# Hackney North and Stoke Newington (UK Parliament constituency)

Hackney North and Stoke Newington is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom since 1987 by Diane Abbott, a member of the Labour Party who served as Shadow Home Secretary from 6 October 2016 to 5 April 2020. Abbott was one of the first three Black British MPs elected, and the first female Black British MP in the UK.

## Constituency profile

The constituency has always elected Labour MPs since its creation in 1950. While well connected to Central London, including the City of London, the seat generally has moderate incomes rather than high, and a narrow majority of wards had a relatively high ranking when placed in the Index of Multiple Deprivation, compiled in 2000. In line with most of Greater London since 2000 many parts, especially Stamford Hill, Upper Clapton, Lower Clapton have become marginal in terms of local councillors and these districts, with to a lesser extent the eponymous Hackney and Stoke Newington, are in the process of becoming re-gentrified with ongoing increases in land value, proximity to the London 2012 venues and a council that successfully reduced the level of crime by about 30% within a four-year period. Demographically, almost 60% of households are singletons and households have a higher than average level of unemployment.
Through all these changes, under incumbent Diane Abbott, the seat has remained a safe seat for Labour.

## History

The seat was created in 1950 and has gone through many changes: in January 2006 the boundary moved again, this time to correspond with the local government ward boundaries.
Following major electoral reform at the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, also known as the Third Reform Act, the seat of Hackney was divided into two and Hackney North was formed, this time to return only one Member of Parliament, commencing with the 1885 general election.
The Stoke Newington constituency was created at the 1918 general election by the division of the Hackney North constituency by the Representation of the People Act 1918, known generally as Fourth Reform Act; an Act most importantly remembered for the first time extending suffrage to women. The constituency was identical in area to the Metropolitan Borough of Stoke Newington.
Following a decrease in the population the two constituencies were merged by the Representation of the People Act 1948, retaining David Weitzman as MP and becoming the current constituency in the 1950 general election.

### Political history

The seat's narrowest majority of 18.3% was in 1979 and its greatest, 62.4%, was in 2017. The 2015 result made the seat the 18th safest of Labour's 232 seats by percentage of majority and seventh safest in London.
In the 2016 referendum to leave the European Union, the constituency voted remain by 79.1%. This was the third highest support for remain for a constituency.

## Boundaries

The constituency covers the northern part of the London Borough of Hackney and is bordered by the constituencies of Hackney South and Shoreditch, Islington North, Tottenham, and Walthamstow.
1950–1955: The Metropolitan Borough of Hackney wards of Leaside, Maury, Southwold, Springfield, and Stamford, and the Metropolitan Borough of Stoke Newington.
1955–1974: The Metropolitan Borough of Hackney wards of Northfield, Northwold, Rectory, and Springfield, and the Metropolitan Borough of Stoke Newington.
1974–1983: The London Borough of Hackney wards of Brownswood, Clissold, Defoe, New River, Northfield, Northwold, and Springfield.
1983–2010: The London Borough of Hackney wards of Brownswood, Clissold, Eastdown, Leabridge, New River, North Defoe, Northfield, Northwold, Rectory, South Defoe, and Springfield.
2010–2024: The London Borough of Hackney wards of Brownswood, Cazenove, Clissold, Dalston, Hackney Downs, Leabridge, Lordship, New River, Springfield, and Stoke Newington Central.
2024–present: The London Borough of Hackney wards of Cazenove, Clissold, Hackney Downs, King's Park, Lea Bridge, Shacklewell, Springfield, Stamford Hill West, and Stoke Newington.
    Brownswood and Woodberry Down wards were transferred to Tottenham, and Dalston ward to Hackney South and Shoreditch, in exchange for the King's Park ward.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1950 | David Weitzman | Labour |
| 1979 | Ernie Roberts | Labour |
| 1987 | Diane Abbott | Labour |
| 2023 | Diane Abbott | Independent |
| 2024 | Diane Abbott | Labour |

