The West London neighbourhood where homes cost £1.3m but 'people are spending more than they earn'

A walk through Bayswater might lead you to believe voters in this newly-established London seat may not feel the pinch of the cost-of-living crisis like other less well-off Londoners - but perceptions can be misleading. While Rightmove says the average home in Bayswater, which has Kensington Palace for a neighbour, cost around £1.3m in the last year, that's only helpful to those lucky enough to own a home - and they will be grappling with soaring mortgage rates.

MyLondon spoke to a number of voters in the Kensington and Bayswater seat who say the state of the economy and the cost of living is front and centre of their minds this election. Business owner Alya Sabbagh, 65, said prices on goods had gone 'very high' and criticised Britain's 'high taxes'. She said: “[The] lifestyle has changed for all of us. We are spending more than we are earning."

William, 59, said immigration was his top concern. William moved to the UK eight years ago from South Africa but feels No 10 needs to rein in the number of migrants entering the country. He said: "We've got to have a little but of compassion…[but] we're like a sponge. We can only absorb so much."

READ MORE: Kensington and Bayswater general election 2024 candidates explain what they'll do if voted in

Photographer Gia Jones, 23, and hardware store manager Christina Wilkins, 35, had mixed feelings about Rishi Sunak's plan to introduce National Service, which ministers have alluded to as not being solely confined to military service. Christina said: "I understand the importance of the things we've been seeing in the world lately, Ukraine for example.

"I think it's hard for [the Prime Minister] and it's important he does address it but again I think it's quite sensitive. I think forcing people to do a voluntary service might not win the best or be the best way to do it, but I understand it's quite a hard one for Rishi and I think he's doing his best."

Gia said: "My dad was in the war. He was in the forces. And, I kind of understand the PTSD that comes with it. And I think putting that into action will just, you know, it can ruin people's lives."

This seat of Kensington and Bayswater was established in 2023 during a periodic review of parliamentary constituencies. It consists of nearly all of the former constituency of Kensington and includes the Bayswater and Lancaster Gate wards in Westminster City and the southern half of the Queen's Gate ward which belonged to the previous Chelsea and Fulham constituency.

The hotly-contested seat is currently held by Tory MP Felicity Buchan, who beat former Labour MP Emma Dent Coad by 150 votes in 2019. Ms Buchan is tipped to lose her seat on July 4 in what's expected to be another nail-biting count, sources from the major parties have told MyLondon. Ms Dent Coad won the seat from former Tory MP Victoria Borwick by 20 votes in 2017.

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