United Kingdom by-election records
Encyclopedia
UK by-election records is an annotated list of notable records from UK Parliamentary by-elections
. A by-election occurs when a Member of Parliament
resigns, dies, or is disqualified or expelled, and an election is held to fill the vacant seat. A constituency is the seat or division that member represented.
Prior to 1945, electoral competition in the United Kingdom exhibited features which make meaningful comparisons with modern results difficult.
Among the most significant were:
Since 1945, the evolution of a stable three-party system has tended to negate each of the above features so that, broadly speaking, elections are more comparable.
In Northern Ireland
, as ever, the pattern of party competition is completely different from that on the mainland and comparisons remain problematic.
Hence, unless otherwise stated records are based on results since the 1945 General Election, and earlier exceptional results are listed separately.
For comparison purposes the following definitions have been adopted.
* Largest swing where the seat was held by the incumbent party.
Worst results for other parties:
If seats in which the nationalist party had not stood in the general election are included, the best results are:
The Stockport by-election, 1920
, was held to elect two MPs. The winners' shares of the total vote were 25.6% and 25.1%. However, as each voter could cast two votes, the situation is not readily comparable to other by-elections in this period.
At the Sheffield Attercliffe by-election, 1909
, the winning candidate took only 27.5% of the vote.
The worst Conservative performance was in the North Down by-election, 1995
, where they took 2.1% of the votes cast.
Still smaller majorities have been recorded since 1918. The majority in the Penrith and Cockermouth by-election, 1921
, was only 31 votes, and in the Westminster Abbey by-election, 1924
was 43 votes. At the Cirencester by-election, 1892 a majority of 3 for the Unionists was overturned on petition, where it was found that both candidates had an equal number of votes. A fresh by-election was called, which was won by the Liberals.
. The lowest turnouts since 1918 have been:
which is only refunded if the candidate wins 5% of the votes cast.
All by-elections with more than ten candidates are listed. Elections are listed in alphabetical order. Those which created a new record number are shown in bold.
contested no fewer than four by-elections during his career, topping the poll on each occasion: Bristol South East
in 1950
, 1961
and 1963
, and Chesterfield in 1984
. His first and last by-election victories were 33 years and 3 months apart.
Former cabinet minister and European Commissioner Roy Jenkins
fought two different by-elections for the Social Democratic Party
only eight months apart. He narrowly failed in the Warrington by-election, 1981
before winning the Glasgow Hillhead by-election, 1982
. He had been first elected as a Labour MP almost 34 years previously in the Southwark Central by-election, 1948.
Former Speaker of the House of Commons
, Betty Boothroyd
finally secured election at her third by-election attempt at the West Bromwich by-election, 1973
. She had previously failed in the Leicester South East by-election, 1957 and the Nelson and Colne by-election, 1968
as well as the General Elections of 1959 and 1970.
Fringe candidates such as Bill Boaks
, Screaming Lord Sutch
of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party
and Lindi St Clair
of the Corrective Party contested numerous by-elections without success.
Pre-1945
Arthur Henderson
was distinguished in being successful in no fewer than five by-elections in different seats, in Barnard Castle
, Widnes
, Newcastle-upon-Tyne East, Burnley
, and Clay Cross
.
Joseph Gibbins
is the only person in modern times to gain the same seat twice in two different by-elections. He triumphed for Labour in the Liverpool West Toxteth by-election, 1924 and the Liverpool West Toxteth by-election, 1935.
William O'Brien
won four by-elections, in Mallow in 1883, North East Cork in 1887 and then Cork City
in 1904 and 1914. On these last two occasions, he was re-elected having resigned the seat.
Prime Minister Winston Churchill
contested five by-elections in his long career:-
John Wilkes
won the Aylesbury by-election, 1757, and was then elected in the Middlesex by-elections of February, March and April 1769, on each occasion being subsequently expelled from the House of Commons.
Notes:
1 by-election gain lost at the subsequent General Election
2 by-election gain held at the subsequent General Election
Until the Re-election of Ministers Acts 1919 and 1926 there were many cases of members having to seek re-election on appointment to ministerial office. In eight instances they were unsuccessful:
Notes
, becoming the first woman to take her seat in the House of Commons.
The first woman to gain a seat in a by-election was Susan Lawrence
who won the East Ham North by-election, 1926
, although she had previously sat for the same seat between 1923-4.1
The first woman to gain a seat ab initio in a by-election was Jennie Lee who won the North Lanarkshire by-election, 1929, at the same time becoming the first woman Baby of the House of Commons
.
Note
1Mabel Philipson
succeeded her husband at the Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1923
. He had been elected as a National Liberal Party (UK, 1922)National Liberal. She won as a Conservative
so this could arguably be classed as the first gain by a woman.
The first ethnic minority candidate to be elected in a by-election was Ashok Kumar who gained the Langbaurgh by-election, 1991
for Labour.
The first by-election in which all three major-party candidates were from the ethnic minorities was the Ealing Southall by-election, 2007
, held by Labour.
were also elected.
The first Roman Catholic by-election victor in the UK Parliament was Daniel O'Connell
in the Clare by-election, 1828. He was not permitted to take his seat until the following year.
David Salomons
was the first Jewish by-election victor, at the Greenwich by-election, 1851.
Parmjit Singh Gill
became the first Sikh
by-election victor, at the Leicester South by-election, 2004
.
Virendra Sharma
became the first Hindu
by-election victor, at the Ealing Southall by-election, 2007
.
1 Conservative MPs David Davis and Walter Sweeney
and the Sunderland South by-election, 1953.
During the short Parliaments of 1910, 1950-1 and 1974 no seats changed hands in a by-election.
. It did not win a single by-election in the thirteen years between holding the Middlesbrough West by-election, 1945
and gaining Torrington.
Until the Crewe and Nantwich by-election, 2008
, the opposition Conservative Party had not gained a seat in almost 26 years, the last being the Mitcham and Morden by-election, 1982
, which occurred during the unique circumstances of the Falklands War
and the sitting Labour MP defecting to the Social Democratic Party and seeking re-election under his new party label. The Conservatives' last gain while in Opposition was 30 years previously at the Ilford North by-election, 1978
.
Labour's longest lean stretch was almost 18 years, between gaining the Brecon and Radnor by-election, 1939 and the Lewisham North by-election, 1957
.1
Note
1 The Labour Party were the official opposition in the Parliament elected in 1935, but after the major parties agreed an electoral truce on the outbreak of war in 1939, they did not contest any Conservative or Liberal seats for the remainder of the Parliament, a period of six years, and were members of the wartime coalition government between May 1940 and May 1945.
and the Uxbridge by-election, 1997
, losing a record 15 consecutive seats where they were the incumbents. By the time of the by-election in Uxbridge, the victor in Richmond, William Hague
, had become leader of the Conservative Party.
Labour's worst run was in losing 4 by-elections on the trot, which has occurred three times since 1945:
between holding the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central by-election, 1976
and the Grimsby by-election, 1977.
between holding the Manchester Gorton by-election, 1967
and the Sheffield Brightside by-election, 1968
.
between holding the Rhondda West by-election, 1967
and the Manchester Gorton by-election, 1967
.
, the principal opposition Conservative Party failed to register a by-election gain against the incumbent Labour Government. This is the longest period of such failure since records began, and more than twice the previous record of the five years it took the then Labour opposition to gain the Lewisham North by-election, 1957
.
Apart from the brief parliaments of 1910, 1950-1 and 1974, the parliaments of 1951-5 and 1997-2001 are the only occasions when the Government did not lose a by-election.
. The elections had been engineered by the incumbent Unionist parties as a protest against the Anglo-Irish Agreement
of 1985. They intended the results to be interpreted as a referendum on the treaty. The elections were boycotted by the main Nationalist parties except in four seats where they had a reasonable prospect of victory. In the event, the Social Democratic and Labour Party
gained one seat, Newry and Armagh
, from the Ulster Unionist Party
.
Apart from the above example, it is common for UK mainland parties to schedule several by-elections on the same day. Motivations include attempting to divide opponents' resources and getting bad news (expected losses) out of the way. Since 1945, the largest number of simultaneous mainland by-elections has been 6, held on 16 November 1960. On four occasions, 5 by-elections have been held on the same day, most recently on 9 June 1994. Groupings of two or three are very common.
, Dudley
and Meriden
on 28 March 1968, all to the Conservatives.
Occasions since 1945 when two seats have fallen are:
, held on Wednesday 31 May due to a World Cup
opening match on the Thursday evening.
Due to an administrative oversight, the Manchester Exchange by-election, 1973
was held on Wednesday 27 June 1973. Prior to that, the last by-elections not held on a Thursday were the Saffron Walden by-election, 1965 held on Tuesday 23 March, and the Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles by-election, 1965
held the following day.
Until the mid-1960s, it was common to hold by-elections on any day of the week (other than Sunday).
but was cancelled by a dissolution of Parliament on 9 October.
Labour won both the West Bromwich West by-election, 2000
and Glasgow North East by-election, 2009
, regarded as a gain from the contest at the United Kingdom general elections in 1997 and 2005 respectively as those seats had been contested by the then Speakers of the House of Commons, although prior to assuming the Speakership they had both been elected as Labour MPs in safe seats.
Notes:
Notes:
:
Notes
1Excluding the Westminster, St.George's by-election, 1931 and the Paddington South by-election, 1930, which were essentially intra-Conservative contests, the previous worst result was, ironically, the Bromley by-election, 1930
UK Parliamentary by-elections
Parliamentary by-elections in the United Kingdom occur following a vacancy arising in the House of Commons. They are often seen as a test of the rival political parties' fortunes between general elections.-Resignations:...
. A by-election occurs when a 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,...
resigns, dies, or is disqualified or expelled, and an election is held to fill the vacant seat. A constituency is the seat or division that member represented.
Prior to 1945, electoral competition in the United Kingdom exhibited features which make meaningful comparisons with modern results difficult.
Among the most significant were:
- Frequent interventions and withdrawals of parties in different seats.
- Frequent Coalitions between parties, splits within parties and floor-crossing by members.
- Uncontested elections and truces between parties, in particular during both World Wars.
- Generally more significant competition from independent candidates and minor parties.
- Multi-member seats and University seats.
- Higher frequency of by-elections.
- Generally higher turnouts, although several wartime elections exhibited the lowest recorded turnouts.
- Generally higher variation in size of constituency electorates.
Since 1945, the evolution of a stable three-party system has tended to negate each of the above features so that, broadly speaking, elections are more comparable.
In Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, as ever, the pattern of party competition is completely different from that on the mainland and comparisons remain problematic.
Hence, unless otherwise stated records are based on results since the 1945 General Election, and earlier exceptional results are listed separately.
For comparison purposes the following definitions have been adopted.
- Gain - victory by a party which was not victorious at the immediate previous election.
- Loss - defeat of a party which was victorious at the immediate previous election.
- Hold - victory by a party which was victorious at the immediate previous election.
- Win - victory by a party. Ambiguous term that could mean either a gain or a hold.
- Incumbent - the party which held the seat at the immediate previous election, irrespective of any intervening change of candidate or candidate's change of party.
- Third party - In England, since 1922United Kingdom general election, 1922The United Kingdom general election of 1922 was held on 15 November 1922. It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish Free State, and was won by Andrew Bonar Law's Conservatives, who gained an overall majority over Labour, led by John...
, the "third party" has been the Liberal PartyLiberal Party (UK)The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
and its successor, the Liberal DemocratsLiberal DemocratsThe Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
. Additionally, in ScotlandScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and WalesWalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
the Scottish National PartyScottish National PartyThe Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
(SNP) and Plaid CymruPlaid Cymru' is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union. was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966...
are also considered to be third parties. Prior to 1922, the third party was the Labour PartyLabour 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...
. - Minor party - parties smaller than the third party
- Uncontested - an election where only one candidate is put forward. No votes are actually cast and the candidate is by definition the victor.
Numerical records
For more information about what is meant by the term "swing", see Swing (politics)Swing (politics)
An electoral swing analysis shows the extent of change in voter support from one election to another. It is an indicator of voter support for individual candidates or political parties, or voter preference between two or more candidates or parties...
Largest swings
| Election | Swing (%) | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bermondsey by-election, 1983 Bermondsey by-election, 1983 A by-election was held in the Bermondsey constituency in South London, on 24 February 1983, following the resignation of Labour MP Robert Mellish, who had represented the constituency and its predecessors in the House of Commons since 1946... |
44.2 | Labour | Liberal |
| Christchurch by-election, 1993 Christchurch by-election, 1993 A by-election was held in the British House of Commons constituency of Christchurch on 29 July 1993 following the death of sitting Conservative MP Robert Adley.... |
35.4 | Conservative | Liberal Democrat |
| Liverpool Wavertree by-election, 1935 Liverpool Wavertree by-election, 1935 The Liverpool Wavertree by-election, 1935 was a by-election held in England for the House of Commons constituency of Liverpool Wavertree on 6 February 1935. It was won by the Labour Party candidate Joseph Jackson Cleary.- Vacancy :... |
30.0 | Conservative | Labour |
| Dudley West by-election, 1994 Dudley West by-election, 1994 A by-election was held for the British House of Commons constituency of Dudley West on 15 December 1994 following the death of the sitting Conservative Member of Parliament John Blackburn.... |
29.2 | Conservative | Labour |
| Brent East by-election, 2003 Brent East by-election, 2003 The Brent East by-election, 2003 was caused by the death on 18 June 2003 of the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Brent East, Paul Daisley, of the Labour Party.... |
28.9 | Labour | Liberal Democrat |
| Newbury by-election, 1993 Newbury by-election, 1993 The Newbury by-election, in West Berkshire, England, was held on 6 May 1993 after Conservative Member of Parliament Judith Chaplin died, after only being elected the previous year. It was won by David Rendel of the Liberal Democrats with an impressive swing of 28.4%... |
28.4 | Conservative | Liberal Democrat |
| Birmingham Hodge Hill by-election, 2004* | 26.7 | Labour | Liberal Democrat |
| South East Staffordshire by-election, 1996 South East Staffordshire by-election, 1996 A by-election was held for the British House of Commons constituency of South East Staffordshire on 11 April 1996 following the death of sitting Conservative MP Sir David Lincoln Lightbown.The result was a Labour gain from the Conservatives.... |
22.1 | Conservative | Labour |
| Dagenham by-election, 1994 Dagenham by-election, 1994 The Dagenham by-election, in Dagenham, on 9 June 1994 was held after Labour Member of Parliament Bryan Gould resigned the seat. A safe Labour seat, it was won by Judith Church, who would go on to retain the seat in 1997.-Candidates:... |
23.1 | Conservative | Labour |
| Barking by-election, 1994 Barking by-election, 1994 The Barking by-election was held on 9 June 1994, following the death of Labour Party Member of Parliament for Barking Jo Richardson. Richardson had represented the seat since the February 1974 general election, following Tom Driberg.... |
22.0 | Conservative | Labour |
| Glasgow East by-election, 2008 Glasgow East by-election, 2008 The 2008 Glasgow East by-election was a by-election for the UK Parliamentary constituency of Glasgow East which was held on 24 July 2008. The election was triggered when, on 30 June 2008, the sitting MP David Marshall stood down due to ill health.... |
22.6 | Labour | Scottish National Party |
| Walsall North by-election, 1976 Walsall North by-election, 1976 The Walsall North by-election on 4 November 1976 was held after the resignation of sitting Member of Parliament John Stonehouse. Elected as a Labour candidate, Stonehouse was a member of the English National Party when he resigned, after an interlude in which he faked his own death... |
22.6 | Labour | Conservative |
| Dudley by-election, 1968 Dudley by-election, 1968 The Dudley by-election, 1968 was a by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Dudley in Worcestershire on 28 March 1968... |
21.2 | Labour | Conservative |
| Ashfield by-election, 1977 Ashfield by-election, 1977 The Ashfield by-election was held on 28 April 1977 in the Ashfield constituency in the coal mining area of Nottinghamshire, following the resignation of Labour Member of Parliament David Marquand... |
20.9 | Labour | Conservative |
Largest fall in percentage share of vote
A party's share of the vote at a general election is not always matched at subsequent by-elections, but given the five-year maximum term of a Parliament, reductions of 20% or more are unusual. Those of 25% or more are listed below:| Election | Reduction in % share |
Party | Result |
|---|---|
| Merthyr by-election, 1934 Merthyr by-election, 1934 The Merthyr by-election, 1934 was a parliamentary by-election held on 5 June 1934 for the British House of Commons constituency of Merthyr in Wales.... |
59.6 gain |
| East Antrim by-election, 1919 | 52.8 gain |
| Glasgow Camlachie by-election, 1948 Glasgow Camlachie by-election, 1948 The Glasgow Camlachie by-election was held on 28 January 1948, following the death of Member of Parliament for Glasgow Camlachie Campbell Stephen.... |
51.3 gain |
| Southwark South East by-election, 1921 Southwark South East by-election, 1921 The Southwark South East by-election, 1921 was a parliamentary by-election held on 14 December 1921 for the British House of Commons constituency of Southwark South East, in the Metropolitan Borough of Southwark in London.... |
49.7 gain |
| Westminster St George's by-election, 1921 | 47.7 gain |
| Liverpool Wavertree by-election, 1935 Liverpool Wavertree by-election, 1935 The Liverpool Wavertree by-election, 1935 was a by-election held in England for the House of Commons constituency of Liverpool Wavertree on 6 February 1935. It was won by the Labour Party candidate Joseph Jackson Cleary.- Vacancy :... |
46.7 gain |
| Bermondsey by-election, 1983 Bermondsey by-election, 1983 A by-election was held in the Bermondsey constituency in South London, on 24 February 1983, following the resignation of Labour MP Robert Mellish, who had represented the constituency and its predecessors in the House of Commons since 1946... |
37.5 gain |
| Birmingham Ladywood by-election, 1969 Birmingham Ladywood by-election, 1969 The Birmingham Ladywood by-election, in Birmingham, on 26 June 1969 was held after Labour Member of Parliament Victor Yates died on 19 January the same year. Although the seat had been Labour-held since 1945 it was captured by the Liberals in a defeat for Harold Wilson's government.-Campaign:In... |
33.4 gain |
| Christchurch by-election, 1993 Christchurch by-election, 1993 A by-election was held in the British House of Commons constituency of Christchurch on 29 July 1993 following the death of sitting Conservative MP Robert Adley.... |
32.5 gain |
| Glasgow Bridgeton by-election, 1946 Glasgow Bridgeton by-election, 1946 The Glasgow Bridgeton by-election was held on 29 August 1946, following the death of Independent Labour Party Member of Parliament for Glasgow Bridgeton, James Maxton.The constituency had been held by Maxton since the 1922 UK general election... |
32.1 hold |
| Rochdale by-election, 1958 Rochdale by-election, 1958 The Rochdale by-election of 13 February 1958 was a by-election for the constituency of Rochdale, in Lancashire, England, in the House of Commons... |
31.7 gain |
| Dudley West by-election, 1994 Dudley West by-election, 1994 A by-election was held for the British House of Commons constituency of Dudley West on 15 December 1994 following the death of the sitting Conservative Member of Parliament John Blackburn.... |
30.2 gain |
| North Down by-election, 1995 North Down by-election, 1995 The North Down by-election, in the North Down constituency, was held on 15 June 1995, following the death of James Kilfedder, who had represented the constituency since the 1970 general election... |
29.9 gain from Popular Unionist Ulster Popular Unionist Party The Ulster Popular Unionist Party was a unionist political party in Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1980 by James Kilfedder, independent Unionist Member of Parliament for North Down, who led the party until his death in 1995.... |
| Hamilton by-election, 1967 Hamilton by-election, 1967 The Hamilton by-election, in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, which took place on the 2nd of November 1967, was a milestone in the politics of Scotland... |
29.7 gain |
| Birmingham Hodge Hill by-election, 2004 | 29.6 hold |
| Paisley by-election, 1961 Paisley by-election, 1961 The Paisley by-election, 1961 was a parliamentary by-election held on 20 April 1961 for the British House of Commons constituency of Paisley in Scotland.... |
29.5 hold |
| Brent East by-election, 2003 Brent East by-election, 2003 The Brent East by-election, 2003 was caused by the death on 18 June 2003 of the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Brent East, Paul Daisley, of the Labour Party.... |