## Election results
### Elections in the 2020s

2024 general election: Hackney North and Stoke Newington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Diane Abbott | 24,355 | 59.5 | −10.3 |
| | Green | Antoinette Fernandez | 9,275 | 22.6 | +14.6 |
| | Conservative | David Landau | 3,457 | 8.4 | −4.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rebecca Jones | 1,562 | 3.8 | −3.9 |
| | Reform UK | Deborah Cairns | 1,283 | 3.1 | +2.1 |
| | Independent | Ryan Ahmed | 621 | 1.5 | N/A |
| | Monster Raving Loony | Knigel Knapp | 224 | 0.5 | N/A |
| | Independent | Kombat Diva | 182 | 0.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,080 | 36.9 | –19.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,959 | 52.7 | –15.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 77,797 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 12.5 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Labour | 35,856 | 69.8 |
| | Conservative | 6,694 | 13.0 |
| | Green | 4,117 | 8.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 3,973 | 7.7 |
| | Brexit Party | 489 | 1.0 |
| | Others | 227 | 0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 51,356 | 68.1 |
| Electorate | Electorate | 75,401 |
2019 general election: Hackney North and Stoke Newington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Diane Abbott | 39,972 | 70.3 | −4.8 |
| | Conservative | Benjamin Obese-Jecty | 6,784 | 11.9 | −0.8 |
| | Green | Alex Armitage | 4,989 | 8.8 | +4.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ben Mathis$^1$ | 4,283 | 7.5 | +0.8 |
| | Brexit Party | Richard Ings | 609 | 1.1 | New |
| | Renew | Haseeb Ur-Rehman | 151 | 0.3 | New |
| | Independent | Loré Lixenberg | 76 | 0.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 33,188 | 58.4 | −4.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,864 | 61.5 | −4.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 92,462 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -2.1 | |
$^1$: After the close of nominations, the Liberal Democrats suspended their support for Mathis's candidacy over tweets he made.
2017 general election: Hackney North and Stoke Newington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Diane Abbott | 42,265 | 75.1 | +12.2 |
| | Conservative | Amy Gray | 7,126 | 12.7 | −2.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Joe Richards | 3,817 | 6.8 | +1.8 |
| | Green | Alastair Binnie-Lubbock | 2,606 | 4.6 | −10.0 |
| | Animal Welfare | Jonathan Homan | 222 | 0.4 | −0.1 |
| | Independent | Abraham Spielmann | 203 | 0.4 | New |
| | Friends Party | Coraline Corlis-Khan | 59 | 0.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 35,139 | 62.4 | +14.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,478 | 66.2 | +9.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 85,058 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +7.2 | |
2015 general election: Hackney North and Stoke Newington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Diane Abbott | 31,357 | 62.9 | +7.9 |
| | Conservative | Amy Gray | 7,349 | 14.7 | +0.2 |
| | Green | Heather Finlay | 7,281 | 14.6 | +10.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Simon de Deney | 2,492 | 5.0 | −18.9 |
| | UKIP | Keith Fraser | 1,085 | 2.2 | New |
| | Animal Welfare | Jon Homan | 221 | 0.5 | New |
| | Communist League | Jonathan Silberman | 102 | 0.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24,008 | 48.2 | +17.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,887 | 56.6 | −6.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 88,153 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +3.9 | |
2010 general election: Hackney North and Stoke Newington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Diane Abbott | 25,553 | 55.0 | +6.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Keith Angus | 11,092 | 23.9 | +0.8 |
| | Conservative | Darren Caplan | 6,759 | 14.5 | +0.1 |
| | Green | Matt Sellwood | 2,133 | 4.6 | −5.1 |
| | Christian | Maxine Hargreaves | 299 | 0.6 | New |
| | Independent | Suzanne Moore | 258 | 0.6 | New |
| | Monster Raving Loony | Knigel Knapp | 182 | 0.4 | −0.4 |
| | Independent | Paul Shaer | 96 | 0.2 | New |
| | Independent | Alessandra Williams | 61 | 0.1 | New |
| | Magna Carta Party | Jack Pope-de-Locksley | 26 | 0.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,461 | 31.1 | +5.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,459 | 62.9 | +13.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 73,906 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +2.6 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

