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John Wray signs a letter of support from Leyton CLP |
April 12, 1987. |
| John Wray
COMPUTER programmer John Wray hopes he has his finger on the pulse of the Leyton electorate as well as the work-day keyboard-because he is Labour's choice in next week's votes battle. Born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, the 28-year-old election hopeful has lived in Essex Road South, Leytonstone, for nearly eight years and has been a Labour party member for six. |  |
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Mr Wray is an ardent Leyton Orient fan, being a member of the club, and will soon be moving nearer to the beloved ground to live in Primrose Road, Leyton. A candidate for Leyton ward in the 1986 council election, Mr Wray is also a former governor of the Ruckholt Manor High in Oliver Road, Leyton. Once a Liberal supporter, he will be contesting the seat on the poll tax, housing, education, rate capping and local democracy. "This election is about more than purely local issues," he said. 'It's a chance to show how in future all local issues will be dictated by a national government determined to destroy local democracy." Mr Wray says he is committed to Leyton, as shown by his campaigning to get the M11 link road tunnelled and he is against the transport of nuclear containers by train through Temple Mills. He believes Labour has a crucial lead on the issue of housing and Government plans to privatise council estates. "Over the last two years the council has done a lot to improve life on the estates. All this will be lost if they opt out and housing is given to shark landlords for exploitation." |
| Waltham Forest Yellow Advertiser July 1, 1988. |
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| Democrats bubble over with taste of victory
VICTORIOUS David Worsfold celebrated in style after being elected as a Waltham Forest councillor. As champagne corks popped around the Social and Liberal Democrat, the defeated Labour camp were consoling themselves with pints of beer. The election defeat is a major blow for Labour, who lost not only the by-election seat, but now has, its council majority in Waltham Forest reduced to one. Labour's Deputy Leader Bill Dennis commented: "We'll just have to be more careful about planning holidays. But we'll be able to carry on." Last Thursday's by-election has also turned Leyton into an SLD stronghold. With all three Leyton wards under Liberal control, financial journalist Mr Worsfold is confident that during the 1990 council election they will become the leading party. "We have achieved an enormous amount in Waltham Forest in the last few years," he announced. Surrounded by campaigners and supporters at the celebration drink-up at SLD headquarters in Church Hill, Walthamstow, Mr Worsfold said his first job would be to get a better deal for council tenants. Delight(ed?) agent Councillor Philip Arnold called the win a "tremendous victory." "The Conservatives have been humiliated in this election, and Labour did badly because they failed to oppose plans to relocate Spitalfields market in Leyton." Labour's candidate John Wray looked mortified after losing his second by-election, but admitted: "I never expected to win and never felt confident. "I always felt the Liberal Democrats would win -they're good at by-elections. "I think the rates issue may have given them the majority, but it wasn't the deciding factor. | ||||||||||||||||
| NOTE: The irony of this is that John Wray was a strong advocate of increasing the rates prior to the election. At the manifesto conference he said "people aren't interested in the rates" | ||||||||||||||||
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"There's a solid Labour vote in the ward that needs to be nurtured." The crucial seat, held by Labour councillor Peter Barnet at the last council election, has been a Liberal seat before. By-election results:
Celebrating a success of his own was Philip Arnold, who has been appointed the national SLD Party's London area agent. Fresh from his two local by-election victories in Waltham Forest, Mr Arnold took up his new duties on Monday. |
| Waltham Forest Guardian, July 15, 1988 |
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| See Debate on TURC |
| 'Drop estates proposal' | Waltham Forest Guardian February 17, 1989 |