29.4 gain |
| Newbury by-election, 1993 Newbury by-election, 1993 The Newbury by-election, in West Berkshire, England, was held on 6 May 1993 after Conservative Member of Parliament Judith Chaplin died, after only being elected the previous year. It was won by David Rendel of the Liberal Democrats with an impressive swing of 28.4%... |
29.0 gain |
| Caerphilly by-election, 1968 Caerphilly by-election, 1968 The Caerphilly by-election of 15 June 1968 was held after the death of Labour MP Ness Edwards:The seat was very safe, having been won by Labour at the United Kingdom general election, 1966 by over 21,000 votes-Candidates:... |
28.7 hold |
| Hamilton South by-election, 1999 Hamilton South by-election, 1999 On August 4, 1999 NATO announced that the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Hamilton South, in Scotland, the Rt. Hon. George Robertson, had been chosen as its new Secretary-General. This meant that Robertson was required to resign his seat which he had won as a Labour candidate in the... |
28.7 hold |
| West Lothian by-election, 1962 West Lothian by-election, 1962 The West Lothian by-election, 1962 was a British parliamentary by-election held in the West Lothian constituency in Scotland on 14 June 1962, caused by the death of John Taylor... |
28.3 hold |
| Torrington by-election, 1958 Torrington by-election, 1958 The Torrington by-election of 1958, in Devon, England, was the first gain by the British Liberal Party at a by-election since Holland with Boston in 1929.... |
27.7 gain |
| Oldham West by-election, 1968 Oldham West by-election, 1968 The Oldham West by-election for the British House of Commons took place on 13 June 1968, at a time when the Labour government of Harold Wilson was deeply unpopular. The election was caused by the resignation of Labour Member of Parliament Charles Leslie Hale for reasons of ill health... |
27.6 gain |
| Norwich North by-election, 2009 Norwich North by-election, 2009 The 2009 Norwich North by-election was a by-election for the United Kingdom Parliament's House of Commons constituency of Norwich North. The by-election took place due to the resignation of Ian Gibson after being banned from standing as a Labour candidate for the next general election... |
26.7 gain |
| Glasgow Gorbals by-election, 1948 | 25.5 hold |
| West Derbyshire by-election, 1962 | 25.2 hold |
Worst results for other parties:
| Party | By-election | Reduction in % share |
Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Socialist Labour Party Socialist Labour Party (UK) The Socialist Labour Party is a far left socialist political party in the United Kingdom. The party is led by former trade union leader Arthur Scargill, who established it in 1996 as a breakaway from the Labour Party... |
Glasgow North East by-election, 2009 Glasgow North East by-election, 2009 The 2009 Glasgow North East by-election was a by-election for the Parliament of the United Kingdom's House of Commons constituency of Glasgow North East. The by-election was held on 12 November 2009 following the resignation of Michael Martin as an MP and as Speaker of the British House of Commons... |
14.0 | Labour gain from Speaker |
| Ulster Unionist Ulster Unionist Party The Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland... |
Belfast South by-election, 1982 Belfast South by-election, 1982 The Belfast South by-election was held on 4 March 1982 following the death of Robert Bradford, Ulster Unionist Party Member of Parliament for Belfast South.... |
22.4 | Ulster Unionist hold |
| Liberal Liberal Party (UK) The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day... |
Clitheroe by-election, 1979 Clitheroe by-election, 1979 The Clitheroe by-election, 1979 was a by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Clitheroe in Lancashire on 1 March 1979. It was won by the Conservative Party candidate David Waddington.- Vacancy :... |
14.2 | Conservative hold |
| Scottish National Scottish National Party The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom.... |
Kinross and West Perthshire by-election, 1963 Kinross and West Perthshire by-election, 1963 The Kinross and West Perthshire by-election of 7 November 1963 was a by-election to the House of Commons. It was unique among by-elections since 1918 in that one of the candidates was the sitting Prime Minister, Sir Alec Douglas-Home; he had been nominated for the constituency after disclaiming a... |
07.7 | Conservative hold |
| Plaid Cymru Plaid Cymru ' is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union. was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966... |
Swansea East by-election, 1963 Swansea East by-election, 1963 The Swansea East by-election, 1963 was a parliamentary by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Swansea East on 28 March 1963.... |
05.3 | Labour hold |
Largest increase in percentage share of vote
| Election | Increase in Share | Party | Result |
|---|---|
| Bermondsey by-election, 1983 Bermondsey by-election, 1983 A by-election was held in the Bermondsey constituency in South London, on 24 February 1983, following the resignation of Labour MP Robert Mellish, who had represented the constituency and its predecessors in the House of Commons since 1946... |
50.9 gain |
| Paisley by-election, 1961 Paisley by-election, 1961 The Paisley by-election, 1961 was a parliamentary by-election held on 20 April 1961 for the British House of Commons constituency of Paisley in Scotland.... |
41.4 hold |
| Christchurch by-election, 1993 Christchurch by-election, 1993 A by-election was held in the British House of Commons constituency of Christchurch on 29 July 1993 following the death of sitting Conservative MP Robert Adley.... |
38.6 gain |
| Glasgow Govan by-election, 1988 Glasgow Govan by-election, 1988 The Glasgow Govan by-election, in the British House of Commons constituency of Glasgow Govan, Scotland, was held on 10 November 1988. It was caused by the resignation of Bruce Millan as Member of Parliament for the constituency.... |
38.4 gain |
| Liverpool Edge Hill by-election, 1979 Liverpool Edge Hill by-election, 1979 The Liverpool Edge Hill by-election of 1979 was a parliamentary by-election held in England on 29 March 1979 to elect a new Member of Parliament for the House of Commons constituency of Liverpool Edge Hill.... |
36.8 gain |
| Glasgow Govan by-election, 1973 Glasgow Govan by-election, 1973 The Glasgow Govan by-election was held on 8 November 1973, following the death of John Rankin, Labour Party Member of Parliament for the Glasgow Govan constituency. Rankin had died one month earlier, on 8 October 1973. Rankin had held the seat since 1955. With the exception of a narrow Conservative... |
31.6 gain |
| Southwark South East by-election, 1921 Southwark South East by-election, 1921 The Southwark South East by-election, 1921 was a parliamentary by-election held on 14 December 1921 for the British House of Commons constituency of Southwark South East, in the Metropolitan Borough of Southwark in London.... |
29.6 gain |
| Croydon North West by-election, 1981 Croydon North West by-election, 1981 The Croydon North West by-election took place on 22 October 1981. It was caused by the death of Conservative Member of Parliament Robert Taylor on 18 June 1981.The Conservative Party selected John Butterfill, then vice-chairman of Guildford Conservative Association... |
29.5 gain |
| Caerphilly by-election, 1968 Caerphilly by-election, 1968 The Caerphilly by-election of 15 June 1968 was held after the death of Labour MP Ness Edwards:The seat was very safe, having been won by Labour at the United Kingdom general election, 1966 by over 21,000 votes-Candidates:... |
29.3 hold |
| Brent East by-election, 2003 Brent East by-election, 2003 The Brent East by-election, 2003 was caused by the death on 18 June 2003 of the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Brent East, Paul Daisley, of the Labour Party.... |
28.5 gain |
| Dudley West by-election, 1994 Dudley West by-election, 1994 A by-election was held for the British House of Commons constituency of Dudley West on 15 December 1994 following the death of the sitting Conservative Member of Parliament John Blackburn.... |
28.0 gain |
| Greenwich by-election, 1987 Greenwich by-election, 1987 The Greenwich by-election of 1987 was a closely fought by-election often credited with boosting the SDP-Liberal Alliance shortly before the 1987 general election... |
27.9 gain |
| Merthyr Tydfil by-election, 1972 Merthyr Tydfil by-election, 1972 The Merthyr Tydfil by-election of 13 April 1972 was held after the death of S. O. Davies on 25 February the same year. The Labour Party won the by-election in what had traditionally been a safe seat, although Davies had been elected in the 1970 general election as an Independent after he had been... |
27.4 hold |
| Carmarthen by-election, 1966 Carmarthen by-election, 1966 The Carmarthen by-election, was held in Carmarthen, Wales on 14 July 1966. The contest was significant in that it resulted in the election of Gwynfor Evans, the first ever Plaid Cymru Member of Parliament... |
27.4 gain |
| Ribble Valley by-election, 1991 Ribble Valley by-election, 1991 The Ribble Valley by-election, in Lancashire, England, was called in 1991 following the elevation of United Kingdom MP David Waddington to the House of Lords.... |
27.1 gain |
| Monklands East by-election, 1994 Monklands East by-election, 1994 The Monklands East by-election was held on 30 June 1994, following the death of the Leader of the Labour Party John Smith, Member of Parliament for Monklands East in Scotland, on 12 May.... |
26.9 hold |
| Birmingham Hodge Hill by-election, 2004 | 26.1 hold |
| Glasgow East by-election, 2008 Glasgow East by-election, 2008 The 2008 Glasgow East by-election was a by-election for the UK Parliamentary constituency of Glasgow East which was held on 24 July 2008. The election was triggered when, on 30 June 2008, the sitting MP David Marshall stood down due to ill health.... |
26.1 gain |
| Liverpool Wavertree by-election, 1931 Liverpool Wavertree by-election, 1931 The Liverpool Wavertree by-election, 1931 was a parliamentary by-election held in England for the House of Commons constituency of Liverpool Wavertree on 23 June 1931. It was won by the Conservative Party candidate Ronald Nall-Cain.- Vacancy :... |
25.0 hold |
| Mid Staffordshire by-election, 1990 Mid Staffordshire by-election, 1990 The Mid Staffordshire constituency of the United Kingdom Parliament held a by-election on 22 March 1990. The result was the election of Labour candidate Sylvia Heal to succeed the previous Conservative Member of Parliament John Heddle, who had precipitated the byelection by committing... |
24.3 gain |
| Haltemprice and Howden by-election, 2008 Haltemprice and Howden by-election, 2008 The 2008 Haltemprice and Howden by-election was a by-election held in the United Kingdom on 10 July 2008 to elect a new Member of Parliament for constituency of Haltemprice and Howden... |
24.1 hold |
| Bristol West by-election, 1951 | 22.5 hold |
| South East Staffordshire by-election, 1996 South East Staffordshire by-election, 1996 A by-election was held for the British House of Commons constituency of South East Staffordshire on 11 April 1996 following the death of sitting Conservative MP Sir David Lincoln Lightbown.The result was a Labour gain from the Conservatives.... |
22.0 gain |
| Eastbourne by-election, 1990 Eastbourne by-election, 1990 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.... |
21.1 gain |
| Walthamstow East by-election, 1969 Walthamstow East by-election, 1969 The Walthamstow East by-election of 27 March 1969 was held following the death of Labour Member of Parliament William Robinson. The seat was won by the opposition Conservative Party.-Results:... |
20.8 hold |
| Ashfield by-election, 1977 Ashfield by-election, 1977 The Ashfield by-election was held on 28 April 1977 in the Ashfield constituency in the coal mining area of Nottinghamshire, following the resignation of Labour Member of Parliament David Marquand... |
20.8 hold |
| Fermanagh and South Tyrone by-election, April 1981 | 20.8 gain |
| Barking by-election, 1994 Barking by-election, 1994 The Barking by-election was held on 9 June 1994, following the death of Labour Party Member of Parliament for Barking Jo Richardson. Richardson had represented the seat since the February 1974 general election, following Tom Driberg.... |
20.5 hold |
| Glasgow Central by-election, 1989 Glasgow Central by-election, 1989 The Glasgow Central by-election, in the Glasgow Central constituency, Scotland, was held on 15 June 1989. It was caused by the death of the sitting Member of Parliament for the constituency, Robert McTaggart.... |
20.3 hold |
| Pontypridd by-election, 1989 Pontypridd by-election, 1989 The Pontypridd by-election, 1989 was a by-election held in Wales on 23 February 1989 for the House of Commons constituency of Pontypridd in Mid Glamorgan.... |
20.0 hold |
If seats in which the nationalist party had not stood in the general election are included, the best results are:
- 51.4% at the Motherwell by-election, 1945Motherwell by-election, 1945The Motherwell by-election was held on 12 April 1945, following the death of Labour Party Member of Parliament for Motherwell James Walker.The by-election took place during the Second World War during unusual political conditions...
, gained by the Scottish National Party. - 43.2% at the Paisley by-election, 1948Paisley by-election, 1948The Paisley by-election, 1948 was a parliamentary by-election held on 18 February 1948 for the British House of Commons constituency of Paisley in Scotland....
, held by Labour.
Largest winning share of the vote
| Candidate | Party | Election | Votes | % Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ernest Everard Gates |
Middleton and Prestwich by-election, 1940 Middleton and Prestwich by-election, 1940 The Middleton and Prestwich by-election, 1940 was held for the Middleton and Prestwich constituency on 22 May 1940.The by-election was held during World War II, and the five largest political parties – Conservative, Labour, Liberal, National Labour and National Liberal – were all members of the... |
32,036 | 98.7 |
| Ian Paisley Ian Paisley Ian Richard Kyle Paisley, Baron Bannside, PC is a politician and church minister in Northern Ireland. As the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party , he and Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness were elected First Minister and deputy First Minister respectively on 8 May 2007.In addition to co-founding... |
North Antrim by-election, 1986 | 33,937 | 97.4 |
| John Craik-Henderson John Craik-Henderson Professor John James Craik-Henderson was a British Conservative Party politician.Henderson was elected to the House of Commons at a by-election in March 1940, as Member of Parliament for Leeds North East... |
Leeds North East by-election, 1940 Leeds North East by-election, 1940 The Leeds North East by-election, 1940 was a parliamentary by-election held in England on 13 March 1940 to elect a new Member of Parliament for the House of Commons constituency of Leeds North East.... |
23,882 | 97.1 |
| James Milner James Milner Milner was described as a "first class" student at his school; he left with 11 GCSEs and an award for his performance in physical education. Milner also showed talent in cricket, sprinting and long-distance running... |
Leeds South East by-election, 1929 | 11,804 | 95.8 |
| John Mackintosh McLeod |
Glasgow Central by-election, 1915 | 5,341 | 95.3 |
| John Taylor John Taylor, Baron Kilclooney John David Taylor, Baron Kilclooney, PC , is a former Ulster Unionist Party MP and a life peer. He was deputy leader of the UUP from 1995 to 2001, and a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly.-Career and family:... |
Strangford by-election, 1986 | 32,627 | 94.2 |
| Clifford Forsythe Clifford Forsythe Clifford Forsythe was a Northern Ireland Ulster Unionist Party politician. He served as Member of Parliament for South Antrim from 1983 to his death. He had previously been Mayor of Newtownabbey Borough Council, and was also a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly from 1982 to 1986... |
South Antrim by-election, 1986 | 30,087 | 94.1 |
Lowest winning share of the vote
Winning shares of the vote below 35%, since 1918:| Candidate | Party | Election | Votes | % Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Strauss |
Combined English Universities by-election, 1946 Combined English Universities by-election, 1946 The Combined English Universities by-election, 1946 was a parliamentary by-election held on 18 March 1946 for the British House of Commons constituency of Combined English Universities.... |
5,483 | 30.0 |
| Edward Taswell Campbell |
Bromley by-election, 1930 Bromley by-election, 1930 The Bromley by-election, 1930 was a parliamentary by-election held on 2 September 1930 for the British House of Commons constituency of Bromley in north-west Kent.... |
12,782 | 32.4 |
| George Machin George Machin George Machin was a British Labour Party politician, engineering inspector and shop steward.Machin was a native of Sheffield and attended Marlcliffe School there. During the second World War he served in the Royal Air Force; when it ended he became an engineering inspector and active in the trade... |
Dundee East by-election, 1973 Dundee East by-election, 1973 There was a by-election for Dundee East, in Scotland, on March 1st, 1973. It was one of three UK parliamentary by-elections held on that day.It was caused by the appointment of George Thomson as a European commissioner.... |
14,411 | 32.7 |
| Roy Jenkins Roy Jenkins Roy Harris Jenkins, Baron Jenkins of Hillhead OM, PC was a British politician.The son of a Welsh coal miner who later became a union official and Labour MP, Roy Jenkins served with distinction in World War II. Elected to Parliament as a Labour member in 1948, he served in several major posts in... |
Glasgow Hillhead by-election, 1982 Glasgow Hillhead by-election, 1982 A Glasgow Hillhead by-election was held on 25 March 1982. The by-election was caused by the death of the Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Glasgow Hillhead Tam Galbraith on 2 January 1982.... |
10,106 | 33.4 |
| Guy Barnett Guy Barnett (UK politician) Nicolas Guy Barnett was a British Labour Party politician and Member of Parliament.-Education and teaching and development work:... |
South Dorset by-election, 1962 South Dorset by-election, 1962 The South Dorset by-election, 1962 occurred following the death of George Montagu, 9th Earl of Sandwich on 15 June 1962. His son Viscount Hinchingbrooke, the incumbent MP for the constituency of South Dorset, was subsequently elevated to the peerage becoming the 10th Earl of Sandwich... |
13,783 | 33.5 |
| James Carmichael |
Glasgow Bridgeton by-election, 1946 Glasgow Bridgeton by-election, 1946 The Glasgow Bridgeton by-election was held on 29 August 1946, following the death of Independent Labour Party Member of Parliament for Glasgow Bridgeton, James Maxton.The constituency had been held by Maxton since the 1922 UK general election... |
6,351 | 34.3 |
| Leah Manning Leah Manning Dame Elizabeth Leah Manning DBE was a British educationalist, social reformer, and Labour Member of Parliament in the 1930s and 1940s... |
Islington East by-election, 1931 Islington East by-election, 1931 The Islington East by-election, 1931 was a parliamentary by-election held on 19th February 1931 for the British House of Commons constituency of Islington East in Islington, North London.... |
10,591 | 34.7 |
| Kenneth Lindsay Kenneth Lindsay Kenneth Martin Lindsay was a Labour Party politician on the United Kingdom who joined the breakaway National Labour group.... |
Kilmarnock by-election, 1933 Kilmarnock by-election, 1933 The Kilmarnock by-election, 1933 was a by-election held on 2 November 1933 for the British House of Commons constituency of Kilmarnock in Ayrshire.- Vacancy :... |
12,577 | 34.8 |
| Parmjit Singh Gill Parmjit Singh Gill Parmjit Singh Gill is a British Liberal Democrat politician. As Member of Parliament for Leicester South from 2004 to 2005, he is the only ever ethnic-minority Liberal Democrat MP.... |
Leicester South by-election, 2004 Leicester South by-election, 2004 A by-election was held in Leicester South on 15 July, the same day as the Birmingham Hodge Hill by-election. It was won by Parmjit Singh Gill of the Liberal Democrats, over-turning a Labour majority of 13,243 votes at the 2001 General Election.... |
10,274 | 34.9 |
The Stockport by-election, 1920
Stockport by-election, 1920
The Stockport by-election, 1920 was a parliamentary by-election held on 27 March 1920 for the constituency of Stockport, in Cheshire.It followed the death of Spencer Leigh Hughes and resignation of George Wardle, the two Members of Parliament for Stockport. With the departure of both MPs, a...
, was held to elect two MPs. The winners' shares of the total vote were 25.6% and 25.1%. However, as each voter could cast two votes, the situation is not readily comparable to other by-elections in this period.
At the Sheffield Attercliffe by-election, 1909
Sheffield Attercliffe by-election, 1909
A by-election was held for the British House of Commons constituency of Sheffield Attercliffe on 4 May 1909.-Background:The election was caused by the resignation of J. Batty Langley, due to long-term ill health. He had been the Liberal Party Member of Parliament for the seat since an 1894...
, the winning candidate took only 27.5% of the vote.
Major parties
Major parties winning 2% or less share of votes cast in a by-election, since 1918:| Candidate | Party | Election | Votes | % Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roger Goodfellow |
Glasgow Camlachie by-election, 1948 Glasgow Camlachie by-election, 1948 The Glasgow Camlachie by-election was held on 28 January 1948, following the death of Member of Parliament for Glasgow Camlachie Campbell Stephen.... |
312 | 1.2 |
| John Scott Duckers |
Westminster Abbey by-election, 1924 Westminster Abbey by-election, 1924 The Westminster Abbey by-election, 1924 was a parliamentary by-election held on 19 March 1924 for the British House of Commons constituency of Westminster Abbey in London. The seat had become vacant when the Conservative Member of Parliament John Nicholson had died on 21 February 1924. Nicholson... |
291 | 1.3 |
| Robert McCreadie |
Glasgow Central by-election, 1989 Glasgow Central by-election, 1989 The Glasgow Central by-election, in the Glasgow Central constituency, Scotland, was held on 15 June 1989. It was caused by the death of the sitting Member of Parliament for the constituency, Robert McTaggart.... |
411 | 1.6 |
| Patrick Davies |
Winchester by-election, 1997 Winchester by-election, 1997 The 1997 Winchester by-election was a by-election to the UK House of Commons in the constituency of Winchester, Hampshire. After an unclear result in Winchester at the general election on 1 May 1997, a new election was allowed by the High Court... |
944 | 1.7 |
| Ian Miller |
Glasgow Pollok by-election, 1967 Glasgow Pollok by-election, 1967 The Glasgow Pollok by-election of 16 December 1966 was held after the death of Labour MP Alex Carrow:The seat was marginal, having been won by Labour at the United Kingdom general election, 1966 by under 2,000 votes-Candidates:... |
735 | 1.9 |
| Steve Billcliffe |
Newbury by-election, 1993 Newbury by-election, 1993 The Newbury by-election, in West Berkshire, England, was held on 6 May 1993 after Conservative Member of Parliament Judith Chaplin died, after only being elected the previous year. It was won by David Rendel of the Liberal Democrats with an impressive swing of 28.4%... |
1,151 | 2.0 |
The worst Conservative performance was in the North Down by-election, 1995
North Down by-election, 1995
The North Down by-election, in the North Down constituency, was held on 15 June 1995, following the death of James Kilfedder, who had represented the constituency since the 1970 general election...
