Dartford
Labour hold

The Conservatives must regain the marginal Dartford division of north Kent if they are to come near to knocking out Labour's overall majority. Recent evidence is mixed. In May 1999 Labour secured a majority in Dartford Borough elections of 9pc on a turnout of 34pc, but in June of that year the Tories were 7pc ahead in the Euro-elections. Given that the turnout then was even lower, at 21pc, and that this is one issue on which the Conservatives seem to have the pulse of the English voter, particularly in the south, it would seem that the Euro elections are the less likely to be a sound predictor of the 2001 General Election result, and that Labour's Howard Stoate may well hold on for a second term, along with his party and leader.

Dr Howard Stoate, a medical journalist, won here for Labour in 1997. A model Blairite, he has been a one-club politician in his four-square defence of Labour’s record on the NHS. Born 1954, educated at Kingston Grammar School and King’s College London, he was a hospital doctor and tutor, and currently keeps his hand in with a little general practice. For ten years a Dartford councillor, he has a good - if loquacious - bedside manner. He is challenged by Bob Dunn, the Tory who was Dartford's MP from 1979 until he was ousted at the last election. He was Minister for Schools for a four-year spell during the 1980s, before retreating to the backbenches where he served on various select committees. He was elected to Dartford Borough Council in May 1999 for the Longfield ward.

Area Percent GB Percent Index GB=100   Thriving Wealthy Achievers, Suburban Areas 14.19% 14.99% 94.62 Affluent Greys, Rural Communities 0.00% 2.13% 0.00 Prosperous Pensioners, Retirement Areas 0.49% 2.49% 19.66 Expanding Affluent Executives, Family Areas 1.39% 4.43% 31.33 Well-Off Workers, Family Areas 8.59% 7.27% 118.08 Rising Affluent Urbanites, Town & City Areas 4.48% 2.56% 174.67 Prosperous Professionals, Metropolitan Areas 0.00% 2.04% 0.00 Better-Off Executives, Inner City Areas 0.62% 3.94% 15.84 Settling Comfortable Middle Agers, Mature Home Owning Areas 23.98% 13.04% 183.93 Skilled Workers, Home Owning Areas 21.94% 12.70% 172.72 Aspiring New Home Owners, Mature Communities 6.83% 8.14% 83.87 White Collar Workers, Better-Off Multi Ethnic Areas 0.00% 4.02% 0.00 Striving Older People, Less Prosperous Areas 3.92% 3.19% 123.17 Council Estate Residents, Better-Off Homes 12.46% 11.31% 110.17 Council Estate Residents, High Unemployment 1.10% 3.06% 36.02 Council Estate Residents, Greatest Hardship 0.00% 2.52% 0.00 People in Multi-Ethnic, Low-Income Areas 0.00% 2.10% 0.00 Unclassified Unclassified 0.01% 0.06% 8.32

Area Percent GB Percent Index GB=100   £0-5K 5.89% 9.41% 62.56 £5-10K 12.58% 16.63% 75.65 £10-15K 14.73% 16.58% 88.83 £15-20K 13.61% 13.58% 100.19 £20-25K 11.37% 10.39% 109.38 £25-30K 9.06% 7.77% 116.60 £30-35K 7.08% 5.79% 122.16 £35-40K 5.48% 4.33% 126.38 £40-45K 4.23% 3.27% 129.52 £45-50K 3.27% 2.48% 131.81 £50-55K 2.54% 1.90% 133.44 £55-60K 1.98% 1.47% 134.54 £60-65K 1.56% 1.15% 135.23 £65-70K 1.23% 0.91% 135.60 £70-75K 0.98% 0.72% 135.71 £75-80K 0.78% 0.57% 135.63 £80-85K 0.63% 0.46% 135.40 £85-90K 0.51% 0.37% 135.04 £90-95K 0.41% 0.31% 134.59 £95-100K 0.34% 0.25% 134.07 £100K + 1.74% 1.34% 129.33