Harlow gain from Conservative Jerry Hayes 0 ( 0.0%) 15,347 (32.1%) 25,861 (54.1%) 4,523 ( 9.5%) 0 ( 0.0%) 2,081 ( 4.4%) 64,072 47,812 (74.6%) Jerry Hayes Harlow 1,687 ( 3.2%) 24,568 (46.0%) 22,881 (42.8%) 6,002 (11.2%) 0 ( 0.0%) 0 ( 0.0%) Conservative 65,004 53,451 (82.2%) -13.9% +11.3% -1.8% +0.0% +4.4% -1.4% -7.6% The postwar Harlow New Town lies tucked in a once-rural corner of north-west Essex. Harlow grew quite rapidly from a population of around 5,000 at the end of the war to reach 80,000 by 1981. It has been the core of its own parliamentary seat since 1974. Given the origins of so many of the residents of Harlow in the working-class East End of London, depopulated after the destruction of the second world war, it might be expected that Harlow would be a safe seat. But in fact it has been held by the colourful Conservative MP, Jerry Hayes, since 1983. Like the other southern English New Towns, Harlow has shown itself willing to be favourable towards the Conservative Governments of both Margaret Thatcher and John Major. Almost all-white in composition, and with a population rapidly becoming owner-occupiers as New Town stock was sold off, this part of Essex has not regarded itself as a relatively deprived area in the past 15 years. Nevertheless, Jerry Hayes will be very fortunate to hold on for a fourth term in 1997. His majority, only 2,940 in 1992, is further reduced by the removal of the rural ward of North Weald Bassett by the Boundary Commissioners. Labour have swept Harlow in local government elections in recent years, and look likely to win here again after a 14-year hiatus. 740 1.97 9.03 22 1,051 2.80 11.17 25 3,933 10.46 11.25 93 15,667 41.68 14.70 283 1,251 3.33 10.45 32 875 2.33 2.81 83 1,077 2.87 8.01 36 8,798 23.40 15.25 154 1,959 5.21 7.13 73 2,063 5.49 10.17 54