, where they took 2.1% of the votes cast.
Candidates winning fewer than ten votes
- Since 1918:1
| Votes | Name | Affiliation | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Bill Boaks Bill Boaks Lieutenant Commander William George Boaks DSC was a British Royal Navy officer who became an eccentric political campaigner for road safety. He died at the age of 81 as a result of a road traffic accident... |
Public Safety Democratic Monarchist White Resident | Glasgow Hillhead by-election, 1982 Glasgow Hillhead by-election, 1982 A Glasgow Hillhead by-election was held on 25 March 1982. The by-election was caused by the death of the Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Glasgow Hillhead Tam Galbraith on 2 January 1982.... |
| 5 | Kailash Trivedi | Independent Janata Party | Kensington by-election, 1988 Kensington by-election, 1988 The Kensington by-election, in Kensington, on 14 July 1988 was held after the death of Conservative Member of Parliament Brandon Rhys-Williams... |
| 7 | John Connell | Peace - stop ITN manipulation | Chesterfield by-election, 1984 Chesterfield by-election, 1984 The Chesterfield by-election, 1984 was held on 1 March 1984 for a seat in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom to represent Chesterfield in Derbyshire... |
| 8 | Esmond Bevan | Systems Designer2 | Bermondsey by-election, 1983 Bermondsey by-election, 1983 A by-election was held in the Bermondsey constituency in South London, on 24 February 1983, following the resignation of Labour MP Robert Mellish, who had represented the constituency and its predecessors in the House of Commons since 1946... |
| 8 | Tony Farnon | Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... |
Haltemprice and Howden by-election, 2008 Haltemprice and Howden by-election, 2008 The 2008 Haltemprice and Howden by-election was a by-election held in the United Kingdom on 10 July 2008 to elect a new Member of Parliament for constituency of Haltemprice and Howden... |
| 8 | Norman Scarth Norman Scarth Norman Scarth is a British World War II veteran, political candidate, former farmer, and blogger. He has stood for Parliament three times, and has been involved in several legal cases.-Military service:... |
Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... |
Haltemprice and Howden by-election, 2008 Haltemprice and Howden by-election, 2008 The 2008 Haltemprice and Howden by-election was a by-election held in the United Kingdom on 10 July 2008 to elect a new Member of Parliament for constituency of Haltemprice and Howden... |
- 1 F. R. Lees, a TemperanceTemperance movementA temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
ChartistChartismChartism was a movement for political and social reform in the United Kingdom during the mid-19th century, between 1838 and 1859. It takes its name from the People's Charter of 1838. Chartism was possibly the first mass working class labour movement in the world...
, won no votes in the Ripon by-election, 1860, as his supporters mistakenly believed that he had withdrawn. - 2 Bevan made a mistake when filling out his nomination paper and put his occupation ("Systems Designer") in the space labelled 'description' which was then printed on the ballot paper. He was an independent candidate.
Smallest majorities
All majorities of less than 1,000 since the Second World War. Bold entries indicate a new record.| Votes | Election | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 57 | Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1973 Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1973 The Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1973 was a parliamentary by-election held on 8 November 1973 for the British House of Commons constituency of Berwick-upon-Tweed. It was one of four UK by-elections held on the same day.... |
Gained by the Liberal Party |
| 62 | Walthamstow West by-election, 1967 Walthamstow West by-election, 1967 The Walthamstow West by-election of 21 September 1967 was held after the death of Labour Member of Parliament Ted Redhead on 15 April of that year. The seat was gained by the Conservative Party by just 62 votes.-Results:... |
Gained by the Conservatives |
| 100 | West Derbyshire by-election, 1986 West Derbyshire by-election, 1986 The 1986 Derbyshire West by-election was held on 8 May 1986 when the sitting Conservative Party Member of Parliament, Matthew Parris, took the Chiltern Hundreds and resigned, in order to become the presenter of Weekend World for ITV.... |
Held by the Conservatives |
| 205 | Leyton by-election, 1965 Leyton by-election, 1965 The Leyton by-election, 1965 was a parliamentary by-election held on 21 January 1965 for the British House of Commons constituency of Leyton in east London.... |
Gained by the Conservatives |
| 219 | Torrington by-election, 1958 Torrington by-election, 1958 The Torrington by-election of 1958, in Devon, England, was the first gain by the British Liberal Party at a by-election since Holland with Boston in 1929.... |
Gained by the Liberals |
| 220 | Central Norfolk by-election, 1962 | Held by the Conservatives |
| 264 | Ashfield by-election, 1977 Ashfield by-election, 1977 The Ashfield by-election was held on 28 April 1977 in the Ashfield constituency in the coal mining area of Nottinghamshire, following the resignation of Labour Member of Parliament David Marquand... |
Gained by the Conservatives |
| 289 | Birmingham Northfield by-election, 1982 Birmingham Northfield by-election, 1982 The Birmingham, Northfield by-election of 28 October 1982 was held after the death of Conservative Member of Parliament Jocelyn Cadbury on 31 July 1982... |
Gained by Labour |
| 293 | West Dumbartonshire by-election, 1950 | Held by Labour |
| 359 | Combined English Universities by-election, 1946 Combined English Universities by-election, 1946 The Combined English Universities by-election, 1946 was a parliamentary by-election held on 18 March 1946 for the British House of Commons constituency of Combined English Universities.... |
Gained by the Conservatives |
| 365 | Glasgow East by-election, 2008 Glasgow East by-election, 2008 The 2008 Glasgow East by-election was a by-election for the UK Parliamentary constituency of Glasgow East which was held on 24 July 2008. The election was triggered when, on 30 June 2008, the sitting MP David Marshall stood down due to ill health.... |
Gained by the SNP |
| 395 | Glasgow Camlachie by-election, 1948 Glasgow Camlachie by-election, 1948 The Glasgow Camlachie by-election was held on 28 January 1948, following the death of Member of Parliament for Glasgow Camlachie Campbell Stephen.... |
Gained by the Conservatives |
| 430 | Southend East by-election, 1980 Southend East by-election, 1980 The Southend East by-election of 13 March 1980 was held after the death of Conservative Member of Parliament Stephen McAdden on 26 December 1979. The seat was narrowly held by the Tories in the by-election.-Results:... |
Held by the Conservatives |
| 437 | Brighouse and Spenborough by-election, 1950 Brighouse and Spenborough by-election, 1950 A by-election was held for the British House of Commons in the marginal constituency of Brighouse and Spenborough on 4 May 1950. The seat became vacant following the death of Member of Parliament Frederick Arthur Cobb.... |
Held by Labour |
| 452 | Heywood and Radcliffe by-election, 1946 | Held by Labour |
| 460 | Birmingham Hodge Hill by-election, 2004 | Held by Labour |
| 478 | Swindon by-election, 1969 Swindon by-election, 1969 The Swindon by-election of 3 October 1969 was held after Labour Member of Parliament Francis Noel-Baker resigned from the House of Commons. The seat was won by the Conservative Party in a defeat for Harold Wilson's government.-Results:... |
Gained by the Conservatives |
| 517 | Paddington North by-election, 1969 Paddington North by-election, 1969 The Paddington North by-election, 1969 was a by-election to the British House of Commons for the constituency of Paddington North. It was necessitated by the death of sitting MP Ben Parkin... |
Held by Labour |
| 520 | Grimsby by-election, 1977 | Held by Labour |
| 552 | Penrith and The Border by-election, 1983 Penrith and The Border by-election, 1983 The Penrith and The Border by-election, 1983 was a parliamentary by-election held on 28 July 1983 for the British House of Commons constituency of Penrith and The Border in Cumbria.... |
Held by the Conservatives |
| 556 | Hamilton South by-election, 1999 Hamilton South by-election, 1999 On August 4, 1999 NATO announced that the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Hamilton South, in Scotland, the Rt. Hon. George Robertson, had been chosen as its new Secretary-General. This meant that Robertson was required to resign his seat which he had won as a Labour candidate in the... |
Held by Labour |
| 557 | Manchester Gorton by-election, 1967 Manchester Gorton by-election, 1967 The Manchester Gorton by-election of 2 November 1967 was held after the death of Labour MP Konni Zilliacus:The seat was safe, having been won by Labour at the United Kingdom general election, 1966 by over 8,000 votes/.-Candidates:... |
Held by Labour |
| 559 | Brecon and Radnor by-election, 1985 Brecon and Radnor by-election, 1985 The Brecon and Radnor by-election, 1985 was a parliamentary by-election held on 4 July 1985 for the British House of Commons constituency of Brecon and Radnor .- Previous MP :The seat had become vacant on 9 May 1985, when the constituency's Conservative Member of Parliament ,... |
Gained by the Liberal Party |
| 571 | Glasgow Govan by-election, 1973 Glasgow Govan by-election, 1973 The Glasgow Govan by-election was held on 8 November 1973, following the death of John Rankin, Labour Party Member of Parliament for the Glasgow Govan constituency. Rankin had died one month earlier, on 8 October 1973. Rankin had held the seat since 1955. With the exception of a narrow Conservative... |
Gained by the SNP |
| 633 | Bromley and Chislehurst by-election, 2006 Bromley and Chislehurst by-election, 2006 A by-election was held in the UK parliament constituency of Bromley and Chislehurst in London, following the death of Conservative Member of Parliament Eric Forth on 17 May 2006. The writ for the electing of a new member was issued on 6 June for a polling day of 29 June 2006, the same day as the... |
Held by the Conservatives |
| 641 | Bolton East by-election, 1960 Bolton East by-election, 1960 The Bolton East by-election, 1960 was a by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Bolton East in Lancashire on 16 November 1960. It was won by the Conservative Party candidate Edwin Taylor.- Vacancy :... |
Held by the Conservatives |
| 657 | Taunton by-election, 1956 | Held by the Conservatives |
| 666 | Brighouse and Spenborough by-election, 1960 Brighouse and Spenborough by-election, 1960 A by-election was held for the British House of Commons constituency of Brighouse and Spenborough on 17th March 1960. The seat became vacant following the death on 23 November 1959 of the Labour Party Member of Parliament Lewis John Edwards, who had held the seat since a by-election in 1950, but... |
Gained by the Conservatives |
| 704 | South Dorset by-election, 1962 South Dorset by-election, 1962 The South Dorset by-election, 1962 occurred following the death of George Montagu, 9th Earl of Sandwich on 15 June 1962. His son Viscount Hinchingbrooke, the incumbent MP for the constituency of South Dorset, was subsequently elevated to the peerage becoming the 10th Earl of Sandwich... |
Gained by Labour |
| 705 | Falkirk West by-election, 2000 Falkirk West by-election, 2000 The Falkirk West by-election, 2000 was a parliamentary by-election held on 21 December 2000 for the Scottish constituency of Falkirk West.The vacancy was caused the resignation from the House of Commons of Dennis Canavan, the Member of Parliament for Falkirk West... |
Held by Labour |
| 740 | Bassetlaw by-election, 1968 Bassetlaw by-election, 1968 The Bassetlaw by-election, 1968 was a parliamentary by-election for the constituency of Bassetlaw held on 31 October 1968. It was caused by the death of the former Labour Member of Parliament, Fred Bellenger.... |
Held by Labour |
| 799 | Newcastle-under-Lyme by-election, 1986 Newcastle-under-Lyme by-election, 1986 The Newcastle-under-Lyme by-election, 1986 was a parliamentary by-election held on 17 July 1986 for the British House of Commons constituency of Newcastle-under-Lyme.- Previous MP :... |
Held by Labour |
| 806 | Mid Ulster by-election, 1955 Mid Ulster by-election, 1955 The by-election held in Mid Ulster on 11 August 1955 was called as a result of a vote in the British parliament on 18 July 1955 which voted 197 votes to 63 to nullify the result of the previous 1955 UK General Election in the constituency... |
Held by Sinn Féin |
| 815 | Kensington by-election, 1988 Kensington by-election, 1988 The Kensington by-election, in Kensington, on 14 July 1988 was held after the death of Conservative Member of Parliament Brandon Rhys-Williams... |
Held by the Conservatives |
| 822 | South Antrim by-election, 2000 South Antrim by-election, 2000 Clifford Forsythe, the Ulster Unionist Member of Parliament for South Antrim, died on April 27, 2000, precipitating a by-election.-Candidates:... |
Gained by the DUP |
| 865 | South Norfolk by-election, 1955 South Norfolk by-election, 1955 The South Norfolk by-election, 1955 was a by-election held on 13th January 1955 for the British House of Commons constituency of South Norfolk.... |
Held by the Conservatives |
| 913 | Belfast West by-election, 1950 Belfast West by-election, 1950 There was a by-election for Belfast West constituency on 29 November 1950.It occurred after the winner at the 1950 UK general election, James Godfrey MacManaway, was disqualified as he was a priest.... |
Held by the Unionists |
| 917 | South Northamptonshire by-election, 1962 | Held by the Conservatives |
| 946 | Ripon by-election, 1973 Ripon by-election, 1973 The Ripon by-election, 1973 was a parliamentary by-election held on 26 July 1973 for the British House of Commons constituency of Ripon.The by-election took place during the 1970s Liberal revival. This seat and Isle of Ely were gained on the same day, the third and fourth Liberal gains during the... |
Gained by the Liberal Party |
| 971 | Dumfriesshire by-election, 1963 | Held by the Conservatives |
| 973 | Blackpool North by-election, 1962 Blackpool North by-election, 1962 In 1962, Blackpool North held a by-election that was newsworthy. The by-election for the British House of Commons constituency of Blackpool North, in Blackpool, Lancashire, England, was held on 13 March 1962.... |
Held by the Conservatives |
Still smaller majorities have been recorded since 1918. The majority in the Penrith and Cockermouth by-election, 1921
Penrith and Cockermouth by-election, 1921
The Penrith and Cockermouth by-election, 1921 was a parliamentary by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Penrith and Cockermouth in Cumberland on 13 May 1921.-Vacancy:...
, was only 31 votes, and in the Westminster Abbey by-election, 1924
Westminster Abbey by-election, 1924
The Westminster Abbey by-election, 1924 was a parliamentary by-election held on 19 March 1924 for the British House of Commons constituency of Westminster Abbey in London. The seat had become vacant when the Conservative Member of Parliament John Nicholson had died on 21 February 1924. Nicholson...
was 43 votes. At the Cirencester by-election, 1892 a majority of 3 for the Unionists was overturned on petition, where it was found that both candidates had an equal number of votes. A fresh by-election was called, which was won by the Liberals.
Highest turnout
The highest turnouts since 1918:- Mid Ulster by-election, 1969Mid Ulster by-election, 1969The Mid Ulster by-election was held on 17 April 1969, following the death of Ulster Unionist Party Member of Parliament for Mid Ulster, George Forrest. The two-way contest was unusual in featuring two women candidates....
: 91.5% - Mid Ulster by-election, 1955Mid Ulster by-election, 1955The by-election held in Mid Ulster on 11 August 1955 was called as a result of a vote in the British parliament on 18 July 1955 which voted 197 votes to 63 to nullify the result of the previous 1955 UK General Election in the constituency...
: 89.7% - Ashton-under-Lyne by-election, 1928Ashton-under-Lyne by-election, 1928The Ashton-under-Lyne by-election was held on 29 October 1928. It was notable for having the highest turnout of any Parliamentary by-election in Great Britain....
: 89.1% - Fermanagh and South Tyrone by-election, August 1981: 88.6%
- Mid Ulster by-election, 1956Mid Ulster by-election, 1956The by-election held in Mid Ulster on 8 May 1956 was called because both candidates in the Mid Ulster by-election, 1955 were disqualified. Tom Mitchell was disqualified from assuming office because he was a convicted felon. Charles Beattie was awarded the seat but he was also disqualified because...
: 88.4% - Tiverton by-election, 1923Tiverton by-election, 1923The Tiverton by-election, 1923 was a parliamentary by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Tiverton in Devon on 21 June 1923.-Vacancy:...
: 88.1% - Darlington by-election, 1926Darlington by-election, 1926The Darlington by-election, 1926 was a by-election held on 17 February 1926 for the British House of Commons constituency of Darlington in County Durham.- Vacancy :...
: 87.6% - Carmarthen by-election, 1957Carmarthen by-election, 1957The Carmarthen by-election of 1957 in Carmarthenshire, Wales, was notable for resulting in the nadir of the British Liberal Party and for being the first election in the United Kingdom in which two women competed for the same seat....
: 87.4% - Fermanagh and South Tyrone by-election, April 1981: 86.9%
- Stockport by-election, 1925Stockport by-election, 1925The Stockport by-election, 1925 was a by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Stockport in Cheshire on 17 September 1925. The by-election was won by the Labour Party candidate Arnold Townend.- Vacancy :...
: 85.7% - Brighouse and Spenborough by-election, 1950Brighouse and Spenborough by-election, 1950A by-election was held for the British House of Commons in the marginal constituency of Brighouse and Spenborough on 4 May 1950. The seat became vacant following the death of Member of Parliament Frederick Arthur Cobb....
