East Ham is a constituency in the London Borough of Newham represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since its creation in 1997 by Stephen Timms of the Labour Party.
Contents
Constituency profile
East Ham is an urban and suburban constituency located in the Borough of Newham in the east of London. It covers the neighbourhoods of East Ham and Little Ilford. Most of the constituency is made up of dense Victorian and Edwardian terraced housing and the population has grown rapidly during the 21st century. The constituency has very high levels of deprivation and house prices are considerably lower than the London average.
In general, residents of the constituency are young and have low levels of education and homeownership. Household income is lower than the London average and residents are considerably less likely to work in professional occupations. A majority of the population (59%) were of Asian background at the 2021 census with Bangladeshis forming the largest individual ethnic group. White people were 20% of the population, less than half of whom were of White British background, and Black people were 13%. At the local council, all wards covered by the constituency are represented by Labour Party councillors. In the 2016 Brexit referendum, an estimated 53% of residents voted to remain in the European Union, higher than the nationwide figure but lower than the London average.
History
Predecessor seats and constituent wards
The seat was formed in 1997 when Newham North East and part of Newham South were replaced by the seat.
East Ham's wards have long been Labour strongholds. Ron Leighton (Lab) was MP for the old Newham North East from 1979 until his death in 1994. At the subsequent byelection Stephen Timms was the successful Labour Party candidate.
Summary of results
Timms has represented the seat since its creation in 1997. He has achieved an absolute majority in the eight elections since creation, against a wide assortment of political parties. The Respect Party candidate came second in the 2005 general election, hoping to benefit from opposition to the Iraq war which saw their first MP elected elsewhere.
At the 2010 general election, Timms received the most votes of any MP (35,471) and largest majority (27,826) of any MP. At the 2015 general election, the seat had the second-highest numerical majority and fourth-highest percentage majority in the country, behind other staunch Labour "safe seats" in Merseyside. These figures were further increased at the 2017 general election (vote 47,124; majority 39,883), but reverted back to 2015 levels at the 2019 election.
In 2024, Timms' vote halved and his majority was cut to 12,863 as he faced a challenge from an independent candidate and a significant increase in support from the Green Party.
Boundaries
Historic
1997–2010: The London Borough of Newham wards of Castle, Central, Greatfield, Kensington, Little Ilford, Manor Park, Monega, St Stephen's, South, and Wall End.
2010–2024: The London Borough of Newham wards of Beckton, Boleyn, East Ham Central, East Ham North, East Ham South, Green Street East, Little Ilford, Manor Park, Royal Docks, and Wall End.
Current
Further to the completion of the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the seat was subject to boundary changes, with the Beckton and Royal Docks wards (as they existed on 1 December 2020) being transferred from East Ham to the new constituency of West Ham and Beckton.
Following these changes, as well as reflecting the 2022 local government review, the constituency now comprises the following:
The London Borough of Newham wards of Boleyn, East Ham, East Ham South, Green Street East, Little Ilford, Manor Park, Plashet, Wall End, and small parts of Forest Gate South and Plaistow North.
The constituency covers north-eastern parts of Newham, including East Ham, Little Ilford, Manor Park and Plashet.
Election results
Elections in the 2010s
This was the largest numerical majority of any seat in the 2010 general election.