Enfield Southgate Election Results - Election 1997

[multipletom]

probably worth mentioning that Stephen Twigg lost his seat back to the Tories in 2005. Portillo wrote an open letter to him that was a bit of a gloat

[blatantboy86]

The good people of Enfield Southgate realised the errors of their ways by electing in an MP representative of a weasley, incompetent, war mongering government in 1997 and 2001 by re-electing a Tory MP in 2005

[DoctorScrumpy]

Yet labour have blown the goodwill.

Groucho Marxist Revolutionary !

[ni189]

All of you tory lovers have forgotten what it was like with 18 years of thatcher and major. Thats why labour won by landslide, everyone was fking sick of them.

[Mickmars90]

Of course, anyone who has been to the Latin American countries, or African countries knows that poverty dosen't exist in this country. It was invented by the socialist middle classes as an excuse to tax the rich and poor more. Nobody goes with food, drink and shelter in this country. 3,000,000 were already unemployed before Mrs T came to power, they just didn't know it yet, because they were in unproductive jobs that existed because of pointless subsidies. She was the greatest PM ever.

[flymogram]

"3,000,000 were aleardy unemployed before Mrs T came to power, they just didn't know it yet"

That's complete crap

[ianclivewright]

They were, there are no winners in politics.

But then again, they were sick of the Tories, not Margaret Thatcher, who wasn't given the choice to lose in a general election, much to the disgust of many of the party faithful, who deserted the Conservatives and John Major in their droves.

That being said, they deserted the Tories for Labour, and now they will desert Labour for the Tories, both parties being essentially the same.

The cracks get wider, the country poorer, the dream more callow.

[PeteGeeza86]

Haha! Great moment!

[planningto]

It's funny. I'm thinking exactly the same thing as you. I'm thinking it's time for change. It's time to get rid of you lot.

But I can't help wondering whether you'll lose with the kind of dignity that Michael Portillo displayed in 1997. Lets wait and see. Can't be long now...

[fhbbzzr]

you'll have a long wait

[theredraven]

One year isn't a long wait.

[koncorde]

And yet, the alternative is?

No matter who you vote for, the Government always gets in.

[noglet]

Never forgotten Twigg's smile. Wonderful moment: those too young I hope will never know a governement as hated as the Tories were in 1997.

[ZXC5000]

I think it's great that even at a very serious time the audience can still laugh at the words "Denzil Xavier".

[Applemask]

STILL really funny.

[maxfm82]

Credit where due - he took it well. 11 years on though I'm regreting helping get Blair in.

[mrbluesky123]

You must feel a right idiot t4change... it's a mirror of Labour's fate at the next election. There's not much to be gained by dragging up old videos of a tory party in a dire state, especially in light of recent happenings. *Cough* Sleaze *Cough*

[Sibelius92]

Portillo's words fell on death ears; there were many years of "in-fighting ahead". And after the next election? Many years of introspection in-fighting from Labour? I hope not.

[maxfm82]

I hope so. Something needs to change in this country, we need a new direction, a new vision.

The first 2 terms were great, but now- horrific.

[mofi500]

Best result of the 1997 election IMO. You only have to look at Gillian Shepherd to see what sour-faced fools the Tories were back then, at least now they obfuscate it somewhat with all-smiles Dave. Sadly, I can see a Conservative rout at the next election... a long holiday abroad with no television access is required for then!

[emjayeuk]

That would be the Gillian Shepherd who warned the Bank of England that Northern Rock was making too many dodgy loans several years before they went bust and was ignored. We might not be in such a mess now if we had a few more competent people in government. Who case if they are sour-faced? Would you rather they all go around grinning like Hazel Blears?

[phanface]

Was that Lance Price at the beginning?

[frankcarrodius]

A great night. Shame they have turned into the Tories since then.

[arita2006]

I remember seeing this on the night of the election back in 1997. It's a shame that Labour will be losing the next election with a terrible record of governing over the past 11 years.

At the time (1997) it was such a great result, a feeling of great change, and Labour have let us all down since then.