: 85.4%
Turnout increased from general election
It is highly unusual for a by-election to attract a higher turnout in a seat than the previous general election.| By-election | Turnout % | Turnout % at general election |
Increase % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ross and Cromarty by-election, 1936 Ross and Cromarty by-election, 1936 The Ross and Cromarty by-election, 1936 was a parliamentary by-election for the British House of Commons constituency of Ross and Cromarty held on 10 February 1936. The by-election was triggered when Sir Ian Macpherson, a Liberal National was given a peerage... |
65.2 | 50.8 | 14.4 |
| Torrington by-election, 1958 Torrington by-election, 1958 The Torrington by-election of 1958, in Devon, England, was the first gain by the British Liberal Party at a by-election since Holland with Boston in 1929.... |
80.6 | 69.2 | 11.4 |
| Bridgwater by-election, 1938 Bridgwater by-election, 1938 The Bridgwater by-election, 1938 was a parliamentary by-election for the British House of Commons constituency of Bridgwater, Somerset held on 17 November 1938... |
82.3 | 72.7 | 9.6 |
| Oxford by-election, 1938 Oxford by-election, 1938 The Oxford by-election, 1938 was a parliamentary by-election for the British House of Commons constituency of Oxford, held on October 27, 1938. The by-election was triggered when Robert Croft Bourne, the sitting Conservative Member of Parliament died on August 7, 1938... |
76.3 | 67.3 | 9.0 |
| Carmarthen by-election, 1928 Carmarthen by-election, 1928 The Carmarthen by-election, 1928 was a parliamentary by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Carmarthen in West Wales on 28 June 1928.- Vacancy :... |
76.6 | 67.9 | 8.7 |
| St Ives by-election, 1928 St Ives by-election, 1928 The St Ives by-election, 1928 was a by-election held on 6 March 1928 for the British House of Commons constituency of St Ives in Cornwall.-Cause:... |
77.4 | 69.1 | 8.3 |
| Mid Ulster by-election, 1969 Mid Ulster by-election, 1969 The Mid Ulster by-election was held on 17 April 1969, following the death of Ulster Unionist Party Member of Parliament for Mid Ulster, George Forrest. The two-way contest was unusual in featuring two women candidates.... |
91.5 | 83.9 | 7.6 |
| East Aberdeenshire by-election, 1958 | 65.9 | 59.8 | 6.1 |
| Kingston-upon-Hull Central by-election, 1926 | 82.8 | 77.1 | 5.7 |
| Bosworth by-election, 1927 Bosworth by-election, 1927 The Bosworth by-election, 1927 was a parliamentary by-election for the House of Commons constituency of Bosworth in Leicestershire on 31 May 1927.-Vacancy:... |
84.6 | 80.8 | 3.8 |
| Leith by-election, 1927 | 73.9 | 70.5 | 3.4 |
| Cardiganshire by-election, 1932 Cardiganshire by-election, 1932 The Cardiganshire by-election, 1932 was a parliamentary by-election held on 22 September 1932 for the British House of Commons constituency of Cardiganshire.-Previous Member of Parliament:... |
70.4 | 67.5 | 2.9 |
| North Lanarkshire by-election, 1929 | 82.3 | 79.9 | 2.4 |
| Carmarthen by-election, 1957 Carmarthen by-election, 1957 The Carmarthen by-election of 1957 in Carmarthenshire, Wales, was notable for resulting in the nadir of the British Liberal Party and for being the first election in the United Kingdom in which two women competed for the same seat.... |
87.4 | 85.1 | 2.3 |
| Paisley by-election, 1948 Paisley by-election, 1948 The Paisley by-election, 1948 was a parliamentary by-election held on 18 February 1948 for the British House of Commons constituency of Paisley in Scotland.... |
76.0 | 73.9 | 2.1 |
| Rhondda West by-election, 1967 Rhondda West by-election, 1967 The Rhondda West by-election, 1967 was a parliamentary by-election held in 1967 for the British House of Commons constituency of Rhondda West in Wales.... |
82.2 | 80.3 | 1.9 |
| Croydon North by-election, 1948 Croydon North by-election, 1948 The Croydon North by-election, 1948 was a parliamentary by-election held in the British House of Commons constituency of Croydon North on 11 March 1948... |
74.8 | 73.2 | 1.6 |
| Fermanagh and South Tyrone by-election, August 1981 | 88.6 | 87.1 | 1.5 |
| Darlington by-election, 1926 Darlington by-election, 1926 The Darlington by-election, 1926 was a by-election held on 17 February 1926 for the British House of Commons constituency of Darlington in County Durham.- Vacancy :... |
87.6 | 86.1 | 1.5 |
| Linlithgowshire by-election, 1928 | 81.5 | 80.0 | 1.5 |
| Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1973 Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1973 The Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1973 was a parliamentary by-election held on 8 November 1973 for the British House of Commons constituency of Berwick-upon-Tweed. It was one of four UK by-elections held on the same day.... |
75.0 | 73.7 | 1.3 |
| South Ayrshire by-election, 1970 South Ayrshire by-election, 1970 The South Ayrshire by-election of 19 March 1970 was held after the death of Labour Member of Parliament Emrys Hughes on 18 October 1969. The seat was retained by the Labour Party.... |
76.3 | 75.1 | 1.2 |
| Mid Ulster by-election, 1955 Mid Ulster by-election, 1955 The by-election held in Mid Ulster on 11 August 1955 was called as a result of a vote in the British parliament on 18 July 1955 which voted 197 votes to 63 to nullify the result of the previous 1955 UK General Election in the constituency... |
89.7 | 88.6 | 1.1 |
| Wigan by-election, 1948 | 81.4 | 80.4 | 1.0 |
| Ashton-under-Lyne by-election, 1928 Ashton-under-Lyne by-election, 1928 The Ashton-under-Lyne by-election was held on 29 October 1928. It was notable for having the highest turnout of any Parliamentary by-election in Great Britain.... |
89.1 | 88.3 | 0.8 |
| Grimsby by-election, 1977 | 70.2 | 69.4 | 0.8 |
| Ipswich by-election, 1938 | 82.8 | 82.1 | 0.7 |
| Glasgow Hillhead by-election, 1982 Glasgow Hillhead by-election, 1982 A Glasgow Hillhead by-election was held on 25 March 1982. The by-election was caused by the death of the Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Glasgow Hillhead Tam Galbraith on 2 January 1982.... |
76.4 | 75.7 | 0.7 |
| Walsall by-election, 1938 Walsall by-election, 1938 The Walsall by-election, 1938 was a parliamentary by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Walsall on 16 November 1938.-Vacancy:... |
75.9 | 75.2 | 0.7 |
| Argyll by-election, 1958 Argyll by-election, 1958 The Argyll by-election of 12 June 1958 was held after the death of Conservative Party MP Duncan McCallum:The seat was safe, having been won at the United Kingdom general election, 1955 by over 10,000 votes-Result of the previous general election:... |
67.1 | 66.6 | 0.5 |
| Smethwick by-election, 1926 Smethwick by-election, 1926 The Smethwick by-election, 1926 was a by-election held on 21 December 1926 for the British House of Commons constituency of Smethwick in Staffordshire .... |
78.6 | 78.2 | 0.4 |
| Hamilton by-election, 1967 Hamilton by-election, 1967 The Hamilton by-election, in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, which took place on the 2nd of November 1967, was a milestone in the politics of Scotland... |
73.7 | 73.3 | 0.4 |
| Macclesfield by-election, 1971 Macclesfield by-election, 1971 The Macclesfield by-election, 1971 was a parliamentary by-election held on 30 September 1971 for the constituency of Macclesfield in Cheshire. It was caused by the elevation to the peerage of the sitting MP, the Conservative Arthur Vere Harvey.... |
76.6 | 76.4 | 0.2 |
Lowest turnout
During the Second World War the electoral register was not kept up to date despite significant population movements, especially in the London area (which contains all three constituencies listed below). Consequently only those eligible to vote in the constituency at the outbreak of war were eligible to vote in the by-elections and many voters were physically unable to as they were located elsewhere; in addition the major parties did not compete against each other. The lowest turnout in peacetime since 1918 was 19.9% at the Leeds Central by-election, 1999Leeds Central by-election, 1999
The Member of Parliament for Leeds Central, the Rt. Hon. Derek Fatchett, died suddenly on 9 May 1999. The Labour Party rushed to organise for the by-election and moved the writ so that the election could be held on 10 June, the same day as elections to the European Parliament.The shortlist for the...
. The lowest turnouts since 1918 have been:
- Poplar South by-election, 1942Poplar South by-election, 1942The Poplar South by-election, 1942 was a by-election held on 12 August 1942 for the British House of Commons constituency of Poplar South, which covered the Isle of Dogs and Poplar in the Metropolitan Borough of Poplar....
: 9.3% - Harrow by-election, 1941: 10.7%
- North Camberwell by-election, 1944: 11.2%
Most candidates
Under current UK electoral law there is no upper or lower limit for candidature numbers, with the only required stipulation (other than residency rules) being the valid nomination of ten electors from the constituency. By-elections often attract "fringe" or novelty candidates, single-issue candidates, or independents. As with nominations in a general election, candidates must pay a £500 depositDeposit (politics)
A deposit is a sum of money that a candidate must pay in return for the right to stand for election to certain political offices, particularly seats in legislatures.-United Kingdom:...
which is only refunded if the candidate wins 5% of the votes cast.
All by-elections with more than ten candidates are listed. Elections are listed in alphabetical order. Those which created a new record number are shown in bold.
| Year | Number of candidates | Election |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 26 | Haltemprice and Howden Haltemprice and Howden by-election, 2008 The 2008 Haltemprice and Howden by-election was a by-election held in the United Kingdom on 10 July 2008 to elect a new Member of Parliament for constituency of Haltemprice and Howden... |
| 1993 | 19 | Newbury Newbury by-election, 1993 The Newbury by-election, in West Berkshire, England, was held on 6 May 1993 after Conservative Member of Parliament Judith Chaplin died, after only being elected the previous year. It was won by David Rendel of the Liberal Democrats with an impressive swing of 28.4%... |
| 1999 | 18 | Kensington and Chelsea Kensington and Chelsea by-election, 1999 The Member of Parliament for Kensington and Chelsea, Alan Clark, died of a brain tumour on September 5, 1999.This was the first safe Conservative seat to have a by-election in the Parliament. There was immediate speculation that Michael Portillo, the most high-profile casualty of the 1997 general... |
| 1984 | 17 | Chesterfield Chesterfield by-election, 1984 The Chesterfield by-election, 1984 was held on 1 March 1984 for a seat in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom to represent Chesterfield in Derbyshire... |
| 1983 | 16 | Bermondsey Bermondsey by-election, 1983 A by-election was held in the Bermondsey constituency in South London, on 24 February 1983, following the resignation of Labour MP Robert Mellish, who had represented the constituency and its predecessors in the House of Commons since 1946... |
| 2003 | Brent East Brent East by-election, 2003 The Brent East by-election, 2003 was caused by the death on 18 June 2003 of the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Brent East, Paul Daisley, of the Labour Party.... |
|
| 1988 | 15 | Kensington Kensington by-election, 1988 The Kensington by-election, in Kensington, on 14 July 1988 was held after the death of Conservative Member of Parliament Brandon Rhys-Williams... |
| 1993 | 14 | Christchurch Christchurch by-election, 1993 A by-election was held in the British House of Commons constituency of Christchurch on 29 July 1993 following the death of sitting Conservative MP Robert Adley.... |
| 2004 | Hartlepool Hartlepool by-election, 2004 On 23 July 2004, the Member of Parliament for Hartlepool, in England, Peter Mandelson , was nominated as the United Kingdom's new European Commissioner. On 8 September he accepted the office of Steward of the Manor of Northstead, thereby disqualifying himself from Parliament and causing a by-election... |
|
| 1990 | Mid Staffordshire Mid Staffordshire by-election, 1990 The Mid Staffordshire constituency of the United Kingdom Parliament held a by-election on 22 March 1990. The result was the election of Labour candidate Sylvia Heal to succeed the previous Conservative Member of Parliament John Heddle, who had precipitated the byelection by committing... |
|
| 1989 | Vauxhall Vauxhall by-election, 1989 A by-election for the United Kingdom House of Commons was held in the constituency of Vauxhall on the 15th June 1989, following the resignation of sitting Member of Parliament Stuart Holland.... |
|
| 2009 | 13 | Glasgow North East Glasgow North East by-election, 2009 The 2009 Glasgow North East by-election was a by-election for the Parliament of the United Kingdom's House of Commons constituency of Glasgow North East. The by-election was held on 12 November 2009 following the resignation of Michael Martin as an MP and as Speaker of the British House of Commons... |
| 1996 | South East Staffordshire South East Staffordshire by-election, 1996 A by-election was held for the British House of Commons constituency of South East Staffordshire on 11 April 1996 following the death of sitting Conservative MP Sir David Lincoln Lightbown.The result was a Labour gain from the Conservatives.... |
|
| 1981 | 12 | Croydon North West Croydon North West by-election, 1981 The Croydon North West by-election took place on 22 October 1981. It was caused by the death of Conservative Member of Parliament Robert Taylor on 18 June 1981.The Conservative Party selected John Butterfill, then vice-chairman of Guildford Conservative Association... |
| 2003 | Ealing Southall Ealing Southall by-election, 2007 The Ealing Southall by-election, 2007 was a by-election for the British House of Commons constituency of Ealing Southall, in west London. It was held on 19 July 2007.... |
|
| 1999 | Hamilton South Hamilton South by-election, 1999 On August 4, 1999 NATO announced that the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Hamilton South, in Scotland, the Rt. Hon. George Robertson, had been chosen as its new Secretary-General. This meant that Robertson was required to resign his seat which he had won as a Labour candidate in the... |
|
| 2008 | Henley Henley by-election, 2008 The Henley by-election, 2008 to elect a member of the British House of Commons for the constituency of Henley in Oxfordshire was held on 26 June 2008. It followed the election of Boris Johnson as Mayor of London in May 2008... |
|
| 2009 | Norwich North Norwich North by-election, 2009 The 2009 Norwich North by-election was a by-election for the United Kingdom Parliament's House of Commons constituency of Norwich North. The by-election took place due to the resignation of Ian Gibson after being banned from standing as a Labour candidate for the next general election... |
|
| 1997 | Wirral South Wirral South by-election, 1997 A by-election was held for the United Kingdom parliament constituency of Wirral South, in Merseyside, England, on 27 February 1997. The seat became vacant on the death of Conservative Party Member of Parliament Barry Porter, and was won by Labour's Ben Chapman.... |
|
| 2006 | 11 | Bromley and Chislehurst Bromley and Chislehurst by-election, 2006 A by-election was held in the UK parliament constituency of Bromley and Chislehurst in London, following the death of Conservative Member of Parliament Eric Forth on 17 May 2006. The writ for the electing of a new member was issued on 6 June for a polling day of 29 June 2006, the same day as the... |
| 1986 | Hammersmith and Fulham | |
| 1978 | Lambeth Central Lambeth Central by-election, 1978 The Lambeth Central by-election was held on 20 April 1978, following the death of Labour Party Member of Parliament for Lambeth Central Marcus Lipton.... |
|
| 2004 | Leicester South Leicester South by-election, 2004 A by-election was held in Leicester South on 15 July, the same day as the Birmingham Hodge Hill by-election. It was won by Parmjit Singh Gill of the Liberal Democrats, over-turning a Labour majority of 13,243 votes at the 2001 General Election.... |
|
| 2007 | Sedgefield Sedgefield by-election, 2007 The Sedgefield by-election, 2007 was a by-election held on 19 July 2007 for the British House of Commons constituency of Sedgefield in County Durham... |
|
| 1990 | Upper Bann Upper Bann by-election, 1990 The 1990 by-election in Upper Bann was caused by the death of the sitting Ulster Unionist Party Member of Parliament Harold McCusker on February 2, 1990.... |
|
| 1997 | Uxbridge Uxbridge by-election, 1997 The Uxbridge by-election, 1997 was a parliamentary by-election held in July 1997 to elect a new Member of Parliament for the constituency of Uxbridge in London, England.... |
|
| 1989 | Vale of Glamorgan Vale of Glamorgan by-election, 1989 A by-election was held for the British House of Commons constituency of Vale of Glamorgan on May 4, 1989 following the death of Conservative MP Sir Raymond Gower.Eleven candidates stood, which remains the most in any Welsh by-election.... |
|
| 1981 | Warrington Warrington by-election, 1981 The Warrington by-election, 1981 was held on 16 July 1981.The by-election was caused by the appointment of Thomas Williams, Labour Party Member of Parliament for Warrington, as a High Court Judge.... |
|
| 1977 | 10 | Birmingham Ladywood Birmingham Ladywood by-election, 1977 The Birmingham Ladywood by-election of 18 August 1977 was held after Labour Member of Parliament Brian Walden resigned in order to concentrate on his career as a journalist and broadcaster. A safe Labour seat, it was retained by the party.... |
| 1990 | Bradford North Bradford North by-election, 1990 A by-election was held for the United Kingdom House of Commons for one Member of Parliament in the constituency of Bradford North, in West Yorkshire, England, on 9 November 1990. This was due to the death of former MP Pat Wall.... |
|
| 1977 | City of London and Westminster South City of London and Westminster South by-election, 1977 The City of London and Westminster South by-election on 24 February 1977 was held after Conservative Member of Parliament Christopher Tugendhat resigned the seat upon his appointment to the European Commission... |
|
| 2008 | Crewe and Nantwich Crewe and Nantwich by-election, 2008 The Crewe and Nantwich by-election, 2008 was a parliamentary by-election held on 22 May 2008, for the British House of Commons constituency of Crewe and Nantwich, in Cheshire, England... |
|
| 1994 | Dudley West Dudley West by-election, 1994 A by-election was held for the British House of Commons constituency of Dudley West on 15 December 1994 following the death of the sitting Conservative Member of Parliament John Blackburn.... |
|
| 1996 | Hemsworth Hemsworth by-election, 1996 The Hemsworth by-election, 1996 was a parliamentary by-election held in England on 1 February 1996 for the House of Commons constituency of Hemsworth in West Yorkshire.... |
|
| 1995 | Littleborough and Saddleworth Littleborough and Saddleworth by-election, 1995 A by-election was called in the constituency of Littleborough and Saddleworth in Greater Manchester, England, on 27 July 1995 following the death of Conservative Party MP Geoffrey Dickens on 17 May of that year.... |
|
| 2005 | Livingston Livingston by-election, 2005 The Livingston by-election, 2005 was triggered when Robin Cook, the Labour Party Member of Parliament for Livingston, in Scotland, died on 6 August 2005.... |
|
| 2002 | Ogmore Ogmore by-election, 2002 The Member of Parliament for Ogmore in Mid Glamorgan, Sir Raymond Powell, of the Labour Party died on 7 December 2001.The by-election to fill his seat was held on 14 February 2002. Labour faced no realistic challenge in this very safe seat and retained it easily, with only Plaid Cymru making... |
|
| 2010 | Oldham East and Saddleworth |
Fewest candidates
| Year | Number of candidates | Election |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 | 1 (uncontested) | Armagh Armagh by-election, 1954 The Armagh by-election was held on 20 November 1954, following the resignation of Ulster Unionist Party Member of Parliament James Harden.Harden had held the seat of Armagh since a by-election in 1948, and had not faced a contest since then... |
| 1953 | North Down | |
| 1952 | Antrim North | |
| 1951 | Londonderry by-election | |
| 1946 | Hemsworth Hemsworth by-election, 1946 The Hemsworth by-election, 1946 was a parliamentary by-election held in England for the British House of Commons constituency of Hemsworth on 22 February 1946. The seat had become vacant on the death of the Labour Member of Parliament George Griffiths, who had held the seat since a 1934... 1 |
|
| 1986 | 2 | Eight of the Northern Ireland by-elections Northern Ireland by-elections, 1986 The 1986 Northern Ireland by-elections were fifteen by-elections held on 23 January 1986, to fill vacancies in the Parliament of the United Kingdom caused by the resignation in December 1985 of all sitting Unionist Members of Parliament... |
| 1981 | Fermanagh and South Tyrone | |
| 1971 | Widnes Widnes by-election, 1971 The Widnes by-election of 1971 took place on 23rd September and produced a victory for the incumbent Labour Party.It remains the most recent by-election in England, Wales or Scotland to be contested by only two candidates.-Results:... 1 |
|
| 1986 | 3 | Ryedale Ryedale by-election, 1986 The Ryedale by-election took place on 8 May, 1986. It is the latest by-election to have just three candidates standing. The seat was regained by the Conservatives at the 1987 general election by John Greenway.-Background:... |
* 1 The most recent mainland UK example* 2 Four of the eight straight fights were between the Unionist incumbent and a "paper candidatePaper candidateIn a representative democracy, the term paper candidate is often given to a candidate who stands for a political party in an electoral division where the party in question enjoys only low levels of support...
" using the name "Peter Barry", the name of the then Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Durable by-election candidates
Former Labour cabinet minister Tony BennTony Benn
Anthony Neil Wedgwood "Tony" Benn, PC is a British Labour Party politician and a former MP and Cabinet Minister.His successful campaign to renounce his hereditary peerage was instrumental in the creation of the Peerage Act 1963...
contested no fewer than four by-elections during his career, topping the poll on each occasion: Bristol South East
Bristol South East (UK Parliament constituency)
Bristol South East was a borough constituency in the city of Bristol. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom by the first past the post system of election....
in 1950
Bristol South East by-election, 1950
The Bristol South East by-election, 1950 was a by-election held on 30th November 1950 for the British House of Commons constituency of Bristol South East in the city of Bristol...
, 1961
Bristol South East by-election, 1961
The Bristol South East by-election, 1961 was a by-election held on 4 May 1961 for the British House of Commons constituency of Bristol South East in the city of Bristol....
and 1963
Bristol South East by-election, 1963
The Bristol South East by-election, 1963 was a by-election held on 20 August 1963 for the British House of Commons constituency of Bristol South East in the city of Bristol....
, and Chesterfield in 1984
Chesterfield by-election, 1984
The Chesterfield by-election, 1984 was held on 1 March 1984 for a seat in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom to represent Chesterfield in Derbyshire...
. His first and last by-election victories were 33 years and 3 months apart.
Former cabinet minister and European Commissioner Roy Jenkins
Roy Jenkins
Roy Harris Jenkins, Baron Jenkins of Hillhead OM, PC was a British politician.The son of a Welsh coal miner who later became a union official and Labour MP, Roy Jenkins served with distinction in World War II. Elected to Parliament as a Labour member in 1948, he served in several major posts in...
fought two different by-elections for the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party (UK)
The Social Democratic Party was a political party in the United Kingdom that was created on 26 March 1981 and existed until 1988. It was founded by four senior Labour Party 'moderates', dubbed the 'Gang of Four': Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams...
only eight months apart. He narrowly failed in the Warrington by-election, 1981
Warrington by-election, 1981
The Warrington by-election, 1981 was held on 16 July 1981.The by-election was caused by the appointment of Thomas Williams, Labour Party Member of Parliament for Warrington, as a High Court Judge....
before winning the Glasgow Hillhead by-election, 1982
Glasgow Hillhead by-election, 1982
A Glasgow Hillhead by-election was held on 25 March 1982. The by-election was caused by the death of the Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Glasgow Hillhead Tam Galbraith on 2 January 1982....
. He had been first elected as a Labour MP almost 34 years previously in the Southwark Central by-election, 1948.
Former Speaker of the House of Commons
Speaker of the British House of Commons
The Speaker of the House of Commons is the presiding officer of the House of Commons, the United Kingdom's lower chamber of Parliament. The current Speaker is John Bercow, who was elected on 22 June 2009, following the resignation of Michael Martin...
, Betty Boothroyd
Betty Boothroyd
Betty Boothroyd, Baroness Boothroyd, OM, PC is a British politician, who served as Member of Parliament for West Bromwich and West Bromwich West from 1973 to 2000, initially for the Labour Party and, from 1992 to 2000, as Speaker of the House of Commons...
finally secured election at her third by-election attempt at the West Bromwich by-election, 1973
West Bromwich by-election, 1973
The West Bromwich by-election of 24 May 1973 was held after the appointment of Labour Member of Parliament Maurice Foley to the European Commission...
