General election constituency focus: Ilford North

The two men, now rivals, were pictured with the signed pledge — but when it came to the vote, the Conservative MP abstained. Mr Streeting is keen to remind voters of this “broken promise”. His rival insists he honoured the pledge, because he did not actually vote in favour of increasing fees, and lost his junior ministerial role in the Department of Transport because of it.

Both men could lay claim to reflecting the area’s ambitious families. Mr Scott, 59, was born in the constituency, left school at 15 and got a degree at night school. Mr Streeting, 32, was raised by a single mother, benefited from free school meals, and made it to Cambridge University — something only one in 1,000 children on free school meals manages. Brought up in Tower Hamlets, he attended Westminster City School, a C of E state school, and moved to the borough of Redbridge 15 years ago. He now lives in Barkingside, in his own constituency — like many others in the area, in rented accommodation.

For voters here education is a big issue. Maxine Groecutt, 40, said she was concerned about the quality of secondary schools and would vote Labour. “I’m thinking about her future,” she said, looking at daughter Tiggy, three. “Keeping Ukip out is also incredibly important.”

Immigration is one of the top doorstep concerns, according to Mr Streeting: “It’s not a race issue — the majority of the people who raise it are Asian. It’s really about creaking public services and the fact people are struggling to get a GP appointment, struggling to find a school place.

“I feel very strongly immigration is a benefit to the country as a whole, and to London more specifically. I think people understand the economic benefits. One of the big problems is if public policy and public money do not follow quickly enough. You can’t pretend that immigration only has upsides and doesn’t present challenges.”

Mr Streeting — who has worked for Magic Breakfast, a charity that gives free food to schoolchildren — added that childhood hunger was a “massive issue ... The overall affluence of the constituency masks huge levels of poverty.”

Mr Scott, who promises that with him “what you see is what you get”, said that despite people’s concerns about immigration, he has found very little support for Ukip on doorsteps. He believes voters’ key concerns are greenbelt land, building on school playing fields, defence and terrorism.

The constituency, with large Jewish, Muslim, Sikh and Hindu communities, is a microcosm of “modern, settled, multi-ethnic London,” according to Professor Travers: “It is not in the news a great deal, partly because it is a successful place that gets on with its life.”

Mr Scott, who is Jewish, said he had faced anti-Semitic abuse and death threats. On the day we met, he had been discussing security concerns with the police, and said he did not go anywhere on his own. But he insisted the threats came from people who lived outside the area and everybody in Ilford North “lives in harmony”.

He added: “It is not coming from my constituents. I have many from the Muslim community who are campaigning with me who have said openly they are voting for me and put up posters for me.”

As an MP he is most proud of his work setting up a project to find jobs for people with special needs. And he is known for not claiming expenses, even from before the expenses scandal.

Mr Streeting, meanwhile, said he had seen the impact of deep government cuts during his job as deputy leader of Redbridge council. He believes people in the area will recognise he has “worked his socks off” during the campaign, and turn out for Labour.

Professor Travers said: “All the evidence suggests that it is a very, very, very marginal seat. It is on a knife edge and worth watching until the very last minute.”