[densaner77]

A great night for progressive politics. It is a shame however that through the Thatcher/Major years a clear majority of the people in the country voted for either Labour/Alliance or Lib Dem. Thanks to our outmoded system of voting we had a reactionary government that a majority of the public rejected at the ballot box.

[relarerfhjk]

densaner77 i hope that was a joke! New Labour have spent 11 years destroying this country, where on Earth have you been all this time? We have dreadful schools, sky-high taxes,uncontrolled immigration, out-of-control crime and disorder, and this from the Blair who promised in 1997 he would be ''tough on crime' and his priority would be'education,education,educati­on'!! 11 years later our education system is abysmal, and youth crime is terrible

[mofi500]

LOL - you must be longing for Dave Cameron and the Tories to fix our 'broken society' then? It was they that proclaimed there was no such thing in the first place!!

[jbshalom]

It was Mrs Thatcher who said "There is no such thing as society." Mr Cameron, upon his election said "There IS such a thing as society, it's just not the same thing as the state"

[sketchydc]

My mum woke me up when this happened...

I was glad she did :p

[maxfm81]

I was so happy when the Tories lost it... but now I want them back.

[llanberis100]

You could live to regret that comment!!

[brunanburh]

This looks so dated now! It was an amazing night, classic new labour. Shame it's all gone tits up

[relarerfhjk]

brunanburh its amazing how, with all the frnzy over Tory "sleaze" none of the important issues were discusses, and people forgot to check whether Tony Blair was actually going to do anything except issue bland speeches about crime and education, eleven years on, crime, particularly knife crime, is apalling in this country, and the education system is an international joke, so Labour have failed on everything they promised

[croquet44]

I was very anti-conservative and delighted when it happened. But even then I was impressed with the dignity that Potillo showed in defeat.

[timrollpickering]

Dignity my foot. Earlier that evening David Mellor had come out of his declaration looking very bitter and getting into a shouting match with Sir James Goldsmith, leader of the Referendum Party, and other candidates. Portillo saw this on television and decided that he was not going to remembered as another Mellor.

[stevieandthemagicpie]

best tv moment ever.

[Octavium]

Who cares who the seat belongs to now. This video is about a piece of electoral history, not currant political bickering.

[getinthevantim]

this is one of those unforgettable moments when a live broadcast literally ignites the very air around you. i was in a small kentish village. the collective roar of public approval rose above the tv volume from the surrounding homes.

when geoff hurst put it past the german keeper in 1966 was probably similar.

both of these pale behind the seconds following a single handclap as earl spencer spoke at diana's funeral. in the still of the australian night i could hear clapping all around.

[Eliothampdenturner]

We've got this seat back! In 2009 we will get no. 10 back as well.

[Wolverhampton1]

Oh yeagh Elio?!

Kept the local tory association off the expenses though for 8 years didn't it?

Also messed up your leadership for a decade.

Cheers!

[haldenver]

Hey, what about the 8% plus swing in 2005 to the winning conservative party?

This seat is now Conservative.

[richardeast]

Time for change.... I agree whole heartedly.

[burdlow]

I was one of those people absolutely cheering the ousting of the Conservative Goverment. If I could have predicted the following ten years, I would have been crying instead!

[limebloom]

my joy was unconfined. how could the son of a spanish anti-fascists be a tory?

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

[owler75]

i remember when portillo was minister for employment in the early 90s he came up with a idea that when people went to the job center they should wear a suit incase they got a job interview wich i thought was a good idea but how were people going to buy one if they did not have one ? as some could not afford to but it was not a bad idea for a tory

[steps1]

The dignity with which Portillo handled defeat was fantastic

[buggerhed]

"I live in Enfield and know why he lost."

Do you mean Portillo or Twigg?

[STILLAVRIL1]

I live in Enfield and know why he lost.

His consituency party wanted to sell their offices in Winchmore Hill to allow the building of a drive-through burger joint.

His constituents wanted him to oppose it.

He didn't support them, afraid of upsetting his party.