. She had previously failed in the Leicester South East by-election, 1957 and the Nelson and Colne by-election, 1968
Nelson and Colne by-election, 1968
The Nelson and Colne by-election of 27 June 1968 was held after the death of Labour MP Sydney Silverman:The seat was safe, having been won by Labour at the United Kingdom general election, 1966 by over 4,500 votes-Candidates:...
as well as the General Elections of 1959 and 1970.
Fringe candidates such as Bill Boaks
Bill Boaks
Lieutenant Commander William George Boaks DSC was a British Royal Navy officer who became an eccentric political campaigner for road safety. He died at the age of 81 as a result of a road traffic accident...
, Screaming Lord Sutch
Screaming Lord Sutch
David Edward Sutch , also known as "Screaming Lord Sutch, 3rd Earl of Harrow", or simply "Screaming Lord Sutch", was a musician from the United Kingdom...
of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party
Official Monster Raving Loony Party
The Official Monster Raving Loony Party is a registered political party established in the United Kingdom in 1983 by musician and politician David Sutch , better known as Screaming Lord Sutch.-History:...
and Lindi St Clair
Lindi St Clair
Lindi St Clair is an author, leader of the Corrective Party, and campaigner for prostitutes' rights.Formerly Britain's most famous 20th Century prostitute but now retired and confirmed as a Christian, St Clair achieved recognition when she accused the Inland Revenue in the High Court of England...
of the Corrective Party contested numerous by-elections without success.
Pre-1945
Arthur Henderson
Arthur Henderson
Arthur Henderson was a British iron moulder and Labour politician. He was the 1934 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and he served three short terms as the Leader of the Labour Party from 1908–1910, 1914–1917 and 1931-1932....
was distinguished in being successful in no fewer than five by-elections in different seats, in Barnard Castle
Barnard Castle (UK Parliament constituency)
Barnard Castle was a county constituency centred on the town of Barnard Castle in County Durham, which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
, Widnes
Widnes (UK Parliament constituency)
Widnes was a county constituency in England, based on the town of Widnes, in Lancashire. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system.-History:...
, Newcastle-upon-Tyne East, Burnley
Burnley (UK Parliament constituency)
Burnley is a borough constituency centred on the town of Burnley in Lancashire, which is 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....
, and Clay Cross
Clay Cross (UK Parliament constituency)
Clay Cross was a county constituency centred on the village of Clay Cross in north-east Derbyshire. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post system....
.
Joseph Gibbins
Joseph Gibbins
Joseph Gibbins, JP was a British trade unionist and Labour Party politician.-Early life:Joseph Gibbins was born in the Toxteth Park district of Liverpool in early 1888. He was educated at evening classes at Liverpool University...
is the only person in modern times to gain the same seat twice in two different by-elections. He triumphed for Labour in the Liverpool West Toxteth by-election, 1924 and the Liverpool West Toxteth by-election, 1935.
William O'Brien
William O'Brien
William O'Brien was an Irish nationalist, journalist, agrarian agitator, social revolutionary, politician, party leader, newspaper publisher, author and Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
won four by-elections, in Mallow in 1883, North East Cork in 1887 and then Cork City
Cork City (UK Parliament constituency)
Cork City was a parliamentary constituency in Ireland, represented in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. From 1880 to 1922 it returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
in 1904 and 1914. On these last two occasions, he was re-elected having resigned the seat.
Prime Minister Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
contested five by-elections in his long career:-
- Oldham by-election, 1899Oldham by-election, 1899The Oldham by-election of 1899 occurred in the summer of that year, and involved a by-election to fill both seats in the two-member Oldham Parliamentary borough. The block voting method allowed each elector to vote for two candidates...
in which he was not elected - Manchester North-West by-election, 1908 where he was defeated
- Dundee by-election, 1908 where he was elected
- Dundee by-election, 1917 where he was re-elected.
- Westminster Abbey by-election, 1924Westminster Abbey by-election, 1924The Westminster Abbey by-election, 1924 was a parliamentary by-election held on 19 March 1924 for the British House of Commons constituency of Westminster Abbey in London. The seat had become vacant when the Conservative Member of Parliament John Nicholson had died on 21 February 1924. Nicholson...
in which he was unsuccessful
John Wilkes
John Wilkes
John Wilkes was an English radical, journalist and politician.He was first elected Member of Parliament in 1757. In the Middlesex election dispute, he fought for the right of voters—rather than the House of Commons—to determine their representatives...
won the Aylesbury by-election, 1757, and was then elected in the Middlesex by-elections of February, March and April 1769, on each occasion being subsequently expelled from the House of Commons.
Former MPs making a comeback at a by-election
- South Antrim by-election, 2000South Antrim by-election, 2000Clifford Forsythe, the Ulster Unionist Member of Parliament for South Antrim, died on April 27, 2000, precipitating a by-election.-Candidates:...
1: William McCreaWilliam McCrea (politician)Robert Thomas William McCrea is a politician from Northern Ireland, and a member of the Democratic Unionist Party.-Career:...
returns after losing his Mid UlsterMid Ulster (UK Parliament constituency)Mid Ulster is a Parliamentary Constituency in the British House of Commons.-Boundaries:The constituency was created in 1950 when the old two-seat constituency of Fermanagh and Tyrone was abolished as part of the final move to single member seats...
seat in the 1997 General Election. - Kensington and Chelsea by-election, 1999Kensington and Chelsea by-election, 1999The Member of Parliament for Kensington and Chelsea, Alan Clark, died of a brain tumour on September 5, 1999.This was the first safe Conservative seat to have a by-election in the Parliament. There was immediate speculation that Michael Portillo, the most high-profile casualty of the 1997 general...
: Michael PortilloMichael PortilloMichael Denzil Xavier Portillo is a British journalist, broadcaster, and former Conservative Party politician and Cabinet Minister...
returns after losing his Enfield Southgate seat at the 1997 General Election. - Beckenham by-election, 1997Beckenham by-election, 1997A by-election in Beckenham, England, was called in 1997 when the sitting Member of Parliament, Piers Merchant , resigned from Parliament on 21 October 1997...
: Jacqui LaitJacqui LaitJacqueline Anne "Jacqui" Lait is a British Conservative Party politician and former Member of Parliament for Beckenham.-Early life:...
returns after losing her Hastings and RyeHastings and Rye-Elections in the 2000s:-Elections in the 1990s:-Elections in the 1980s:-Sources:* * * * *...
seat at the 1997 General Election. - Epping Forest by-election, 1988Epping Forest by-election, 1988A by-election was held in the House of Commons constituency of Epping Forest on 18 December 1988 following the death of Conservative Member of Parliament Sir John Biggs-Davison. The result was a hold for the Conservative Party.-Candidates:...
: Steve Norris returns after losing his Oxford EastOxford EastOxford East is a borough 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...
seat at the 1987 General Election. - Glasgow Govan by-election, 1988Glasgow Govan by-election, 1988The Glasgow Govan by-election, in the British House of Commons constituency of Glasgow Govan, Scotland, was held on 10 November 1988. It was caused by the resignation of Bruce Millan as Member of Parliament for the constituency....
1: Jim SillarsJim SillarsJim Sillars is a Scottish politician. He is married to current member of the Scottish Parliament, Margo MacDonald.-Early life:...
returns as an SNP MP. He had first sat as a Labour MP (later as Scottish LabourScottish Labour Party (1976)The Scottish Labour Party was formed on January 18, 1976, as a breakaway from the UK Labour Party, by members disaffected with the then Labour Government's failure to secure a devolved Scottish Assembly, as well as with its social and economic agenda...
) for South AyrshireSouth AyrshireSouth Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of Ayrshire. It borders onto East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway....
between 1970 and 1979. - Chesterfield by-election, 1984Chesterfield by-election, 1984The Chesterfield by-election, 1984 was held on 1 March 1984 for a seat in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom to represent Chesterfield in Derbyshire...
: Tony BennTony BennAnthony Neil Wedgwood "Tony" Benn, PC is a British Labour Party politician and a former MP and Cabinet Minister.His successful campaign to renounce his hereditary peerage was instrumental in the creation of the Peerage Act 1963...
returns after losing his redrawn Bristol EastBristol EastBristol East is a borough 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.-Boundaries:...
seat at the 1983 General Election. - Beaconsfield by-election, 1982Beaconsfield by-election, 1982The Beaconsfield by-election, 1982 was a parliamentary by-election held on 27 May 1982 for the British House of Commons constituency of Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire...
: Tim SmithTim Smith (UK politician)Timothy John Smith, known as Tim Smith, is a former British Conservative politician.-Politics:...
returns after losing his AshfieldAshfieldAshfield is a local government district in western Nottinghamshire, England. According to the 2001 UK census, it has a population of 111,387. The district is mostly urban, with a tradition of coal mining. There are three towns in the district; the largest being Sutton-in-Ashfield...
seat in the 1979 General Election. - Glasgow Hillhead by-election, 1982Glasgow Hillhead by-election, 1982A Glasgow Hillhead by-election was held on 25 March 1982. The by-election was caused by the death of the Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Glasgow Hillhead Tam Galbraith on 2 January 1982....
2: Roy JenkinsRoy JenkinsRoy Harris Jenkins, Baron Jenkins of Hillhead OM, PC was a British politician.The son of a Welsh coal miner who later became a union official and Labour MP, Roy Jenkins served with distinction in World War II. Elected to Parliament as a Labour member in 1948, he served in several major posts in...
returns after a spell as European CommissionerEuropean CommissionerA European Commissioner is a member of the 27-member European Commission. Each Member within the college holds a specific portfolio and are led by the President of the European Commission...
, then co-founding the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He had first sat as a Labour MP for Southwark Central from 1948-50 and Birmingham StechfordBirmingham Stechford (UK Parliament constituency)Birmingham Stechford was a parliamentary constituency centred on the Stechford district of the city of Birmingham. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first-past-the-post voting system.The constituency was created...
from 1950-77. - Crosby by-election, 1981Crosby by-election, 1981The Crosby by-election, 1981 was a by-election held in England on 26 November 1981 to elect a new Member of Parliament for the House of Commons constituency of Crosby on Merseyside...
1: Shirley Williams returns as the first-elected SDP MP. She had first sat as a Labour MP for HitchinHitchinHitchin is a town in Hertfordshire, England, with an estimated population of 30,360.-History:Hitchin is first noted as the central place of the Hicce people mentioned in a 7th century document, the Tribal Hidage. The tribal name is Brittonic rather than Old English and derives from *siccā, meaning...
1964-74 and for Hertford and Stevenage 1974-79. - Warrington by-election, 1981Warrington by-election, 1981The Warrington by-election, 1981 was held on 16 July 1981.The by-election was caused by the appointment of Thomas Williams, Labour Party Member of Parliament for Warrington, as a High Court Judge....
: Douglas Hoyle returns after losing his Nelson and Colne seat in the 1979 General Election. - Southend East by-election, 1980Southend East by-election, 1980The Southend East by-election of 13 March 1980 was held after the death of Conservative Member of Parliament Stephen McAdden on 26 December 1979. The seat was narrowly held by the Tories in the by-election.-Results:...
: Teddy TaylorTeddy TaylorSir Edward MacMillan Taylor, usually known as Teddy Taylor , is a British Conservative Party politician who was a Member of Parliament from 1964 to 1979 for Glasgow Cathcart and from 1980 to 2005 for Rochford and Southend East.He was a leading member and sometime Vice-President of the Conservative...
returns after losing his Glasgow CathcartGlasgow Cathcart (UK Parliament constituency)Glasgow Cathcart was a burgh constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 until 2005, when it was replaced by the larger Glasgow South constituency....
seat at the 1979 General Election. - South West Hertfordshire by-election, 1979South West Hertfordshire by-election, 1979The South West Hertfordshire by-election, 1979 was a parliamentary by-election held on 13 December 1979 for the British House of Commons constituency of South West Hertfordshire.- Previous MP :...
: Richard PageRichard PageRichard Lewis Page is a former Conservative Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom from 1976 to 1979 and from December 1979 to 2005.-Early life:He is the son of Victor Charles Page...
returns after losing his WorkingtonWorkingtonWorkington is a town, civil parish and port on the west coast of Cumbria, England, at the mouth of the River Derwent. Lying within the Borough of Allerdale, Workington is southwest of Carlisle, west of Cockermouth, and southwest of Maryport...
seat in the 1979 General Election. - Knutsford by-election, 1979Knutsford by-election, 1979The Knutsford by-election, 1979 was a by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Knutsford in Cheshire on 1 March 1979. It was won by the Conservative Party candidate Jock Bruce-Gardyne.- Vacancy :...
: Jock Bruce-GardyneJock Bruce-GardyneJohn Bruce-Gardyne, Baron Bruce-Gardyne was a British Conservative Party politician.Son of Captain Evan Bruce-Gardyne, DSO, RN 13th Laird of Middleton, and a member of a Scottish landholding family who have been based in the county of Angus since at least 1008 AD. He was born in Chertsey, Surrey...
returns after losing his South Angus seat at the October 1974 General Election. - Clitheroe by-election, 1979Clitheroe by-election, 1979The Clitheroe by-election, 1979 was a by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Clitheroe in Lancashire on 1 March 1979. It was won by the Conservative Party candidate David Waddington.- Vacancy :...
: David WaddingtonDavid Waddington, Baron WaddingtonDavid Charles Waddington, Baron Waddington, GCVO, DL, QC, PC , is a British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he served as a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons from 1968 to 1990, and was then made a life peer...
returns after losing his Nelson and Colne seat at the October 1974 General Election. - Glasgow Garscadden by-election, 1978Glasgow Garscadden by-election, 1978The Glasgow Garscadden by-election, 1978 was a parliamentary by-election held on 13 April 1978 for the British House of Commons constituency of Glasgow Garscadden, in the north west periphery of the City of Glasgow....
: Donald DewarDonald DewarDonald Campbell Dewar was a British politician who served as a Labour Party Member of Parliament in Scotland from 1966-1970, and then again from 1978 until his death in 2000. He served in Tony Blair's cabinet as Secretary of State for Scotland from 1997-1999 and was instrumental in the creation...
returns after losing his Aberdeen SouthAberdeen South (UK Parliament constituency)Aberdeen South is a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and it elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
seat in the 1970 General Election. - Newham South by-election, 1974Newham South by-election, 1974The Newham South by-election was a by-election held on 23 May 1974 for the British House of Commons constituency of Newham South. It was triggered when Elwyn Jones, the constituency's Labour Party Member of Parliament , was appointed as Lord Chancellor and subsequently awarded a life peerage.The...
: Nigel SpearingNigel SpearingNigel John Spearing is a British Labour Party politician.Nigel Spearing was born in London, and educated at Latymer Upper School, Hammersmith, and St Catharine's College, Cambridge. After graduating in 1956, he worked as a tutor and teacher, firstly at Wandsworth School and then at Elliot School,...
returns after losing his ActonActon, LondonActon is a district of west London, England, located in the London Borough of Ealing. It is situated west of Charing Cross.At the time of the 2001 census, Acton, comprising the wards of East Acton, Acton Central, South Acton and Southfield, had a population of 53,689 people...
seat in the February 1974 General Election. - Merthyr Tydfil by-election, 1972Merthyr Tydfil by-election, 1972The Merthyr Tydfil by-election of 13 April 1972 was held after the death of S. O. Davies on 25 February the same year. The Labour Party won the by-election in what had traditionally been a safe seat, although Davies had been elected in the 1970 general election as an Independent after he had been...
2: Edward Rowlands returns after losing his Cardiff NorthCardiff North (UK Parliament constituency)Cardiff North is aborough constituency in the city of Cardiff. It returns one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system....
seat in the 1970 General Election. - Greenwich by-election, 1971Greenwich by-election, 1971The Greenwich by-election of 8 July 1971 was held after Labour Member of Parliament Richard Marsh resigned from the House of Commons to take up the post of Chairman of British Rail. The seat was retained by Labour.-Results:...
: Guy BarnettGuy Barnett (UK politician)Nicolas Guy Barnett was a British Labour Party politician and Member of Parliament.-Education and teaching and development work:...
returns after losing his South DorsetSouth DorsetSouth Dorset is a county 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.-Boundaries:...
seat in the 1964 General Election. - Southampton Itchen by-election, 1971Southampton Itchen by-election, 1971The Southampton Itchen by-election of 27 May 1971 was held after the Speaker of the British House of Commons and Member of Parliament Horace King retired. The seat was gained by the Labour Party...
: Bob Mitchell returns after losing his Southampton TestSouthampton TestSouthampton, Test is a borough constituency of 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.-History:...
seat in the 1970 General Election. - St. Marylebone by-election, 1970: Kenneth Baker returns after losing his ActonActon, LondonActon is a district of west London, England, located in the London Borough of Ealing. It is situated west of Charing Cross.At the time of the 2001 census, Acton, comprising the wards of East Acton, Acton Central, South Acton and Southfield, had a population of 53,689 people...
seat in the 1970 General Election. - Chichester by-election, 1969Chichester by-election, 1969The Chichester by-election of 22 May 1969 was held following the death of Conservative Member of Parliament Walter Loveys. The seat was retained by the Conservatives.-Results:...
: Christopher ChatawayChristopher ChatawaySir Christopher John Chataway is a British former middle- and long-distance runner, television news broadcaster, and a Conservative politician...
returns after losing his Lewisham NorthLewisham North (UK Parliament constituency)Lewisham North was a parliamentary constituency in Lewisham, London which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1950 until it was abolished for the February 1974 general election.- Boundaries :...
seat in the 1966 General Election. - Brighton Pavilion by-election, 1969Brighton Pavilion by-election, 1969The Brighton Pavilion by-election of 27 March 1969 was held after Conservative Member of Parliament William Teeling resigned from the House of Commons due to health problems. The seat was retained by the Conservatives.-Results:...
: Julian Amery returns after losing his Preston North seat in the 1966 General Election. - New Forest by-election, 1968New Forest by-election, 1968The New Forest by-election of 7 November 1968 was held after Conservative Member of Parliament Oliver Crosthwaite-Eyre resigned from the House of Commons due to ill health. The seat was retained by the Conservatives.-Results:...
: Patrick McNair-WilsonPatrick McNair-WilsonSir Patrick Michael Ernest David McNair-Wilson is a British Conservative politician.McNair-Wilson was educated at Eton College and was commissioned in the Coldstream Guards 1947-52, serving in Palestine and North Africa...
returns after losing his Lewisham WestLewisham WestLewisham West was a borough constituency in south-east London represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election from 1918, until it was abolished for the 2010 general election.-History:From...
seat in the 1966 General Election. - Warwick and Leamington by-election, 1968Warwick and Leamington by-election, 1968The by-election in Warwick and Leamington, in Warwickshire, England, occurred in 1968, and resulted in a hold for the Conservatives.-Results:...
: Dudley SmithDudley SmithSir Dudley Gordon Smith is a British Conservative politician.Smith was educated at Chichester High School and became a journalist. He was elected a councillor on Middlesex County Council in 1958, then the youngest councillor, and became chief whip of the majority party.Smith contested Peckham in...
returns after losing his Brentford and ChiswickBrentford and Chiswick (UK Parliament constituency)Brentford and Chiswick was a parliamentary constituency centred on the Brentford and Chiswick districts of west London. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
seat in the 1966 General Election. - West Derbyshire by-election, 1967West Derbyshire by-election, 1967The West Derbyshire by-election for the British House of Commons took place on 23 November 1967. It was caused by the resignation of Conservative Member of Parliament Aidan Crawley to become Chairman of London Weekend Television where he remained until 1973...
: James Scott-HopkinsJames Scott-HopkinsSir James Sidney Rawdon Scott-Hopkins was a British Conservative Party politician.Born in Croydon, Scott-Hopkins was educated at Eton College and Oxford University. He joined the British Army in 1939...
returns after losing his Cornwall North seat in the 1966 General Election. - Brierley Hill by-election, 1967Brierley Hill by-election, 1967The Brierley Hill by-election of 29 April 1967 was held after the death of Conservative MP John Ellis Talbot:The seat was marginal, having been won by Labour during United Kingdom general election, 1950 by 4,637 votes, and the Conservatives in the preceding United Kingdom general election, 1966 by...
: Fergus MontgomeryFergus MontgomerySir William Fergus Montgomery is a former Conservative member of Parliament in the United Kingdom.Born in South Shields, Montgomery was educated at Jarrow Grammar School and the University of Durham, and became a teacher in 1950. From 1950 until 1958 he was a councillor serving on Hebburn urban...
returns after losing his Newcastle East seat in the 1964 General Election. - Honiton by-election, 1967Honiton by-election, 1967The Honiton by-election, 1967 was a by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Honiton in Devon on 16 March 1967. It was won by the Conservative Party candidate Peter Emery.- Vacancy :...
