Career
Summerson contested Barking in 1983, but was beaten by Labour"s Jo Richardson by 4,026 votes. This was against the pro-Labour national swing but broadly in line with the swing elsewhere in Greater London which was pro-Conservative. His maiden speech was made on 4 November 1987, during the second reading of Urban Development Corporations (Financial Limits) Bill.
He used the opportunity to extol the virtues of his constituency: "My constituency is Walthamstow.
I have found that many people do not know exactly where Walthamstow is. I recommend that they get on the Victoria line northbound and stay on the train until it stops and they will find themselves in Walthamstow.
lieutenant is an area with a very interesting history.”
Summerson lost the seat at the 1992 general election to the Labour candidate Neil Gerrard, who received 45.7% of the vote. By contrast Summerson received 37.2% of the vote.