They quite rightly threw him out.

Good riddance.

[babaluma1]

people soon forget what 18 years of tory rule was like

poll tax remember that beauty

the right wing twots

[steps1]

tuition fees (from a Labour Government remember?) going to war on a lie, i.d cards, sleaze that would put the tories to shame, countless stealth taxes etc etc..people won't forget what 10+ years of a labour rule was like when it comes to the next election

[KevvyT89]

It's a shame though, that people will forget about a terrible 18 years of of the tories.

[Alexr1156]

I agree, but when Labour get voted out and the tories go in and piss everything up again everyone will slag the tories off and we'll be back to 1997 again, when it'll be a releif to get rid of them.

[Flfally]

Um i'm sorry but the sleaze from the Labour party was no where NEAR as utterly humiliating and embarassing as the tories. Labour have finiancial scandals. The tories have the worst kind which is personal and policy screwing up.

Back to basics??? Remember that???

Half the cabinet were screwed and had to resign - no where near as bad as Labour

And Derek Conway? Name me a Labour MP who got a worse bollocking than him

[bnitona]

labour mean future

[Brownstone87]

You seen any opinion polls recently?

[fuckwithfire1984]

The only poll that counts is the one on election day. Look at how they've shot up and down all over the place this year. You can't determine anything from the polls.

[nicky2006uk]

If you think things are worse than they were in 1997 then you are deeply mistaken. Make no mistake about it, if the tories had stayed in 1997 this country would be in a lot worse state. I believe in time Tony Blair will be looked back on as an excellent prime minister.

[RJWooller]

its is amazing to look back and think things could be any different under labour. things are if not the same, they are worse under labour and it would be good if labour lose at the next election like the tories did in 1997

[Scottmachin]

Were you up for Portillo :)

Shame the Labour party is now the slightly more acceptable version of the tories. Tories running the country via proxy, isn't it just great?

[helenehead]

twigg's face when he finds out. classic!

[HildaMinogue]

Hopefully the General election comes asap.

Im a bit more confident now, I think the Tories are running round in circles like headless chickens, desperately clinging on to spent ideads and spent Tories like dried up old ex Home sec Michael Howard, William weirdo Hague and a galaxy of horrific looking women.

[falkirkbairn01]

The last thing this country needs is another Thatcher. Where i live unempolyment hit 20%, houses were repossesed and we had 1 school closed. Under Labour unemployment is the lowest it been ever, the economy is strong and genreal and we have 4 new schools and a new hospital to be opened next year. Thats what I call progress ,the opposite of what we had under Thatcher.

[alman53]

Lol what a moment!!

[aliboioi]

yes it is so reassuring to know that Stephen Twigg lost his seat in 2005 to the conservatives :)

[spluker]

Coming from Enfield, I remember the exhilaration seeing that smarmy tw@t lose his seat in 1997, only to discover he was replaced by another smarmy tw@t. Still, in those 10 years the UKs become a much better place: Tuition fees, worthless ASBOs, ID cards, erosion of civil liberties, an illegal war and economic miracles based solely on overinflated house prices, all wrapped up in a fog of spin, buzz words and focus groups.

[cjip1]

As a fellow Enfield resident, I cannot recall what Michael Portillo was like but I remember Stephen Twigg with fondness. He was superb local MP.

[LynchJDPendragon]

Also coming from Enfield, I was only 11 when this election took place. Although people wanted to kick out Portillo, Twigg was not a good MP. He was a yes man for Blair, a snivelling leftist ex NUS crony and only seemed interested in climbing the greasy pole to power. I'm proud to have helped defeat him in my first general election vote. The UK is crying out for a strong Tory government, but Cameron does not have the mettle of Thatcher.

[GeeGee3374]

i really enjoyed seeing twigg get booted out last time, what goes around i think the saying goes lol

[LiverpoolLoyal1690]

The Conservatives have always been a party of democracy, hence the support for the Republicans in Spain by Heath and countless others.