: Peter EmeryPeter EmerySir Peter Frank Hannibal Emery was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom.Emery was born in London, but was evacuated to the United States during World War II. He was educated at Scotch Plains High School, New Jersey before serving with the Royal Air Force. He attended Oriel...
returns after losing his ReadingReading, BerkshireReading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
seat in the 1966 General Election. - Saffron Walden by-election, 1965: Peter KirkPeter Michael KirkSir Peter Michael Kirk, was a British Conservative politician and a junior minister in the governments of Alec Douglas-Home and Edward Heath....
returns after losing his GravesendGravesend, KentGravesend is a town in northwest Kent, England, on the south bank of the Thames, opposite Tilbury in Essex. It is the administrative town of the Borough of Gravesham and, because of its geographical position, has always had an important role to play in the history and communications of this part of...
seat in the 1964 General Election. - Salisbury by-election, 1965Salisbury by-election, 1965The Salisbury by-election, 1965 was a by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Salisbury in Wiltshire on 4 February 1965. It was won by the Conservative Party candidate Michael Hamilton.- Vacancy :...
: Michael Hamilton returns after losing his WellingboroughWellingboroughWellingborough is a market town and borough in Northamptonshire, England, situated some from the county town of Northampton. The town is situated on the north side of the River Nene, most of the older town is sited on the flanks of the hills above the river's current flood plain...
seat in the 1964 General Election. - East Grinstead by-election, 1965East Grinstead by-election, 1965The East Grinstead by-election 1965 was a parliamentary by-election for the East Grinstead British House of Commons held on the 4th February, 1965.The by-election was held following confirment of a life peerage for Evelyn Emmet.It was a Conservative hold....
: Geoffrey Johnson-Smith returns after losing his Holborn and St. Pancras South seat in the 1964 General Election. - Altrincham and Sale by-election, 1965: Anthony Barber returns after losing his DoncasterDoncasterDoncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
seat in the 1964 General Election. - St. Marylebone by-election, 1963: Quintin HoggQuintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham of St MaryleboneFor the businessman and philanthropist, see Quintin Hogg Quintin McGarel Hogg, Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone, KG, CH, PC, QC, FRS , formerly 2nd Viscount Hailsham , was a British politician who was known for the longevity of his career, the vigour with which he campaigned for the Conservative...
returns after disclaiming his peerage. He had previously sat for OxfordOxford (UK Parliament constituency)Oxford was a parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom. It comprised the city of Oxford in the county of Oxfordshire, and elected two Members of Parliament from its creation in 1295 until 1881...
1938-1950. - Kinross and West Perthshire by-election, 1963Kinross and West Perthshire by-election, 1963The Kinross and West Perthshire by-election of 7 November 1963 was a by-election to the House of Commons. It was unique among by-elections since 1918 in that one of the candidates was the sitting Prime Minister, Sir Alec Douglas-Home; he had been nominated for the constituency after disclaiming a...
: Sir Alec Douglas-HomeAlec Douglas-HomeAlexander Frederick Douglas-Home, Baron Home of the Hirsel, KT, PC , known as The Earl of Home from 1951 to 1963 and as Sir Alec Douglas-Home from 1963 to 1974, was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from October 1963 to October 1964.He is the last...
returns after disclaiming his peerage. He had previously sat for LanarkLanark (UK Parliament constituency)Lanark was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 to 1983. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post voting system....
1931-45 and 1950-51. - Bristol South East by-election, 1963Bristol South East by-election, 1963The Bristol South East by-election, 1963 was a by-election held on 20 August 1963 for the British House of Commons constituency of Bristol South East in the city of Bristol....
: Tony BennTony BennAnthony Neil Wedgwood "Tony" Benn, PC is a British Labour Party politician and a former MP and Cabinet Minister.His successful campaign to renounce his hereditary peerage was instrumental in the creation of the Peerage Act 1963...
returns after disclaiming his peerage. He had been debarred from sitting for the seat since 1961. - Middlesbrough East by-election, 1962Middlesbrough East by-election, 1962A by-election to the British House of Commons constituency of Middlesbrough East was held on 14 March 1962.The seat was a hold for the Labour Party.-See also:*List of United Kingdom by-elections*Middlesbrough...
: Arthur BottomleyArthur BottomleyArthur George Bottomley, Baron Bottomley, OBE, PC was a British Labour politician, Member of Parliament and minister....
returns after losing his Rochester and ChathamRochester and Chatham (UK Parliament constituency)Rochester and Chatham was a parliamentary constituency in Kent which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1950 until it was abolished for the 1983 general election....
seat in the 1959 General Election. - Ebbw Vale by-election, 1960Ebbw Vale by-election, 1960The Ebbw Vale by-election of 17 November 1960 was a by-election for a single seat in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. Caused by the death of Labour Party Deputy Leader Aneurin Bevan, the constituency was very safely held by the party and never in danger of changing hands...
: Michael FootMichael FootMichael Mackintosh Foot, FRSL, PC was a British Labour Party politician, journalist and author, who was a Member of Parliament from 1945 to 1955 and from 1960 until 1992...
returns after losing his Plymouth Devonport seat in the 1955 General Election. - Newport by-election, 1956Newport by-election, 1956The Newport by-election, 1956 was a parliamentary by-election held on 6 July 1956 for the British House of Commons constituency of Newport in Monmouthshire....
: Frank SoskiceFrank SoskiceFrank Soskice, Baron Stow Hill PC was a British lawyer and Labour Party politician.-Background and education:...
returns after his Sheffield NeepsendSheffield Neepsend (UK Parliament constituency)Sheffield Neepsend was a short-lived Parliamentary constituency in the City of Sheffield, England. The constituency was created in 1950 and abolished in 1955, presumably due to its low number of electors - never exceeding 50,000...
seat was abolished at the 1955 General Election. - Sheffield Neepsend by-election, 1950Sheffield Neepsend by-election, 1950The Sheffield Neepsend by-election, 1950 was a parliamentary by-election held on 5 April 1950 for the British House of Commons constituency of Sheffield Neepsend in Neepsend, an industrial suburb of the city of Sheffield....
: Frank SoskiceFrank SoskiceFrank Soskice, Baron Stow Hill PC was a British lawyer and Labour Party politician.-Background and education:...
returns after his Birkenhead EastBirkenhead East (UK Parliament constituency)Birkenhead East was a parliamentary constituency centred on the Birkenhead area of Merseyside. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system-History:...
seat was abolished at the 1950 General Election. - Bootle by-election, 1911Bootle by-election, 1911The Bootle by-election, 1911 was a by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Bootle in Merseyside on 27 March 1911...
: Andrew Bonar Law returns after failing to win Manchester North-West in the December 1910 General Election. - Dundee by-election, 1908: Winston ChurchillWinston ChurchillSir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
returns after losing his Manchester North WestManchester North West (UK Parliament constituency)Manchester North West was one of six single-member Parliamentary constituencies created in 1885 by the division of the three-member Parliamentary Borough of Manchester under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885. Its first MP, William Houldsworth, had previously sat for Manchester...
seat in a 1908 by-election, upon his appointment to the Board of TradeBoard of TradeThe Board of Trade is a committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, originating as a committee of inquiry in the 17th century and evolving gradually into a government department with a diverse range of functions...
. - Dulwich by-election, 1906Dulwich by-election, 1906The Dulwich by-election, 1906 was a by-election held on 15 May 1906 for the British House of Commons constituency of Dulwich in South London.The by-election was triggered by the resignation of the serving Conservative Party Member of Parliament , Dr Frederick Rutherfoord Harris, who was moving back...
: Andrew Bonar Law returns after losing his Glasgow Blackfriars and HutchesontownGlasgow Blackfriars and Hutchesontown (UK Parliament constituency)Glasgow Blackfriars and Hutchesontown, representing parts of the city of Glasgow, Scotland, was a burgh constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885 until 1918....
seat in the 1906 General Election. - City of London by-election, 1906: Arthur BalfourArthur BalfourArthur James Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour, KG, OM, PC, DL was a British Conservative politician and statesman...
returns after losing his Manchester EastManchester East (UK Parliament constituency)Manchester East was one of six single-member parliamentary constituencies created in 1885 by the division of the existing three-member Parliamentary Borough of Manchester...
seat in the 1906 General Election.
Notes:
1 by-election gain lost at the subsequent General Election
2 by-election gain held at the subsequent General Election
Former MPs failing in a by-election
- Haltemprice and Howden by-election, 2008Haltemprice and Howden by-election, 2008The 2008 Haltemprice and Howden by-election was a by-election held in the United Kingdom on 10 July 2008 to elect a new Member of Parliament for constituency of Haltemprice and Howden...
- Former Vale of GlamorganVale of Glamorgan (UK Parliament constituency)Vale of Glamorgan is a county constituency in South Wales, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
MP Walter SweeneyWalter SweeneyWalter Edward Sweeney is a British Conservative politician.-Member of Parliament:In 1992, Sweeney was elected MP for the Vale of Glamorgan by just 19 votes, defeating Labour's John Smith who had received the seat in a 1989 by-election...
stands as an independent, winning 1% of the votes. - Cheadle by-election, 2005Cheadle by-election, 2005The Cheadle by-election, in Greater Manchester, England, was caused by the death of Patsy Calton, the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Cheadle on 29 May 2005. The election was held on 14 July 2005....
: Stephen DayStephen Day (MP)Stephen Richard Day is a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom, and a former Member of Parliament .He was the Conservative candidate for Bradford West at the 1983 general election, before being elected as MP for Cheadle from 1987 to 2001, when he lost his seat by 33 votes, the...
fails to regain for the Conservatives a seat he lost by only 33 votes four years previously. - Winchester by-election, 1997Winchester by-election, 1997The 1997 Winchester by-election was a by-election to the UK House of Commons in the constituency of Winchester, Hampshire. After an unclear result in Winchester at the general election on 1 May 1997, a new election was allowed by the High Court...
: Gerald Malone fails disastrously to regain the seat for the Conservatives, after losing by only 2 votes six months previously. - Christchurch by-election, 1993Christchurch by-election, 1993A by-election was held in the British House of Commons constituency of Christchurch on 29 July 1993 following the death of sitting Conservative MP Robert Adley....
: Robert HaywardRobert HaywardRobert Antony Hayward OBE is a British former Conservative Party politician. He was the Member of Parliament for Kingswood from 1983 to 1992, when he lost his seat to Labour's Roger Berry...
loses one of the Conservatives' safest seats to the Liberal Democrats. - Eastbourne by-election, 1990Eastbourne by-election, 1990The 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....
: Richard HickmetRichard HickmetRichard 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...
fails disastrously to defend the seat for the Conservatives, after publicly stating that for electors not to support him would be a moral victory for the Provisional Irish Republican ArmyProvisional Irish Republican ArmyThe 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...
. - Pontypridd by-election, 1989Pontypridd by-election, 1989The Pontypridd by-election, 1989 was a by-election held in Wales on 23 February 1989 for the House of Commons constituency of Pontypridd in Mid Glamorgan....
: Tom EllisTom Ellis (politician)Robert Thomas Ellis, , commonly known as Tom Ellis, was a British politician who was elected several times as a Labour Member of Parliament, and later defected to the Social Democratic Party ....
, former Labour and SDP MP, stands for the Social and Liberal DemocratsLiberal DemocratsThe Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
, losing his deposit. - Fermanagh and South Tyrone by-election, 1986: Owen CarronOwen CarronOwen Gerard Carron is an Irish republican activist and who was Member of Parliament for Fermanagh and South Tyrone from 1981 to 1983.Carron is the nephew of former Nationalist Party politician John Carron....
fails to regain the seat for Sinn Féin that he held 1981-83. - Peckham by-election, 1982Peckham by-election, 1982The Peckham by-election of 28 October 1982 was held after the death of Labour Member of Parliament Harry Lamborn on 21 August 1982. The seat was retained for Labour by Harriet Harman.-Results:...
: Dick Taverne, former Labour and Democratic Labour MP, stands for the SDP. - Gower by-election, 1982Gower by-election, 1982The Gower by-election of 16 September 1982 was held after the death of Labour Member of Parliament Ifor Davies on 6 June 1982. The seat was held by Labour in the by-election....
: Gwynoro JonesGwynoro JonesGwynoro Glyndwr Jones is a former British / Welsh politician.Before entering Parliament he was Public Relations Officer for the Labour Party in Wales 1968 and, together with Emrys Jones, Regional Organiser for the Wales Labour Party and Gwyn Morgan, Assistant General Secretary to the UK Party, he...
, former Labour MP, stands for the SDP. - Beaconsfield by-election, 1982Beaconsfield by-election, 1982The Beaconsfield by-election, 1982 was a parliamentary by-election held on 27 May 1982 for the British House of Commons constituency of Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire...
: Paul Tyler fails for the Liberals in a by-election held during the Falklands WarFalklands WarThe Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
. - Warrington by-election, 1981Warrington by-election, 1981The Warrington by-election, 1981 was held on 16 July 1981.The by-election was caused by the appointment of Thomas Williams, Labour Party Member of Parliament for Warrington, as a High Court Judge....
: Roy JenkinsRoy JenkinsRoy Harris Jenkins, Baron Jenkins of Hillhead OM, PC was a British politician.The son of a Welsh coal miner who later became a union official and Labour MP, Roy Jenkins served with distinction in World War II. Elected to Parliament as a Labour member in 1948, he served in several major posts in...
narrowly fails to win for the SDP in its first parliamentary contest. - Fermanagh and South Tyrone by-election, April 1981: Harry WestHarry WestHenry William West was a politician in Northern Ireland who served as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party from 1974 until 1979.West was born in County Fermanagh and educated at Portora Royal School in Enniskillen...
fails to regain his old seat against Bobby SandsBobby SandsRobert Gerard "Bobby" Sands was an Irish volunteer of the Provisional Irish Republican Army and member of the United Kingdom Parliament who died on hunger strike while imprisoned in HM Prison Maze.... - Hamilton by-election, 1978Hamilton by-election, 1978There was a by-election for the United Kingdom House of Commons in Hamilton on Wednesday 31 May 1978. It was caused by the death of Labour Party Member of Parliament Alexander Wilson.The by-election was the last in the UK to date not held on a Thursday...
: Margo MacdonaldMargo MacDonaldMargo MacDonald MSP is a Scottish politician and former Scottish National Party MP and Deputy Leader...
fails to repeat the SNP's 1967 triumph. - Ilford North by-election, 1978Ilford North by-election, 1978The Ilford North by-election of 2 March 1978 was held after the death of Labour Member of Parliament Millie Miller on 29 October 1977. The seat was gained by the Conservatives in a defeat for James Callaghan's government.-Results:...
: Thomas IremongerThomas IremongerThomas Lascelles Isa Shandon Valiant Iremonger was a British Conservative Party politician.Iremonger was educated at King's College, Canterbury and Oriel College, Oxford, where he gained a sailing blue, then worked as a district officer in the Colonial Administrative Service in the Western Pacific...
, who had sat for the seat 1954-74, stands as an independent Conservative, winning a mere 1.5% of the vote. - Birmingham Stechford by-election, 1977Birmingham Stechford by-election, 1977The Birmingham Stechford by-election, in Birmingham, on 31 March 1977 was held after Labour Member of Parliament Roy Jenkins resigned his seat following his appointment as President of the European Commission. A seat that had been solidly Labour since its formation in 1950, it was won by Andrew...
: Terry Davis loses a safe Labour seat. - Walsall North by-election, 1976Walsall North by-election, 1976The Walsall North by-election on 4 November 1976 was held after the resignation of sitting Member of Parliament John Stonehouse. Elected as a Labour candidate, Stonehouse was a member of the English National Party when he resigned, after an interlude in which he faked his own death...
: David WinnickDavid WinnickDavid Julian Winnick is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Walsall North since 1979....
loses a safe Labour seat. - Liverpool Scotland by-election, 1971Liverpool Scotland by-election, 1971The Liverpool Scotland by-election of 1 April 1971 was held after Labour Member of Parliament Walter Alldritt resigned from the House of Commons. The seat was retained by Labour.-Results:...
: Peter MahonPeter Mahon (UK politician)Peter Mahon was a British Labour Party politician.Peter Mahon was born into an Irish Roman Catholic family in Bootle that was immersed in Liverpool Labour politics. He joined the Labour Party in 1924, at the age of 15. His father, Alderman Simon Mahon , was a well-known local politician, who also...
stands as an Independent Labour Anti-Abortion candidate, securing 10.3% of the vote. - Brighton Pavilion by-election, 1969Brighton Pavilion by-election, 1969The Brighton Pavilion by-election of 27 March 1969 was held after Conservative Member of Parliament William Teeling resigned from the House of Commons due to health problems. The seat was retained by the Conservatives.-Results:...
: Thomas Skeffington-LodgeThomas Skeffington-LodgeThomas Cecil Skeffington-Lodge was a British Labour Party politician. He was Member of Parliament for Bedford from 1945 to 1950.He was from a Yorkshire farming family which owned 2,000 acres...
stands for Labour in a safe Conservative seat, 19 years after losing his seat. - Nuneaton by-election, 1967Nuneaton by-election, 1967The Nuneaton by-election of 16 December 1966 was held after the resignation of Labour MP Frank Cousins:The seat was safe, having been won by Labour at the United Kingdom general election, 1966 by over 11,000 votes-Candidates:...
: Air Vice-Marshall Donald BennettDon BennettAir Vice Marshal Donald Clifford Tyndall Bennett CB CBE DSO RAF was an Australian aviation pioneer and bomber pilot who rose to be the youngest Air Vice-Marshal in the Royal Air Force. He led the "Pathfinder Force" from 1942 to the end of the Second World War in 1945...
stands as a National Party candidate, 22 years after losing his seat as a Liberal MP. - Salisbury by-election, 1965Salisbury by-election, 1965The Salisbury by-election, 1965 was a by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Salisbury in Wiltshire on 4 February 1965. It was won by the Conservative Party candidate Michael Hamilton.- Vacancy :...
: Horace Trevor-CoxHorace Trevor-CoxHorace Brimson Trevor-Cox was a British farmer, landowner and politician who served from 1937 to 1945 as a Conservative Member of Parliament , but left the Conservatives in the 1960s and subsequently joined the Labour Party.Born in Birkenhead and brought up near Chester, his father was a...
stands as an independent Conservative, 20 years after losing his seat. - Leyton by-election, 1965Leyton by-election, 1965The Leyton by-election, 1965 was a parliamentary by-election held on 21 January 1965 for the British House of Commons constituency of Leyton in east London....
: Patrick Gordon-Walker narrowly loses a supposed safe seat. - South Dorset by-election, 1962South Dorset by-election, 1962The South Dorset by-election, 1962 occurred following the death of George Montagu, 9th Earl of Sandwich on 15 June 1962. His son Viscount Hinchingbrooke, the incumbent MP for the constituency of South Dorset, was subsequently elevated to the peerage becoming the 10th Earl of Sandwich...
: Angus MaudeAngus MaudeAngus Edmund Upton Maude, Baron Maude of Stratford-upon-Avon PC , was a Conservative Party politician and British cabinet member from 1979 until 1981. He was the father of Conservative MP Francis Maude....
narrowly loses. - Bolton East by-election, 1960Bolton East by-election, 1960The Bolton East by-election, 1960 was a by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Bolton East in Lancashire on 16 November 1960. It was won by the Conservative Party candidate Edwin Taylor.- Vacancy :...
: Frank ByersFrank ByersCharles Frank Byers, Baron Byers, OBE, PC, DL was a British Liberal Party politician.Byers was born in Wallasey, Cheshire, moved with the family to Potters Bar and was educated at Westminster School, later Christ Church, Oxford where he won a Blue for athletics...
stands for the Liberals. - Hereford by-election, 1956Hereford by-election, 1956The Hereford by-election of 14 February 1956 was held after the death of Conservative Member of Parliament Jim Thomas:The seat was safe, having been won by Thomas at the United Kingdom general election, 1955 albeit with a reduced majority of over 9,000 votes-Candidates:*David Gibson-Watt was the...
: Frank OwenFrank Owen (politician)Humphrey Frank Owen was a British journalist and Liberal Member of Parliament. He was a Lloyd Georgite Liberal MP for Hereford between 1929 and 1931...
fails to regain for the Liberals the seat he previously sat for 1929-1931. - Mid Ulster by-election, 1956Mid Ulster by-election, 1956The by-election held in Mid Ulster on 8 May 1956 was called because both candidates in the Mid Ulster by-election, 1955 were disqualified. Tom Mitchell was disqualified from assuming office because he was a convicted felon. Charles Beattie was awarded the seat but he was also disqualified because...
: Michael O'NeillMichael O'Neill (politician)Michael O'Neill was an Irish politician in the United Kingdom.O'Neill was educated at Dromore National School and Bellisle Academy. He was a farmer and a chairman of the Gaelic Athletic Association...
fails to regain the seat, a year after retiring as its MP. - Croydon North by-election, 1948Croydon North by-election, 1948The Croydon North by-election, 1948 was a parliamentary by-election held in the British House of Commons constituency of Croydon North on 11 March 1948...
