General election 2010: Labour see off Lib Dem challenge in Islington South and Finsbury
By Marina Kim
Labour incumbent Emily Thornberry has held on in Islington South and Finsbury, in what was one of the closest run races in London.
Ms Thornberry gained 18,407 votes (42.3%). This is a convincing victory over the Liberal Democrats’ Bridget Fox who received 14,838 votes (34.1%).
The Conservatives also improved their result with a 4.6% increase in votes on the 2005 result.
The results represent a 3.3% swing from Lib Dems to Labour. They will come as a surprise for the Liberal Democrats, who were widely tipped to take over the constituency.
There was a substantial swing towards the Liberal Democrats at the 2005 general election, when they fell just one per cent short of Labour.
Islington South and Finsbury is largely an up-market residential area, but is also home to many traditional Labour voters, with a high proportion of council tenants and an Afro-Caribbean community. The area also has more than 50% of social housing.
