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1965 to 1979
the history of Leyton and Leytonstone
from . dot to … dots – with plenty of spaces
Politics
The March 1966 election gave the Leyton House of Commons seat to Patrick Gordon Walker who had famously been defeated in a 1964 by-election.
When many people left areas like Leyton and were replaced by those from former British colonies the nature of local Labour Party activists changed 1. There were many who were university educated, employed in central and local government managerial positions, and supported more confrontational politics and interventionist government. This brought a strong reaction. Nationally Margaret Thatcher was electorally successful. Leyton was not a prominent stage for the struggle between left and right in politics.