: Air Vice-Marshall Donald BennettDon BennettAir Vice Marshal Donald Clifford Tyndall Bennett CB CBE DSO RAF was an Australian aviation pioneer and bomber pilot who rose to be the youngest Air Vice-Marshal in the Royal Air Force. He led the "Pathfinder Force" from 1942 to the end of the Second World War in 1945...
stands for the Liberals, losing his deposit. - Hornsey by-election, 1941, Hampstead by-election, 1941Hampstead by-election, 1941The Hampstead by-election, 1941 was a by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Hampstead in London on 27 November 1941....
and two others: Noel Pemberton BillingNoel Pemberton BillingNoel Pemberton Billing was an English aviator, inventor, publisher, and Member of Parliament. He founded the firm that became Supermarine and promoted air power, but he held a strong antipathy towards the Royal Aircraft Factory and its products...
fails to take a seat, 20 years after standing down as an independent MP. - Westminster Abbey by-election, 1924Westminster Abbey by-election, 1924The Westminster Abbey by-election, 1924 was a parliamentary by-election held on 19 March 1924 for the British House of Commons constituency of Westminster Abbey in London. The seat had become vacant when the Conservative Member of Parliament John Nicholson had died on 21 February 1924. Nicholson...
: Winston ChurchillWinston ChurchillSir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
narrowly fails to take the seat, as a Constitutionalist. - Woolwich East by-election, 1921Woolwich East by-election, 1921The Woolwich East by-election, 1921 was a parliamentary by-election held on 2 March 1921 for the British House of Commons constituency of Woolwich East, in the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich in London....
: Ramsay MacDonaldRamsay MacDonaldJames Ramsay MacDonald, PC, FRS was a British politician who was the first ever Labour Prime Minister, leading a minority government for two terms....
loses a supposed safe Labour seat.
Re-election of Ministers
Until the Re-election of Ministers Acts 1919 and 1926 there were many cases of members having to seek re-election on appointment to ministerial office. In eight instances they were unsuccessful:
- Pontypridd by-election, 1922 Thomas Arthur LewisThomas Arthur LewisThomas Arthur Lewis was a Welsh school teacher, barrister and Liberal Party politician.-Family and education:...
was defeated after being appointed a Junior Lord of the Treasury. - Dudley by-election, 1921 Sir Arthur Griffith-BoscawenArthur Griffith-BoscawenLieutenant-Colonel Sir Arthur Sackville Trevor Griffith-Boscawen PC was a British Conservative Party politician whose career was cut short by losing a string of Parliamentary elections....
was defeated after being appointed Minister of AgricultureMinister of Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodThe Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was a UK cabinet position, responsible for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The post was originally named President of the Board of Agriculture and was created in 1889...
. - Ipswich by-election, 1914 Charles Masterman was defeated in a subsequent attempt to return to the House of Commons.
- Bethnal Green South West by-election, 1914 Charles Masterman was defeated after being appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterChancellor of the Duchy of LancasterThe Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is, in modern times, a ministerial office in the government of the United Kingdom that includes as part of its duties, the administration of the estates and rents of the Duchy of Lancaster...
. - Manchester South by-election, 1912 Sir Arthur Haworth was defeated after being appointed a Junior Lord of the Treasury.
- North Ayrshire by-election, 1911 Andrew Macbeth AndersonAndrew Macbeth AndersonAndrew Macbeth Anderson was a Scottish barrister, judge and Liberal Party politician. At the time of his death he was the senior Scottish judge and held the judicial title of the Honourable Lord Anderson.-Family and education:...
was defeated after being appointed Solicitor General for ScotlandSolicitor General for ScotlandHer Majesty's Solicitor General for Scotland is one of the Law Officers of the Crown, and the deputy of the Lord Advocate, whose duty is to advise the Crown and the Scottish Government on Scots Law...
. - Manchester North West by-election, 1908 Winston ChurchillWinston ChurchillSir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
was defeated after being appointed President of the Board of Trade - Brighton by-election, 1905 Gerald Loder was defeated after being appointed Lord Commissioner of the Treasury
Since 1945
- Bobby SandsBobby SandsRobert Gerard "Bobby" Sands was an Irish volunteer of the Provisional Irish Republican Army and member of the United Kingdom Parliament who died on hunger strike while imprisoned in HM Prison Maze....
, Anti-H Block Fermanagh and South Tyrone by-election, April 1981 25 days 1 - Michael CarrMichael Carr (Labour politician)Michael Carr was a British Labour Party politician who served as Member of Parliament for Bootle for 57 days in 1990 from his election until his death. He was a dockworker who later became a trade union official, but his political rise was assisted by the help he gave the Labour Party leadership...
, Labour Bootle by-election, May 1990 57 days 1 - Oswald O'BrienOswald O'BrienOswald O'Brien was a British Labour Co-operative politician.He was born Oswald O'Brien into a family of teachers in 1928, in Darlington...
, Labour Darlington by-election, 1983Darlington by-election, 1983The Darlington by-election, 1983 was a parliamentary by-election held on 24 March 1983 for the British House of Commons constituency of Darlington in County Durham....
77 days 2 - Margo MacdonaldMargo MacDonaldMargo MacDonald MSP is a Scottish politician and former Scottish National Party MP and Deputy Leader...
, SNP Glasgow Govan by-election, 1973Glasgow Govan by-election, 1973The Glasgow Govan by-election was held on 8 November 1973, following the death of John Rankin, Labour Party Member of Parliament for the Glasgow Govan constituency. Rankin had died one month earlier, on 8 October 1973. Rankin had held the seat since 1955. With the exception of a narrow Conservative...
112 days 2 - Charles BeattieCharles BeattieCharles Beattie was a Northern Irish farmer and auctioneer. Active in the Ulster Farmers' Union and in Unionist associations, he achieved senior office in the Orange Order and the Royal Black Institution and served on Omagh Rural District Council from 1952 until his death...
, Unionist Mid Ulster by-election, 1955Mid Ulster by-election, 1955The by-election held in Mid Ulster on 11 August 1955 was called as a result of a vote in the British parliament on 18 July 1955 which voted 197 votes to 63 to nullify the result of the previous 1955 UK General Election in the constituency...
123 days 3 - Nicol StephenNicol StephenNicol Ross Stephen, Baron Stephen of Lower Deeside in the City of Aberdeen is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician. He was the Member of the Scottish Parliament for Aberdeen South, and was leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats from 2005 to 2008...
, Lib Dem Kincardine and Deeside by-election, 1991Kincardine and Deeside by-election, 1991The Kincardine and Deeside by-election was a parliamentary election held in Kincardine and Deeside, Scotland, on 7 November 1991, caused by the death of its Conservative Member of Parliament , Alick Buchanan-Smith on 29 August 1991....
154 days 2 - Ashok Kumar, Labour Langbaurgh by-election, 1991Langbaurgh by-election, 1991The Langbaurgh by-election, 1991 was a by-election held on 7 November 1991 for the British House of Commons constituency of Langbaurgh, in the former county of Cleveland in North East England...
154 days 2a - Helen McElhoneHelen McElhoneHelen Margaret McElhone is a Scottish politician. She worked together with her husband, Frank McElhone, during his time as a Member of Parliament representing Glasgow from 1969...
, Labour Glasgow Queen's Park by-election, 1982Glasgow Queen's Park by-election, 1982The Glasgow Queen's Park by-election, 1982 was a parliamentary by-election held on 2 December 1982 for the British House of Commons constituency of Glasgow Queen's Park.- Previous MP :...
189 days 4 - David AustickDavid AustickDavid Austick was a British Liberal Party politician and bookshop owner.At a by-election in July 1973 caused by the death of the sitting Conservative MP Sir Malcolm Stoddart-Scott, Austick was elected Member of Parliament for Ripon in North Yorkshire, gaining the seat from the Conservatives by a...
, Liberal Ripon by-election, 1973Ripon by-election, 1973The Ripon by-election, 1973 was a parliamentary by-election held on 26 July 1973 for the British House of Commons constituency of Ripon.The by-election took place during the 1970s Liberal revival. This seat and Isle of Ely were gained on the same day, the third and fourth Liberal gains during the...
217 days 2 - John SpellarJohn SpellarJohn Francis Spellar is a British Labour Party politician, and the Member of Parliament for Warley. He served as a Minister of State at the Northern Ireland Office, before returning to the backbenches in 2005...
, Labour Birmingham Northfield by-election, 1982Birmingham Northfield by-election, 1982The Birmingham, Northfield by-election of 28 October 1982 was held after the death of Conservative Member of Parliament Jocelyn Cadbury on 31 July 1982...
224 days 2a - Christopher WardChristopher Ward (UK politician)Christopher John Ferguson Ward is a British solicitor and Conservative Party politician, who served as a Member of Parliament for only seven months after winning a byelection...
, Conservative Swindon by-election, 1969Swindon by-election, 1969The Swindon by-election of 3 October 1969 was held after Labour Member of Parliament Francis Noel-Baker resigned from the House of Commons. The seat was won by the Conservative Party in a defeat for Harold Wilson's government.-Results:...
231 days 2 - William McCreaWilliam McCrea (politician)Robert Thomas William McCrea is a politician from Northern Ireland, and a member of the Democratic Unionist Party.-Career:...
, DUP South Antrim by-election, 2000South Antrim by-election, 2000Clifford Forsythe, the Ulster Unionist Member of Parliament for South Antrim, died on April 27, 2000, precipitating a by-election.-Candidates:...
259 days 2ab - Parmjit Singh GillParmjit Singh GillParmjit Singh Gill is a British Liberal Democrat politician. As Member of Parliament for Leicester South from 2004 to 2005, he is the only ever ethnic-minority Liberal Democrat MP....
, Lib Dem Leicester South by-election, 2004Leicester South by-election, 2004A by-election was held in Leicester South on 15 July, the same day as the Birmingham Hodge Hill by-election. It was won by Parmjit Singh Gill of the Liberal Democrats, over-turning a Labour majority of 13,243 votes at the 2001 General Election....
294 days 2 - David Colville AndersonDavid Colville AndersonDavid Colville Anderson, VRD, QC was a Scottish law lecturer, advocate, Unionist MP, Solicitor General for Scotland, and judge, whose career ended in scandal....
, Conservative Dumfriesshire by-election, 1963 309 days 5 - Huw EdwardsHuw Edwards (politician)Huw William Edmund Edwards is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for Monmouth over two separate terms....
, Labour Monmouth by-election, 1991Monmouth by-election, 1991The Monmouth by-election, 1991 was a by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Monmouth in Wales on 16 May 1991. It was won by the Labour Party candidate Huw Edwards.- Vacancy :...
329 days 2a - Thomas Teevan, Unionist Belfast West by-election, 1950Belfast West by-election, 1950There was a by-election for Belfast West constituency on 29 November 1950.It occurred after the winner at the 1950 UK general election, James Godfrey MacManaway, was disqualified as he was a priest....
330 days 2 - Wallace LawlerWallace LawlerWallace Leslie Lawler was a British Liberal politician. He was elected a Member of Parliament by gaining Birmingham, Ladywood from Labour at a by-election on 26 June 1969. However, Lawler only served for one year, as Labour's Doris Fisher regained the seat from him at the 1970 general election...
, Liberal Birmingham Ladywood by-election, 1969Birmingham Ladywood by-election, 1969The Birmingham Ladywood by-election, in Birmingham, on 26 June 1969 was held after Labour Member of Parliament Victor Yates died on 19 January the same year. Although the seat had been Labour-held since 1945 it was captured by the Liberals in a defeat for Harold Wilson's government.-Campaign:In...
357 days 2 - George MachinGeorge MachinGeorge Machin was a British Labour Party politician, engineering inspector and shop steward.Machin was a native of Sheffield and attended Marlcliffe School there. During the second World War he served in the Royal Air Force; when it ended he became an engineering inspector and active in the trade...
, Labour Dundee East by-election, 1973Dundee East by-election, 1973There was a by-election for Dundee East, in Scotland, on March 1st, 1973. It was one of three UK parliamentary by-elections held on that day.It was caused by the appointment of George Thomson as a European commissioner....
364 days 2
Notes
- 1 died
- 2 defeated at next general election
- 3 disqualified (Beattie was never elected. He was awarded the seat on the disqualification of his predecessor, only to be found to be disqualified himself)
- 4 retired at next general election (seat abolished by redistribution and failed to secure alternative seat)
- 5 retired at next general election due to personal difficulties
- a returned to Parliament at a subsequent election
- b had served previously as an MP
Pre-1945
- Henry Francis ComptonHenry Francis ComptonHenry Francis Compton was a British Conservative politician. He was elected Member of Parliament for New Forest at a by-election in 1905, but only weeks later lost the seat to the Liberals at the 1906 general election.Compton was born in 1872, the son of Henry Compton, of Minstead Manor House,...
, Conservative New Forest by-election, 1905 46 days 2 - Ronald BellRonald Bell (UK politician)Sir Ronald McMillan Bell, , QC , Knight Bachelor , was a Conservative Party Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom representing South Buckinghamshire from 1950 to 1974 and Beaconsfield from 1974 to 1982.-Family and education:The younger son of John Bell, Ronald was educated at Cardiff High...
, Conservative Newport by-election, 1945Newport by-election, 1945The Newport by-election, 1945 was a parliamentary by-election held on 17 May 1945 for the British House of Commons constituency of Newport in Monmouthshire. It was the last by-election of the 1935-1945 Parliament....
70 days 2a - Donald Bennett, Liberal Middlesbrough West by-election, 1945Middlesbrough West by-election, 1945The Middlesbrough West by-election, 1945 was a parliamentary by-election held on 14 May 1945 for the British House of Commons constituency of Middlesbrough West.- Previous MP :...
73 days 2 - John DumphreysJohn DumphreysJohn Molesworth Thomas Dumphreys was a British Conservative politician. He was elected Member of Parliament for Bermondsey in a 1909 by-election, but weeks later lost the seat to the Liberals at the January 1910 General Election.Dumphreys was born in Bermondsey in 1844. Of humble origins, he...
, Conservative Bermondsey by-election, 1909 83 days 2 - Seaborne DaviesSeaborne DaviesProfessor David Richard Seaborne Davies was a Welsh law teacher who served briefly as a Liberal Party Member of Parliament .- Early life :...
, Liberal Caernarvon Boroughs by-election, 1945Caernarvon Boroughs by-election, 1945The Caernarvon Boroughs by-election, 1945 was a parliamentary by-election held on 26 April 1945 for the British House of Commons constituency of Caernarvon Boroughs.- Previous MP :...
91 days 2 - Joseph Ormond AndrewsJoseph Andrews (politician)Joseph Ormond Andrews was a Liberal Party politician in the United Kingdom.Andrews was educated at the Ripon Cathedral Choir School....
, Liberal Barkston Ash by-election, 1905Barkston Ash by-election, 1905The Barkston Ash by-election, 1905 was a parliamentary by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Barkston Ash, then in the West Riding of Yorkshire, on 13 October 1905.-Vacancy:...
97 days 2 - Dr Robert McIntyreRobert McIntyreDr Robert Douglas McIntyre was the Leader of the Scottish National Party from 1947–1956 and a doctor by profession...
, SNP Motherwell by-election, 1945Motherwell by-election, 1945The Motherwell by-election was held on 12 April 1945, following the death of Labour Party Member of Parliament for Motherwell James Walker.The by-election took place during the Second World War during unusual political conditions...
104 days 2 - Ruth DaltonRuth DaltonFlorence Ruth Dalton , known as Ruth Dalton and later Lady Dalton, was a British Labour Party politician...
, Labour Bishop Auckland by-election, 1929Bishop Auckland by-election, 1929The Bishop Auckland by-election, 1929 was a parliamentary by-election held on 7 February 1929 for the British House of Commons constituency of Bishop Auckland in County Durham....
112 days 3 - George Knox AndersonGeorge Knox AndersonGeorge Knox Anderson JP was briefly the Conservative Member of Parliament for Canterbury.Anderson was elected unopposed in August 1918 to succeed Francis Bennett-Goldney, who was killed while serving in France. Anderson was nearly 64 years old when elected.He retired at the dissolution three...
, Conservative Canterbury by-election, 1918 113 days 3 - Herbert EvansHerbert Evans (politician)Herbert Evans was a Labour Party politician in the United Kingdom.He contested the 1929 general election in the Conservative safe seat of Maldon in Essex, where the Conservative vote fell but the gains were made by the Liberal candidate.He was elected as Member of Parliament for Gateshead at a...
, Labour Gateshead by-election, 1931Gateshead by-election, 1931The Gateshead by-election, 1931 was a parliamentary by-election held on 8 June 1931 for the British House of Commons constituency of Gateshead.- Previous MP :...
121 days 1 - Andrew ClarkeAndrew Bathgate ClarkeAndrew Bathgate Clarke was a Scottish Labour Party politician who served as the Member of Parliament for Midlothian and Peebles Northern for two short periods in the 1920s....
, Labour Midlothian and Peebles North by-election, 1929 121 days 2b - Sir Henry Wilson, Unionist North Down by-election, February 1922 121 days 5
- Joseph HendersonJoseph Henderson, 1st Baron Henderson of ArdwickJoseph Henderson, 1st Baron Henderson of Ardwick was a Labour Party politician in the United Kingdom.He was elected as Member of Parliament for Manchester Ardwick at a by-election in June 1931, following the death of the Labour MP Thomas Lowth...
, Labour Manchester Ardwick by-election, 1931 135 days 2a - Evan Cotton, Liberal Finsbury East by-election, 1918Finsbury East by-election, 1918The Finsbury East by-election, 1918 was a parliamentary by-election held for the House of Commons constituency of East Finsbury in north London on 16 July 1918.-Vacancy:...
151 days 2 - David HardieDavid HardieSir David Hardie was an Australian medical practitioner.Hardie was born on at New Spynie near Elgin, Morayshire, Scotland, son of John Hardie, farmer, and his wife Margaret...
, Labour Glasgow Rutherglen by-election, 1931 159 days 2 - Lord Arthur Hill, Unionist West Down by-election, 1907 193 days 7b
- Oswald CawleyOswald CawleyOswald Cawley , styled The Honourable from January 1918, was a British soldier and Liberal Party politician....
, Liberal Prestwich by-election, January 1918Prestwich by-election, January 1918The Prestwich by-election, January 1918 was a by-election held on 31 January 1918 for the British House of Commons constituency of Prestwich in Lancashire.-Vacancy:...
202 days 1 - Francis Norie-MillerFrancis Norie-MillerSir Francis Norie-Miller, 1st Baronet was a British insurance company manager and Liberal later Liberal National politician. Although he was born in England, his chief associations were with Scotland and in particular the city of Perth...
, Liberal National Perth by-election, 1935 212 days 3 - George Banton, Labour Leicester East by-election, 1922 230 days 2a
- William Henry Somervell, Liberal Keighley by-election, 1918Keighley by-election, 1918The Keighley by-election, 1918 was a parliamentary by-election held for the House of Commons constituency of Keighley in the West Riding of Yorkshire on 26 April 1918. -Vacancy:...
232 days 2 - Noel Edward Buxton, Liberal Whitby by-election, 1905 238 days 2a
- Leslie Orme WilsonLeslie Orme WilsonSir Leslie Orme Wilson, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, DSO, PC was a British soldier, Conservative politician and Governor of Queensland.-Personal life:...
, Conservative Portsmouth South by-election, 1922 243 days 7b - Leah ManningLeah ManningDame Elizabeth Leah Manning DBE was a British educationalist, social reformer, and Labour Member of Parliament in the 1930s and 1940s...
, Labour Islington East by-election, 1931Islington East by-election, 1931The Islington East by-election, 1931 was a parliamentary by-election held on 19th February 1931 for the British House of Commons constituency of Islington East in Islington, North London....
250 days 2a - Frederick William GibbinsFrederick William GibbinsFrederick William Gibbins was a Welsh businessman and Liberal Party politician.-Family and education:Gibbins was born in Neath the eldest son of F J Gibbins, a local Justice of the Peace. He was educated privately but also attended the Quaker School in Scarborough...
, Liberal Mid Glamorgan by-election, 1910 253 days 3 - C. V. F. PalmerCharles Frederick PalmerCharles Frederick Palmer was a British journalist and newspaper editor, closely associated at the end of his career with the politician and business fraudster Horatio Bottomley. Palmer sat briefly in the House of Commons after winning a by-election as an Independent in February 1920.-Career:Palmer...
, Independent The Wrekin by-election, 1920 261 days 1 - Maurice HealyMaurice HealyMaurice Healy was an Irish nationalist politician, lawyer and Member of Parliament . As a member of the Irish Parliamentary Party, he was returned to in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland four times between 1885 and 1918.He was one of twins, the third son born...
