Leeds Central
Labour hold

The Benn family's representation in the Commons looks set to continue for quite some time to come, as Tony's son Hilary was returned in this very safe inner city seat in the 1999 by-election caused by the premature death of Derek Fatchett. Here are to be found a variety of neighbourhoods, including the site of the first ever tower block built in Britain in Richmond Hill ward, and the old working class terraces celebrated by a native son, the poet Tony Harrison, in Beeston; but all are strongly Labour in General Elections.

Hilary Benn was elected here on the lowest turnout (19pc) for half a century. The fifth member of his family to reach the Commons in four successive generations, he represents Labour's only remaining dynasty. Born 1953 and educated at Holland Park Comprehensive School (instead of his father's Westminster School, for which he had been entered) and Sussex University, he worked as a union (APEX then MSF) researcher. A remarkable chip off his father's block in looks, mannerisms and possibly ability he may be, but ideologically he is, in his words "a Benn, but not a Bennite", having ditched his unilateralist and Eurosceptic past as a leftwing Ealing councillor, for the Blairite road paved with realism and seats. He backed Nato's bombing of Serbia and favours performance-related pay for teachers.

Area Percent GB Percent Index GB=100   Thriving Wealthy Achievers, Suburban Areas 0.00% 14.99% 0.00 Affluent Greys, Rural Communities 0.00% 2.13% 0.00 Prosperous Pensioners, Retirement Areas 0.00% 2.49% 0.00 Expanding Affluent Executives, Family Areas 0.13% 4.43% 2.84 Well-Off Workers, Family Areas 0.88% 7.27% 12.09 Rising Affluent Urbanites, Town & City Areas 2.21% 2.56% 86.30 Prosperous Professionals, Metropolitan Areas 0.00% 2.04% 0.00 Better-Off Executives, Inner City Areas 11.82% 3.94% 299.80 Settling Comfortable Middle Agers, Mature Home Owning Areas 1.89% 13.04% 14.47 Skilled Workers, Home Owning Areas 18.32% 12.70% 144.19 Aspiring New Home Owners, Mature Communities 5.73% 8.14% 70.34 White Collar Workers, Better-Off Multi Ethnic Areas 3.22% 4.02% 80.12 Striving Older People, Less Prosperous Areas 4.85% 3.19% 152.24 Council Estate Residents, Better-Off Homes 28.06% 11.31% 248.08 Council Estate Residents, High Unemployment 13.50% 3.06% 440.76 Council Estate Residents, Greatest Hardship 6.01% 2.52% 238.82 People in Multi-Ethnic, Low-Income Areas 3.27% 2.10% 155.69 Unclassified Unclassified 0.12% 0.06% 184.90

Area Percent GB Percent Index GB=100   £0-5K 16.41% 9.41% 174.36 £5-10K 24.41% 16.63% 146.75 £10-15K 20.24% 16.58% 122.07 £15-20K 13.78% 13.58% 101.47 £20-25K 8.82% 10.39% 84.87 £25-30K 5.57% 7.77% 71.61 £30-35K 3.53% 5.79% 61.00 £35-40K 2.27% 4.33% 52.44 £40-45K 1.49% 3.27% 45.50 £45-50K 0.99% 2.48% 39.80 £50-55K 0.67% 1.90% 35.08 £55-60K 0.46% 1.47% 31.15 £60-65K 0.32% 1.15% 27.83 £65-70K 0.23% 0.91% 25.02 £70-75K 0.16% 0.72% 22.62 £75-80K 0.12% 0.57% 20.55 £80-85K 0.09% 0.46% 18.75 £85-90K 0.06% 0.37% 17.19 £90-95K 0.05% 0.31% 15.82 £95-100K 0.04% 0.25% 14.61 £100K + 0.13% 1.34% 9.89