following the election result, a british branch of the ku klux klan was formed, and black and ethnic minority residents in the area had burning crosses put through their letterboxes. peter griffiths was declared "a parliamentary leper" by harold wilson, the new labour prime minister. griffiths, in his maiden speech to the commons, pointed out what he believed were the real problems his constituency faced, including factory closures and over 4,000 families awaiting council accommodation. patrick gordon walker subsequently lost the 1965 leyton by-election, in a usually safe labour seat, and the election result meant that malcolm x would visit smethwick to show solidarity with the black and minority ethnic communities in the area (in particular, the black and asian community). nine days after he visited marshall street in smethwick, malcolm x was shot dead in new york.