2005 general election: Hackney North and Stoke Newington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Diane Abbott | 14,268 | 48.6 | −12.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | James Blanchard | 6,841 | 23.3 | +9.2 |
| | Conservative | Ertan Hurer | 4,218 | 14.4 | −0.6 |
| | Green | Mischa Borris | 2,907 | 9.9 | +2.5 |
| | Independent | David Vail | 602 | 2.0 | New |
| | Socialist Labour | Nusrat Sen | 296 | 1.0 | −1.6 |
| | Monster Raving Loony | Nigel Barrow | 248 | 0.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,427 | 25.3 | −20.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,380 | 49.6 | +0.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 59,274 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −10.8 | |
2001 general election: Hackney North and Stoke Newington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Diane Abbott | 18,081 | 61.0 | −4.2 |
| | Conservative | Molly Dye | 4,430 | 15.0 | −1.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Meral Ece | 4,170 | 14.1 | +3.9 |
| | Green | Chit Chong | 2,184 | 7.4 | +3.1 |
| | Socialist Labour | Sukant Chandan | 756 | 2.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,651 | 46.0 | −2.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,621 | 49.0 | −3.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 60,444 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -1.1 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

1997 general election: Hackney North and Stoke Newington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Diane Abbott | 21,110 | 65.2 | +7.4 |
| | Conservative | Michael Lavender | 5,483 | 16.9 | −10.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Douglas Taylor | 3,306 | 10.2 | −1.3 |
| | Green | Yen Chit Chong | 1,395 | 4.3 | +1.1 |
| | Referendum | Brian Maxwell | 544 | 1.7 | New |
| | Independent | Dickon Tolson | 368 | 1.1 | New |
| | Independent | Lisa Lovebucket | 176 | 0.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,627 | 48.3 | +17.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 32,382 | 52.0 | −11.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 62,308 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +8.7 | |
1992 general election: Hackney North and Stoke Newington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Diane Abbott | 20,083 | 57.8 | +9.1 |
| | Conservative | Cole Manson | 9,356 | 26.9 | −2.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Keith Fitchett | 3,996 | 11.5 | −7.7 |
| | Green | Heather M. Hunt | 1,111 | 3.2 | +0.6 |
| | Natural Law | J Windsor | 178 | 0.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,727 | 30.9 | +11.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 34,724 | 63.5 | +5.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 54,655 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +5.6 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

1987 general election: Hackney North and Stoke Newington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Diane Abbott | 18,912 | 48.7 | −3.3 |
| | Conservative | Oliver Letwin | 11,234 | 28.9 | +0.3 |
| | Liberal | Simon Taylor | 7,446 | 19.2 | +3.4 |
| | Green | David FitzPatrick | 997 | 2.6 | +1.2 |
| | Red Front | Yasmini Anwar | 228 | 0.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,678 | 19.8 | −3.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,817 | 58.1 | +3.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 66,771 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | –1.8 | |
1983 general election: Hackney North and Stoke Newington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ernie Roberts | 18,989 | 52.0 | +0.4 |
| | Conservative | Hartley Booth | 10,444 | 28.6 | −4.6 |
| | Liberal | David Ash | 5,746 | 15.8 | New |
| | Ecology | David FitzPatrick | 492 | 1.4 | New |
| | Communist | Monty Goldman | 426 | 1.2 | −1.3 |
| | National Front | J Field | 396 | 1.1 | −1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,545 | 23.4 | +5.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 36,493 | 54.7 | −6.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 66,754 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +2.5 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

