Vida Garman, a pornographic model, ran as a publicity stunt for the Daily Sport newspaper, which wanted to take advantage of free postage for electoral leaflets.[3]
Philip Hammond was chosen as the Conservative Party candidate. He was director of a medical equipment and the chairman of Lewisham East Conservative Association.[4]
Jo Homeless had changed her name by deed poll in order to contest the election on a campaign of housing the homeless.[3]
Alec Kellaway was the nominated candidate for the Liberal Democrats however immediately prior to the election Kellaway announced that he was leaving the Liberal Democrats and joining the Labour Party. Consequently, there was no official Liberal Democrat standing in the election.[5]
Anthony Scholefield was the candidate for the United Kingdom Independence Party.
Stephen Timms, the Labour candidate, had previously served as the leader of the local council for four years.[4]