Despite a troubled past in local elections, Labour has consistently fared well here in Westminster elections. Pro-hunting Sports Minister Kate Hoey has served in this seat since winning it in a by-election in 1989.
Although the seat contains some of Londonís most prominent landmarks including the Oval Cricket ground, Lambeth Palace, the South Bank Centre, Waterloo stations and St Thomasís hospital, it is also home to some of Londonís more run-down areas.
Areas such as Stockwell and its Stockwell Park Council estate and the terraced streets North of Brixton are riddled with drug and crime related problems.
There is a very low percentage of owner occupied housing across the constituency, a mere 24%, and half of all housing here is owned by the local authority.