – Andrzej Rygielski
Andrzej Rygielski is a 50 year-old retail manager of Polish origin, living in the UK for the last 9 years.
Independent – Jonathan Notley
2010 General Election Results | |||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Conservative | Angie Bray | 17,944 | 38.0 | +6.8 | |
Labour | Bassam Mahfouz | 14,228 | 30.1 | −3.2 | |
Liberal Democrat | Jon Ball | 13,041 | 27.6 | −3.0 | |
UKIP | Julie Carter | 765 | 1.6 | N/A | |
Green | Sarah Edwards | 737 | 1.6 | −3.3 | |
Christian | Suzanne Fernandes | 295 | 0.6 | N/A | |
Independent Ealing Acton Communities Public Services | Sam Akaki | 190 | 0.4 | N/A | |
Majority | 3,716 | 7.9 | |||
Turnout | 47,200 | 67.52 |
Categories: News, Politics- Parliamentary