[buggerhed]

if you go to the BBC website and type in Twigg go to the 1st result. If you click the link on that page called Hear Portillo's advice a newsplayer opens. There is a link at the side of that to watch Stephen Twigg lose in 2005.

[dens83]

Brilliant!

Still makes me smile!

The party did fall into disunity Michael!

[buggerhed]

"LIL0R000N" please pardon my rather flippant name- finding a username can be quite frustrating.

I like watching election declarations, and they're rather difficult to find. Seeing as you and James posess a secret source I'm a touch jealous, but I'd appreciate it if a few more could be uploaded onto youtube.

[t4change]

No problem - more are on the way, I assure you...

[buggerhed]

The video was somewhere on the BBC site (I'll try to find it...) Belfast election results aren't counted until Friday mornings, and will be called when ready usually in the afternoon from the King's Hall - either way I once caught a glimpse of a rather shocked Gerry Adams who had ever so slightly been outpolled by the SDLP's Joe Hendron. I would like to see the whole thing

[timrollpickering]

Has anyone got the 2005 Enfield Southgate result?

[steps1]

Extremely dignified by Portillo..class act

[buggerhed]

My ultimate desire is Belfast West 1992 if you can dig that up... please!

[t4change]

I will do my best...

James

[timrollpickering]

It may not be possible - from recollection when the Parliament channel reran that night, the Belfast counts were declared behind closed doors.

[buggerhed]

I've been looking at your stuff. I like it, and I like the way you reply to these comments James. I think you have the potential for an interesting political archive. I'd like to see Tony Benn lose Bristol East in 1983, and I think Michael Forsythe in Stirling in 1997. Generally good or shocking election moments are what thrill a psestosologist like me. Anything from Northern Ireland? We've churned out a few good ones in the last 20-30 years!

[t4change]

I will hunt around and get back to you - hopefuly there will be more on the way.

Thanks for your comment...

James

[buggerhed]

Where do you get these from? I've searched all over the internet and can only find yours on youtube.

I hope you will provide more than nostaglic Labour moments(even though they do make pretty good viewing!).

Well done on York Council by the way!

[t4change]

Cheers for that. My sources I am afraid are secret...

[LIL0R000N]

"Buggerhead" Ive got all of these and my source is secret too. hehehe Btw that presenter man on here reminds me of one of Harry Enfields Character.

[lilorooon]

James, do you have a video of the Exit poll of '97?

[t4change]

I think I do - I will have a hunt around...

[lilorooon]

I remember my screams of excitment could be heard 3 blocks away when I saw this in the wee early hours of May 2nd. the looks on Redwoods and Shepards face was so satisfying.

[ianghowlett]

Is that man in the studio impersonating Ronnie Barker?

[Tetrisrock]

Hi-larious. I'm currently watching the 1997 election coverage on BBC Parliament.

[t4change]

So am I - how sad are we?

[fuckwithfire1984]

Haha, classic stuff, poor old portaloo...

[Pepotamo1985]

Despite supporting the very party that was trounced in this election, I can still glean a surge of from this clip. There was a genuine feeling in 1997 that Britain was on the verge of a seismic shift for the better. What a pity that Blair let down the British public so spectacularly.

[BCJ1985]

This clip always brightens up my day.

[Pepotamo1985]

Been looking for this for ages. Cheers.

[t4change]

No problem.

Take care...

James

[joehalas]

Thanks for posting this!

[swyke]

Loved it...Denzil Xavier lol

[bismuthcadmium]

And Labour lost the seat in 2005!

[AKALucifer]

Yeah but Twigg wasn't ever a serious candidate anyway, it was a miracle he got in. Enfield Southgate was supposed to be an iron-clad seat for the Tories

[Mickmars90]

A lot of safe seats fell to the Labour landslide in 1997. However, it is worth noting that in the 1997 election, Tony Blair polled less votes than John Major did in 1992.

But the Tory Party then is not the Tory party now. Cameron the Chameleon has destroyed my party, and he has completely tried to delete Thatcherism from Tory history. Self hatred should not be party of Conservative policy.