Laura Bruni has been an active member of the Labour Party since 1986, and she has substantial Parliamentary, organisation and campaigning experience. Between 1997 to 2005 she worked as Parliamentary Assistant to John Cryer MP, the Labour MP for Hornchurch. Before that up to 1997, she was a constituency caseworker for the late Bernie Grant MP and also managed his successful campaign for the regulation of immigration advisers.

Neil Gerrard (MP for Walthamstow) has announced he'll stand down at next election.