Normally a safe seat for Labour, recent by-election surprises make it one to watch

Following the resignation of Councillor Daniel Lee-Phakoe for personal reasons there will be a Council by-election in Plaistow North on 23 November.

The councillor’s wife is Carleene Lee-Phakoe who holds the cabinet position for housing needs, homelessness and the private rented sector.

This would normally be a safe seat for Labour, but there is fresh interest following the surprise result in an earlier by-election in June this year when independent councillor Mehmood Mirza defeated the Labour candidate in the neighbouring ward of Boleyn.

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