In 1997 Malcolm Wicks, winning this seat for Labour, received over twice as many votes as his Conservative opponent, securing a majority of over 18,000 votes. He was the second Labour candidate to win a Croydon seat since 1918.
Labourís traditionally greatest strength lies in inner Croydon, in old terraces and newer council housing and in Thornton Heath, which resembles inner rather than outer London. Usual Conservative strength in this seat is further north, in suburban Norbury and the leafy slopes of Beulah Hill.
With an above-average number of owner-occupiers, and several areas of high multi-occupancy, the population is, in part, transitory. Over one third, and in some areas up to a half, of the population are from minority ethnic communities.
With five British Rail stations, the constituency has very good transport links to London and the south, and as a result many residents commute to work in central London.
The Liberals won Croydon North West in a by-election in 1981 at the height of the Liberal-SDP Alliance's fortunes, but were subsequently beaten in 1983 and Liberal Democrat support has been small ever since.