Grant was one of the first four black MPs and the constituency was one of the centres of the London Afro-Caribbean community.

However, Grant's widow Sharon (who was white) declared her intention to seek selection and this split opinion within the local Labour Party.

Both Sharon and Bernie Grant had been on the left-wing of the party whereas the leading black contender for the nomination, David Lammy, was a supporter of Tony Blair.

Polling day in the by-election was on 22 June, when Lammy comfortably retained the seat for Labour on a low turnout.

All three candidates from the Labour, Conservative and Lib Dem parties in this by-election would go on to become MPs.