Eastbourne by-election, 1990
Encyclopedia
The Eastbourne by-election, 1990 was a by-election
held on 18 October 1990 for the British House of Commons
constituency
of Eastbourne
in East Sussex
.
The by-election was caused by the death of the town's Conservative Party
Member of Parliament
(MP) Ian Gow
, who was killed on 30 July 1990 by a bomb placed under his car by the Provisional IRA
.
The result was a victory for the Liberal Democrat candidate David Bellotti
, who defeated the former Conservative MP Richard Hickmet
by a majority of 4,550 votes. The defeat came as a shock to many Conservatives who had expected (not least given the circumstances under which the by-election was held, as well as the fact that it had been retained by a majority of more than 16,000 votes in 1987) that they would easily retain the seat. Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe
sent a message to voters saying that the IRA would be "toasting their success".
It was a welcome success for the Liberal Democrats, formed in March 1988, after some disastrous early local and European election election showings, as well as dismal showings in opinion polls. It came at a time when Conservative support was slumping and Labour
was enjoying a comfortable lead in the opinion polls, largely due to the unpopular introduction of poll tax
by the Conservative government.
However, the outcome of the next general election
just 18 months later was symbolic of how the fortunes of the main three political parties had altered in that short time. The Liberal Democrats, who at the time of the Eastbourne success were looking set for a big rise in votes and seats, were left with a reduced number of seats, while the Conservatives were re-elected under new leader John Major
(who had succeeded Margaret Thatcher in November 1990), leaving Labour in opposition for a fourth successive term of parliament - meaning that Neil Kinnock
never made it into government as the opinion polls throughout 1990 had all suggested would happen.
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
held on 18 October 1990 for the British House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
constituency
United Kingdom constituencies
In the United Kingdom , each of the electoral areas or divisions called constituencies elects one or more members to a parliament or assembly.Within the United Kingdom there are now five bodies with members elected by constituencies:...
of Eastbourne
Eastbourne (UK Parliament constituency)
Eastbourne is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post system of election. Traditionally a safe Conservative seat, Eastbourne became very marginal following the 1990...
in East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
.
The by-election was caused by the death of the town's Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) Ian Gow
Ian Gow
Ian Reginald Edward Gow TD was a British Conservative politician and solicitor. While serving as Member of Parliament for Eastbourne, he was assassinated by the Provisional Irish Republican Army who exploded a bomb under his car outside his home in East Sussex.-Life:Ian Gow was born at 3 Upper...
, who was killed on 30 July 1990 by a bomb placed under his car by the Provisional IRA
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
.
The result was a victory for the Liberal Democrat candidate David Bellotti
David Bellotti
David Frank Bellotti is a Liberal Democrat politician in the United Kingdom who was Member of Parliament for the Eastbourne constituency from 1990 to 1992....
, who defeated the former Conservative MP Richard Hickmet
Richard Hickmet
Richard Saladin Hickmet ] is a British Conservative Party politician.-Early life:He is the son of Ferid Hickmet and Elizabeth Coster. He went to Millfield School in Street, Somerset, then the Sorbonne in Paris. From the University of Hull he gained a BA.He was called to the Bar in 1974, and...
by a majority of 4,550 votes. The defeat came as a shock to many Conservatives who had expected (not least given the circumstances under which the by-election was held, as well as the fact that it had been retained by a majority of more than 16,000 votes in 1987) that they would easily retain the seat. Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe
Ann Widdecombe
Ann Noreen Widdecombe is a former British Conservative Party politician and has been a novelist since 2000. She is a Privy Councillor and was the Member of Parliament for Maidstone from 1987 to 1997 and for Maidstone and The Weald from 1997 to 2010. She was a social conservative and a member of...
sent a message to voters saying that the IRA would be "toasting their success".
It was a welcome success for the Liberal Democrats, formed in March 1988, after some disastrous early local and European election election showings, as well as dismal showings in opinion polls. It came at a time when Conservative support was slumping and Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
was enjoying a comfortable lead in the opinion polls, largely due to the unpopular introduction of poll tax
Community Charge
The Community Charge, popularly known as the "poll tax", was a system of taxation introduced in replacement of the rates to part fund local government in Scotland from 1989, and England and Wales from 1990. It provided for a single flat-rate per-capita tax on every adult, at a rate set by the...
by the Conservative government.
However, the outcome of the next general election
United Kingdom general election, 1992
The United Kingdom general election of 1992 was held on 9 April 1992, and was the fourth consecutive victory for the Conservative Party. This election result was one of the biggest surprises in 20th Century politics, as polling leading up to the day of the election showed Labour under leader Neil...
just 18 months later was symbolic of how the fortunes of the main three political parties had altered in that short time. The Liberal Democrats, who at the time of the Eastbourne success were looking set for a big rise in votes and seats, were left with a reduced number of seats, while the Conservatives were re-elected under new leader John Major
John Major
Sir John Major, is a British Conservative politician, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1990–1997...
(who had succeeded Margaret Thatcher in November 1990), leaving Labour in opposition for a fourth successive term of parliament - meaning that Neil Kinnock
Neil Kinnock
Neil Gordon Kinnock, Baron Kinnock is a Welsh politician belonging to the Labour Party. He served as a Member of Parliament from 1970 until 1995 and as Labour Leader and Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition from 1983 until 1992 - his leadership of the party during nearly nine years making him...
never made it into government as the opinion polls throughout 1990 had all suggested would happen.
Votes
See also
- List of United Kingdom by-elections
- Eastbourne constituencyEastbourne (UK Parliament constituency)Eastbourne is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post system of election. Traditionally a safe Conservative seat, Eastbourne became very marginal following the 1990...
- Eastbourne by-election, 1925Eastbourne by-election, 1925The Eastbourne by-election, 1925 was a parliamentary by-election held in England on 17 June 1925 for the House of Commons constituency of Eastbourne in East Sussex.- Vacanacy :...
- Eastbourne by-election, 1932Eastbourne by-election, 1932The Eastbourne by-election, 1932 was a by-election held on 28 April 1932 for the British House of Commons constituency of Eastbourne in East Sussex....
- Eastbourne by-election, 1935Eastbourne by-election, 1935The Eastbourne by-election, 1935 was a by-election held on 29th March 1935 for the British House of Commons constituency of Eastbourne in East Sussex....