Tory MP David Burrowes admits 'wrong turn' after canvassing in wrong constituency

A London Tory MP today confessed to “a wrong turning” after he ended up going canvassing in the wrong constituency.

David Burrowes’ blunder came to light because he somehow picked the very street where neighbouring Labour MP Andrew Love is a prominent resident.

The Enfield Southgate backbencher was being mocked by opponents as the MP who did not know where his own constituency was.

Mr Love’s incredulous wife, Ruth Rosenthal, told how one of Mr Burrowes’ team rang her bell and tried to give her a Vote Burrowes leaflet.

“A young woman knocked on my door and told me she was there on behalf of my MP, David Burrowes from Enfield Southgate,” said Ms Rosenthal. “She argued with me when I said that Bush Hill Park is part of Edmonton and the MP is Andy Love. It wasn’t until I told her who I am that she gave up. I told her that she was half a mile from Enfield Southgate.”

A few minutes later, she told LabourList, her next door neighbour phoned to say that Mr Burrowes in person had introduced himself as her MP and tried to hand her a leaflet. After she corrected him, he took the leaflet back. “I then looked out of the window and sure enough Burrowes with the young women were just leaving the street,” said Ms Rosenthal.

Mr Burrowes, who was a local councillor for 12 years before being elected MP in 2005, laughed off the “confusion”.

He told the Standard: “Either my canvassing enthusiasm or the distraction of my phone got the better of me.

“I took a wrong turning through flats in Village Road which on one side of the road are in my constituency and the other in Edmonton. Apologies for any confusion caused but I suppose knocking in those three doors could be good preparation for future boundary changes.”

Enfield Southgate was the scene of one of London’s best-known election upsets in 1997 when former Defence Secretary Michael Portillo was ousted by Labour’s Stephen Twigg.