IN a field of four candidates vying to become MP for Leyton and Wanstead only one actually lives in the area.

Among the four hopefuls, Ashley Gunstock for the Greens is the only candidate to have a registered address in the seat he wants to represent.

Running for his fifth consecutive general election, Mr Gunstock has lived in Wanstead since 1998 and believes he had a “good grasp of the area”.

He said: “I have seen them come and go, including John Cryer’s predecessor Harry Cohen and I don’t think you can truly represent an area if you don’t live in it.”

While the Liberal Democrat Ben Sims can say his Bow flat is on the right side of London, Tory Laura Farris lives across the capital in Sadiq Khan’s backyard of Tooting.

Earlier this week, Mrs Farris did say she would be prepared to move from her home in south-west London to Leyton and Wanstead if she were elected on June 8.

On Tuesday she said: “I have 31 days to introduce myself to the community, so I’m aware I’ve got a lot of work to do.”

After his re-election in 2015, John Cryer told the Waltham Forest Guardian his decision to move to Lewisham was vital for his family after his recent marriage to Labour activist Ellie Reeves.

At the time he said: “After our baby was born in January we both found it very difficult without any family nearby.

“We did not want to move and wanted to stay in Leyton but decided to move to Lewisham to be near my wife’s family so we have that support nearby.”

Two years later, Labour’s 66-year-old MP Jim Dowd in Lewisham West and Penge announced he would not defend his seat in the upcoming general election.

Mr Cryer’s wife Ms Reeves was duly selected as Mr Dowd’s replacement for the safe seat, which Labour won with a majority of 12,714 in 2015.

Ms Reeves tweeted: “Delighted to have been selected as the @UKLabour candidate in Lewisham West & Penge - the area that I live in and that I love.”

Mr Cryer’s office has been contacted for a response.