2.6% swing from Lib Dem to Labour, on an increased turnout of 63% (2010) from 49% (2005).

The Conservatives polled 4,218 (14.4%) in 2005, increasing to 6,759 (14.5%) in 2010.

See:

• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/constituency/b92.stm; and
• http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/guide/seat-profiles/hackneynorthandstokenewington

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Final hustings, Round 4 – Brenner Community Centre, Jewish Care (5 May)

Hustings poster

On the eve of poll, Darren Caplan, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Hackney North & Stoke Newington, and fellow candidates Diane Abbott (Labour) and Keith Angus (Lib Dem) took part in the final hustings of their election campaign race.

The event was hosted by the Brenner Community Centre / Jewish Care. In what were sometimes rumbustuous exchanges, the candidates covered the following issues:

• Faith schools
• Victim support
• Planning
• Law and order
• Immigration
• Cutting public sector bureaucracy and safeguarding public services
• The Israel-Palestinian talks

This debate concluded a four-hustings programme, which began back in late March.

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Hustings Rounds 2 and 3 – Friends of the Earth (27 April) and North London Muslim Community Centre (2 May)

Panel for the 'green' hustings: Darren Caplan (Conservative), Matt Sellwood (Green), Martyn Williams (Chair, Friends of the Earth), Diane Abbott (Labour) and Keith Angus (LibDem)

Abott, Angus, Sellwood and Caplan debate again, at the North London Muslim Community Centre

On 27 April and 2 May,  Darren Caplan – Conservative parliamentary candidate for Hackney North & Stoke Newington – took part in hustings with fellow candidates Diane Abbott (Labour), Keith Angus (Lib Dem) and Matt Sellwood (Green), hosted by Friends of the Earth and the North London Muslim Community Centre, respectively.

The latest debate at the North London Muslim Community saw the Hackney Citizen reporting that:

“… Conservative candidate Darren Caplan urged that the audience should vote for the party that they want to get into government. ‘If you want to get rid of Labour, then you have to vote Conservative,’ he said.

“Indeed, the structure of the debate was such that the Chair took questions from the audience on particular topics – foreign policy (Iraq war, a solution for the Middle East); immigration (from inside the EU as well as outside, a possible one-time amnesty) ; environment and so on – all issues that are decided at national level which an individual MP can, at most, only influence… And, considering the setting for the debate, it was of little surprise that the candidates agreed with the majority of the concerns highlighted by the audience.

“Indeed, the opportunities for real debate were limited. Unless of course you were Darren Caplan. Clearly resigned to the presence of the Lib Dems and Greens (‘the reality is that they won’t get elected’) in what he sees as a straight two-horse race for Government, Caplan reiterated the Tory message on an annual cap for immigration, the need to investigate whether Iran has nuclear weapons and the need to incentivise people to behave in a more environmentally friendly way.”

To read full reports on the debates, see http://www.darrencaplan.com/candidates-debates/.

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Local media: Hackney Citizen online debate (26 April) ¦ Hackney Gazette candidate position articles (29 April to 5 May)

Hackney Citizen

• Education - http://www.scribblelive.com/es/Event/Education
• Gun and knife crime - http://www.scribblelive.com/Event/Gun_and_knife_crime
• Anti-social behaviour - http://www.scribblelive.com/Event/Antisocial_behaviour
• Housing - http://www.scribblelive.com/Event/Housing

Hackney Gazette

• Crime – click here
• Economy – click here
• Education - click here
• Public safety – click here

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Darren Caplan

“My name is Darren Caplan and I am campaigning to be the next Conservative MP for Hackney North & Stoke Newington.

“A passionate Londoner, I have spent most of my life living and working in London. I work in communications and have campaigned on a number of issues, from healthcare and hospitals through to cleaner streets and regeneration. I have been a school governor and I help run an amateur football club (occasionally I even get to play for one of the teams!).

“I believe Hackney’s a great place, but like the rest of the country it’s being held back by a tired Labour government. A Conservative government and local Conservative MP could make a real difference. Please contact me if you would like to know more, I would be delighted to hear from you.”

Darren Caplan – Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Hackney North and Stoke Newington

darren@hackneyconservatives.com ¦ 07956 820145 (m)

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