1979 general election: Hackney North and Stoke Newington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ernie Roberts | 14,688 | 51.6 | −7.6 |
| | Conservative | Timothy Miller | 9,467 | 33.2 | +11.81 |
| | Liberal | Tudor Gates | 3,033 | 10.6 | −3.0 |
| | National Front | Sylvia May | 860 | 3.0 | −0.74 |
| | Communist | Monty Goldman | 440 | 1.5 | 0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,221 | 18.4 | −19.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 28,488 | 60.9 | +8.10 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 46,776 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | –4.2 | |
October 1974 general election: Hackney North and Stoke Newington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Weitzman | 16,525 | 59.20 | +6.68 |
| | Conservative | Anthony John Wylson | 5,972 | 21.39 | −2.56 |
| | Liberal | Simon J. Lyons | 3,796 | 13.60 | −4.55 |
| | National Front | Henry Charles Lord | 1,044 | 3.74 | −0.01 |
| | Communist | Monty Goldman | 418 | 1.50 | −0.13 |
| | Workers Revolutionary | Michael Van der Poorten | 159 | 0.57 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,553 | 37.81 | +9.24 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 27,914 | 52.80 | −9.33 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 52,870 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +4.6 | |
February 1974 general election: Hackney North and Stoke Newington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Weitzman | 17,160 | 52.52 | −10.32 |
| | Conservative | Anthony John Wylson | 7,826 | 23.95 | −10.75 |
| | Liberal | Simon J. Lyons | 5,932 | 18.15 | New |
| | National Front | Henry Charles Lord | 1,226 | 3.75 | New |
| | Communist | Monty Goldman | 532 | 1.63 | −0.81 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,334 | 28.57 | +0.45 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 32,676 | 62.13 | +12.06 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 52,595 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +0.3 | |
1970 general election: Hackney North and Stoke Newington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Weitzman | 20,446 | 62.84 | −4.57 |
| | Conservative | John R. Boast | 11,298 | 34.72 | +6.28 |
| | Communist | Monty Goldman | 793 | 2.44 | −1.71 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,148 | 28.12 | −10.85 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 32,537 | 50.07 | −5.74 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 64,980 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -5.4 | |

### Elections in the 1960s

1966 general election: Hackney North and Stoke Newington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Weitzman | 24,221 | 67.41 | +10.02 |
| | Conservative | John R. Boast | 10,221 | 28.44 | −0.14 |
| | Communist | Monty Goldman | 1,491 | 4.15 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,000 | 38.97 | +10.16 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,933 | 55.81 | −2.39 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 64,389 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +5.1 | |
1964 general election: Hackney North and Stoke Newington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Weitzman | 21,777 | 57.39 | +4.78 |
| | Conservative | Roger White | 10,843 | 28.58 | −4.76 |
| | Liberal | Jack Bright | 5,324 | 14.03 | +0.08 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,934 | 28.81 | +9.44 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,944 | 58.20 | −9.52 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 65,191 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +4.8 | |

### Elections in the 1950s

1959 general election: Hackney North and Stoke Newington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Weitzman | 22,950 | 52.71 | −4.25 |
| | Conservative | Roger White | 14,515 | 33.34 | −0.87 |
| | Liberal | Philip Phillips | 6,076 | 13.95 | +8.56 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,435 | 19.37 | −3.38 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,541 | 67.72 | −0.19 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 64,723 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | –1.7 | |
1955 general election: Hackney North and Stoke Newington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Weitzman | 25,253 | 56.96 | −2.13 |
| | Conservative | Leonard Defries-Porter | 15,165 | 34.21 | +0.45 |
| | Liberal | Benjamin Ashkenazi | 2,388 | 5.39 | −1.76 |
| | Communist | Aubrey Morris | 1,525 | 3.44 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,088 | 22.75 | −2.59 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,331 | 67.91 | −11.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 65,281 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | –1.3 | |
1951 general election: Hackney North and Stoke Newington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Weitzman | 37,406 | 59.09 | +4.19 |
| | Conservative | Trevor Skeet | 21,369 | 33.76 | +2.16 |
| | Liberal | Joan Allison | 4,524 | 7.15 | −5.45 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,037 | 25.34 | +2.04 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 63,299 | 78.91 | +0.23 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 80,221 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +1.0 | |
1950 general election: Hackney North and Stoke Newington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Weitzman | 33,783 | 54.9 | |
| | Conservative | William H. Bishop | 19,469 | 31.6 | |
| | Liberal | Philip Phillips | 7,740 | 12.6 | |
| | Social Credit | John Hargrave | 551 | 0.9 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,314 | 23.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 61,453 | 78.68 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 78,218 | | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |