History
Famous as the birthplace of American-raised comedian and Hollywood film star Bob Hope, and more infamously, where the black youth Stephen Lawrence was murdered, the seat was held by high profile Tory Peter Bottomley for over two decades (as Woolwich West and then Eltham) before Labour gained the seat in 1997. After fairly comfortable victories then and in 2001, the Labour majority decreased quite significnatly in 2005, though Labour were able to resist the national swing against them in 2010 to hold the seat then.
The Eltham Conservative Association became the first in London to select a candidate, David Gold, by means of an open primary election where any voter on the electoral roll was entitled to attend and vote at a meeting chaired by Michael Portillo on 31 July 2006 at the Bob Hope Theatre.
Read more about this topic: Eltham (UK Parliament Constituency)
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“The second day of July 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more”
—John Adams (1735–1826)
“All history is a record of the power of minorities, and of minorities of one.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
““And now this is the way in which the history of your former life has reached my ears!” As he said this he held out in his hand the fatal letter.”
—Anthony Trollope (1815–1882)