, Ind. Nationalist Cork City by-election, 1909 262 days 2ab - John Edward SuttonJohn Edward SuttonJohn Edward Sutton was a British trades unionist and Labour Party politician.At the age of 14, Sutton took up employment at Bradford Colliery, Manchester. He became a check-weighman and secretary of the Bradford branch of the Lancashire and Cheshire Miners' Federation...
, Labour Manchester Clayton by-election, 1922Manchester Clayton by-election, 1922The Manchester Clayton by-election of 18 February 1922 was held after the death of the Conservative politician and Member of Parliament Edward Hopkinson. Labour took the seat in the by-election...
270 days 2ab - James Chuter EdeJames Chuter EdeJames Chuter Ede, Baron Chuter-Ede CH, PC, DL was a British teacher, trade unionist and Labour politician. He notably served as Home Secretary under Clement Attlee from 1945 to 1951.-Early life:...
, Labour Mitcham by-election, 1923 278 days 2a - J. J. Cleary, Labour Liverpool Wavertree by-election, 1935Liverpool Wavertree by-election, 1935The Liverpool Wavertree by-election, 1935 was a by-election held in England for the House of Commons constituency of Liverpool Wavertree on 6 February 1935. It was won by the Labour Party candidate Joseph Jackson Cleary.- Vacancy :...
281 days 2 - Sir William BeveridgeWilliam BeveridgeWilliam Henry Beveridge, 1st Baron Beveridge KCB was a British economist and social reformer. He is best known for his 1942 report Social Insurance and Allied Services which served as the basis for the post-World War II welfare state put in place by the Labour government elected in 1945.Lord...
, Liberal Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1944Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1944The Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1944 was a parliamentary by-election held on 17 October 1944 for the British House of Commons constituency of Berwick-upon-Tweed.- Previous MP :...
282 days 2 - W. P. Sidney, Conservative Chelsea by-election, 1944Chelsea by-election, 1944The Chelsea by-election, 1944 was a by-election held on 11 October 1944 for the British House of Commons constituency of Chelsea in London.The by-election was caused by the elevation of the constituency's Conservative Party Member of Parliament Sir Samuel Hoare to the peerage as Viscount Templewood...
288 days 4 - Sir John ReithJohn Reith, 1st Baron ReithJohn Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith, KT, GCVO, GBE, CB, TD, PC was a Scottish broadcasting executive who established the tradition of independent public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom...
, NationalUK National GovernmentIn the United Kingdom the term National Government is an abstract concept referring to a coalition of some or all major political parties. In a historical sense it usually refers primarily to the governments of Ramsay MacDonald, Stanley Baldwin and Neville Chamberlain which held office from 1931...
Southampton by-election, February 1940 293 days 6 - W. E. Gibbons, Conservative Bilston by-election, 1944 309 days 2
- Lord Charles BeresfordLord Charles BeresfordCharles William de la Poer Beresford, 1st Baron Beresford GCB GCVO , styled Lord Charles Beresford between 1859 and 1916, was a British Admiral and Member of Parliament....
, Conservative Woolwich by-election, 1902 320 days 7ab - Arthur HendersonArthur HendersonArthur Henderson was a British iron moulder and Labour politician. He was the 1934 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and he served three short terms as the Leader of the Labour Party from 1908–1910, 1914–1917 and 1931-1932....
, Labour Newcastle East by-election, 1923 323 days 2ab - James Henry HallJames Henry HallJames Henry Hall , known as J. H. Hall, was a British trade unionist and Labour Party politician who served as the Member of Parliament for the Whitechapel and St Georges division of Stepney from 1930 to 1931 and from 1935 to 1942.- Career :Hall became interested in trade unionism in his youth,...
, Labour Whitechapel and St.George's by-election, 1931 328 days 2a - Thomas NaylorThomas Naylor (UK politician)Thomas Ellis Naylor was a British Labour Party politician.- External links :...
, Labour Southwark South East by-election, 1921Southwark South East by-election, 1921The Southwark South East by-election, 1921 was a parliamentary by-election held on 14 December 1921 for the British House of Commons constituency of Southwark South East, in the Metropolitan Borough of Southwark in London....
336 days 2a
- 1 died
- 2 defeated at next general election
- 3 retired at next general election
- 4 retired at next general election, upon succession to a peerage
- 5 assassinated by IRA
- 6 elevated to the Peerage
- 7 resigned
- a returned to Parliament at a subsequent election
- b had served previously as an MP
Youngest by-election victors
- Esmond HarmsworthEsmond Harmsworth, 2nd Viscount RothermereEsmond Cecil Harmsworth, 2nd Viscount Rothermere was a British Conservative politician and press magnate.Harmsworth's father, Harold Sidney Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Rothermere, had been the financial wizard behind the creation of the Daily Mail in partnership with his brother Alfred Harmsworth,...
, elected on 15 November 1919 from Isle of ThanetIsle of Thanet (UK Parliament constituency)Isle of Thanet was a county constituency which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885, until it was abolished for the February 1974 general election....
aged 21 years 170 days. - Youngest woman: Bernadette DevlinBernadette Devlin McAliskeyJosephine Bernadette Devlin McAliskey , also known as Bernadette Devlin and Bernadette McAliskey, is a socialist republican political activist...
, elected on 17 April 1969 from Mid UlsterMid Ulster (UK Parliament constituency)Mid Ulster is a Parliamentary Constituency in the British House of Commons.-Boundaries:The constituency was created in 1950 when the old two-seat constituency of Fermanagh and Tyrone was abolished as part of the final move to single member seats...
aged 21 years 359 days.
Oldest by-election victors
- James Patrick MahonJames Patrick MahonCharles James Patrick Mahon, known as the O'Gorman Mahon or James Patrick Mahon was an Irish nationalist journalist, barrister, parliamentarian and international mercenary.-Personal life:...
was 79 when he held the Clare by-election, 1879 and 87 when he held the County Carlow by-election, 1887 for the Irish Nationalists. - Henry Bruce ArmstrongHenry Bruce ArmstrongHenry Bruce Wright Armstrong was a Northern Irish barrister and politician, Unionist MP for Mid Armagh from January 1921 until 1922....
was almost 77 when he held the Mid Armagh by-election, 1921 for the Ulster Unionists. - Francis Norie-MillerFrancis Norie-MillerSir Francis Norie-Miller, 1st Baronet was a British insurance company manager and Liberal later Liberal National politician. Although he was born in England, his chief associations were with Scotland and in particular the city of Perth...
was 76 when he gained the Perth by-election, 1935 for the Liberal Nationals. - Enoch PowellEnoch PowellJohn Enoch Powell, MBE was a British politician, classical scholar, poet, writer, and soldier. He served as a Conservative Party MP and Minister of Health . He attained most prominence in 1968, when he made the controversial Rivers of Blood speech in opposition to mass immigration from...
was 73 when he successfully defended his seat at the South Down by-election, 1986, although he had been an MP almost continuously since 1950. - Sir George ReidGeorge Reid (Australian politician)Sir George Houstoun Reid, GCB, GCMG, KC was an Australian politician, Premier of New South Wales and the fourth Prime Minister of Australia....
was 70 when he held the St. George's, Hanover Square by-election, 1916 for the Conservatives. He was a former Prime Minister of Australia. - William Nathaniel JonesWilliam Nathaniel JonesWilliam Nathaniel Jones was a Welsh Liberal politician, businessman and soldier.Jones who served as a Justice of the Peace in Carmarthenshire married Margaret Francis of Llandilo. In 1923 he was nominated as one of the Sheriffs of Carmarthenshire...
was 70 when he held the Carmarthen by-election, 1928Carmarthen by-election, 1928The Carmarthen by-election, 1928 was a parliamentary by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Carmarthen in West Wales on 28 June 1928.- Vacancy :...
for the Liberals. - Arthur Salter was 70 when he held the Ormskirk by-election, 1951Ormskirk by-election, 1951The Ormskirk by-election of 5 April 1951 was held after the appointment of Conservative MP Ronald Cross as Governor of Tasmania:The seat was safe, having been won at the United Kingdom general election, 1950 by over 14,000 votes...
for the Conservatives. He had served previously as MP for Oxford University 1937-50. - John EvansJohn Evans (Welsh politician)John Evans was a Labour Party politician in the United Kingdom.He was elected as Member of Parliament for Ogmore at a by-election in 1946, but stood down at the 1950 general election.- References :...
was 70 when he held the Ogmore by-election, 1946Ogmore by-election, 1946The Ogmore by-election, 1946 was a parliamentary by-election held on 4 June 1946 for the British House of Commons constituency of Ogmore in Wales.- Previous MP :...
for Labour. - David HardieDavid HardieSir David Hardie was an Australian medical practitioner.Hardie was born on at New Spynie near Elgin, Morayshire, Scotland, son of John Hardie, farmer, and his wife Margaret...
, the half-brother of Keir Hardie, was thought to be about 70 when he held the Glasgow Rutherglen by-election, 1931 for Labour. - George Edwards was almost 70 when he gained the South Norfolk by-election, 1920South Norfolk by-election, 1920The South Norfolk by-election, 1920 was a by-election held on 27 July 1920 for the British House of Commons constituency of South Norfolk.The by-election was triggered by the succession to the peerage of the serving Coalition Liberal Member of Parliament , William Cozens-Hardy.South Norfolk had...
for Labour. He was an agricultural labourer.
First women by-election victors
The first woman to be elected in a by-election was Nancy Astor, who succeeded her husband at the Plymouth Sutton by-election, 1919Plymouth Sutton by-election, 1919
The Plymouth Sutton by-election, 1919 was a parliamentary by-election held on 28 November 1919 for the British House of Commons constituency of Sutton in the city of Plymouth, Devon....
, becoming the first woman to take her seat in the House of Commons.
The first woman to gain a seat in a by-election was Susan Lawrence
Susan Lawrence
Arabella Susan Lawrence was a British Labour Party politician, one of the first female Labour MPs.Lawrence was the youngest daughter of Nathaniel Lawrence, a wealthy solicitor, and Laura Bacon, daughter of Sir James Bacon, a bankruptcy judge and Vice-Chancellor. She was educated in London and at...
who won the East Ham North by-election, 1926
East Ham North by-election, 1926
The East Ham North by-election of 29 April 1926 was held after the death of the Conservative politician and Member of Parliament Charles Williamson Crook. Labour took the seat in the by-election...
, although she had previously sat for the same seat between 1923-4.1
The first woman to gain a seat ab initio in a by-election was Jennie Lee who won the North Lanarkshire by-election, 1929, at the same time becoming the first woman Baby of the House of Commons
Baby of the House
Baby of the House is the unofficial title given to the youngest member of a parliamentary house. The term is most often applied to members of the British parliament.-Australia:In Australia the term is rarely used...
.
Note
1Mabel Philipson
Mabel Philipson
Mabel Philipson was a British actress and politician. She was the third female member to serve in the House of Commons after this became legally possible in 1918, representing Berwick-upon-Tweed....
succeeded her husband at the Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1923
Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1923
The Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election of 31 May 1923 was a by-election to the British House of Commons which saw Mabel Philipson become the third woman to take her seat in Parliament. The election was caused when her husband, Hilton Philipson, was deprived of his seat due to corruption by his election...
. He had been elected as a National Liberal Party (UK, 1922)National Liberal. She won as a Conservative
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...
so this could arguably be classed as the first gain by a woman.
First ethnic minority by-election victors
Whilst the first ethnic minority Members of Parliament were elected as early as the 1890s, it would be almost 100 years before one was returned at a by-election.The first ethnic minority candidate to be elected in a by-election was Ashok Kumar who gained the Langbaurgh by-election, 1991
Langbaurgh by-election, 1991
The Langbaurgh by-election, 1991 was a by-election held on 7 November 1991 for the British House of Commons constituency of Langbaurgh, in the former county of Cleveland in North East England...
for Labour.
- David LammyDavid LammyDavid Lindon Lammy is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Tottenham since 2000.Lammy has commented on Britain's history of slavery.-Early life and Education:...
held the Tottenham by-election, 2000Tottenham by-election, 2000The Labour Member of Parliament for Tottenham, Bernie Grant, died on 8 April 2000, creating a by-election in his constituency.Grant was one of the first four black MPs and the constituency was one of the centres of the London Afro-Caribbean community...
for Labour. - Mark HendrickMark HendrickMark Phillip Hendrick is a British Labour Co-operative politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Preston since winning a by-election in 2000.-Biography:Hendrick, who is half Somali, was born in Salford, Lancashire...
held the Preston by-election, 2000Preston by-election, 2000The Member of Parliament for Preston, Audrey Wise, died on 2 September 2000.A by-election to fill the seat was held on 23 November.The Labour vote share declined, but with the main beneficiaries being fringe parties they held the seat comfortably....
for Labour. - Parmjit Singh GillParmjit Singh GillParmjit Singh Gill is a British Liberal Democrat politician. As Member of Parliament for Leicester South from 2004 to 2005, he is the only ever ethnic-minority Liberal Democrat MP....
gained the Leicester South by-election, 2004Leicester South by-election, 2004A by-election was held in Leicester South on 15 July, the same day as the Birmingham Hodge Hill by-election. It was won by Parmjit Singh Gill of the Liberal Democrats, over-turning a Labour majority of 13,243 votes at the 2001 General Election....
for the Liberal Democrats.
The first by-election in which all three major-party candidates were from the ethnic minorities was the Ealing Southall by-election, 2007
Ealing Southall by-election, 2007
The Ealing Southall by-election, 2007 was a by-election for the British House of Commons constituency of Ealing Southall, in west London. It was held on 19 July 2007....
, held by Labour.
First by-election victors from specific religions
When the UK Parliament was established in 1801, non-Anglicans were prevented from taking their seats as MPs under the Test Act 1672. However, Methodists took communion at Anglican churches until 1795, and some continued to do so, and many Presbyterians were prepared to accept Anglican communion, thus ensuring that members of these creeds were represented in the Parliament. Some UnitariansUnitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
were also elected.
The first Roman Catholic by-election victor in the UK Parliament was Daniel O'Connell
Daniel O'Connell
Daniel O'Connell Daniel O'Connell Daniel O'Connell (6 August 1775 – 15 May 1847; often referred to as The Liberator, or The Emancipator, was an Irish political leader in the first half of the 19th century...
in the Clare by-election, 1828. He was not permitted to take his seat until the following year.
David Salomons
David Salomons
Sir David Salomons, 1st Baronet was a leading figure in the 19th century struggle for Jewish emancipation in the United Kingdom...
was the first Jewish by-election victor, at the Greenwich by-election, 1851.
Parmjit Singh Gill
Parmjit Singh Gill
Parmjit Singh Gill is a British Liberal Democrat politician. As Member of Parliament for Leicester South from 2004 to 2005, he is the only ever ethnic-minority Liberal Democrat MP....
became the first Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
by-election victor, at the Leicester South by-election, 2004
Leicester South by-election, 2004
A by-election was held in Leicester South on 15 July, the same day as the Birmingham Hodge Hill by-election. It was won by Parmjit Singh Gill of the Liberal Democrats, over-turning a Labour majority of 13,243 votes at the 2001 General Election....
.
Virendra Sharma
Virendra Sharma
Virendra Kumar Sharma is a British Labour Party politician and the Member of Parliament for Ealing Southall since 2007.-Parliamentary career:...
became the first Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
by-election victor, at the Ealing Southall by-election, 2007
Ealing Southall by-election, 2007
The Ealing Southall by-election, 2007 was a by-election for the British House of Commons constituency of Ealing Southall, in west London. It was held on 19 July 2007....
.
By-elections losers awarded seats on disqualification of winner
- Malcolm St ClairMalcolm St. Clair (UK politician)Malcolm Archibald James St. Clair was a British Conservative Party politician.He was the son of Major-General G.P. St Clair CB CBE DSO, and was educated at Eton College....
, Bristol South East by-election, 1961Bristol South East by-election, 1961The Bristol South East by-election, 1961 was a by-election held on 4 May 1961 for the British House of Commons constituency of Bristol South East in the city of Bristol.... - Charles BeattieCharles BeattieCharles Beattie was a Northern Irish farmer and auctioneer. Active in the Ulster Farmers' Union and in Unionist associations, he achieved senior office in the Orange Order and the Royal Black Institution and served on Omagh Rural District Council from 1952 until his death...
, Mid Ulster by-election, 1955Mid Ulster by-election, 1955The by-election held in Mid Ulster on 11 August 1955 was called as a result of a vote in the British parliament on 18 July 1955 which voted 197 votes to 63 to nullify the result of the previous 1955 UK General Election in the constituency...
Two or more former MPs contest by-election
- Haltemprice and Howden by-election, 2008Haltemprice and Howden by-election, 2008The 2008 Haltemprice and Howden by-election was a by-election held in the United Kingdom on 10 July 2008 to elect a new Member of Parliament for constituency of Haltemprice and Howden...
1 - Winchester by-election, 1997Winchester by-election, 1997The 1997 Winchester by-election was a by-election to the UK House of Commons in the constituency of Winchester, Hampshire. After an unclear result in Winchester at the general election on 1 May 1997, a new election was allowed by the High Court...
- Fermanagh and South Tyrone by-election, 1986
- Beaconsfield by-election, 1982Beaconsfield by-election, 1982The Beaconsfield by-election, 1982 was a parliamentary by-election held on 27 May 1982 for the British House of Commons constituency of Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire...
- Warrington by-election, 1981Warrington by-election, 1981The Warrington by-election, 1981 was held on 16 July 1981.The by-election was caused by the appointment of Thomas Williams, Labour Party Member of Parliament for Warrington, as a High Court Judge....
- Brighton Pavilion by-election, 1969Brighton Pavilion by-election, 1969The Brighton Pavilion by-election of 27 March 1969 was held after Conservative Member of Parliament William Teeling resigned from the House of Commons due to health problems. The seat was retained by the Conservatives.-Results:...
- Salisbury by-election, 1965Salisbury by-election, 1965The Salisbury by-election, 1965 was a by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Salisbury in Wiltshire on 4 February 1965. It was won by the Conservative Party candidate Michael Hamilton.- Vacancy :...
- Mid Ulster by-election, 1956Mid Ulster by-election, 1956The by-election held in Mid Ulster on 8 May 1956 was called because both candidates in the Mid Ulster by-election, 1955 were disqualified. Tom Mitchell was disqualified from assuming office because he was a convicted felon. Charles Beattie was awarded the seat but he was also disqualified because...
- Croydon North by-election, 1948Croydon North by-election, 1948The Croydon North by-election, 1948 was a parliamentary by-election held in the British House of Commons constituency of Croydon North on 11 March 1948...
- Altrincham by-election, 1933Altrincham by-election, 1933The Altrincham by-election, 1933 was a parliamentary by-election held on 14 June 1933 for the British House of Commons constituency of Altrincham in Cheshire....
(three former MPs) - Glasgow Shettleston by-election, 1930
- Nottingham Central by-election, 1930Nottingham Central by-election, 1930The Nottingham Central by-election, 1930 was a parliamentary by-election held on 27 May 1930 for the British House of Commons constituency of Nottingham Central.- Previous MP :...
(three former MPs) - Cheltenham by-election, 1928Cheltenham by-election, 1928The Cheltenham by-election, 1928 was a parliamentary by-election held on 26 September 1928 for the British House of Commons constituency of Cheltenham in Gloucestershire....
1 Conservative MPs David Davis and Walter Sweeney
Longest period without a by-election
All periods of over a year between by-elections are listed:- 20 November 1997 - 10 June 1999: 567 days
- 7 November 1991 - 6 May 1993: 546 days
- 12 March 1987 - 14 July 1988: 489 days
- 14 February 2002 - 18 June 2003: 489 days
- 12 November 2009 - 13 January 2011: 427 days
- 23 May 1974 - 26 June 1975: 399 days
- 18 June 2003 - 15 July 2004: 393 days
- 29 June 2006 - 19 July 2007: 385 days
- 1992, 1998 and 2010 are the only calendar years in history without a single by-election. Since 1992 and 2010 were nonetheless general election years, 1998 stands as the only year in British history without any parliamentary election.
Longest period without a seat changing hands
The longest period without a seat changing hands in a by-election was the five years between the Conservative victories in the Glasgow Camlachie by-election, 1948Glasgow Camlachie by-election, 1948
The Glasgow Camlachie by-election was held on 28 January 1948, following the death of Member of Parliament for Glasgow Camlachie Campbell Stephen....
and the Sunderland South by-election, 1953.
During the short Parliaments of 1910, 1950-1 and 1974 no seats changed hands in a by-election.
Longest period between by-election gains for a party
The Liberal Party endured 29 years without a single by-election gain between the Holland and Boston by-election, 1929 and the Torrington by-election, 1958Torrington by-election, 1958
The Torrington by-election of 1958, in Devon, England, was the first gain by the British Liberal Party at a by-election since Holland with Boston in 1929....
. It did not win a single by-election in the thirteen years between holding the Middlesbrough West by-election, 1945
Middlesbrough West by-election, 1945
The Middlesbrough West by-election, 1945 was a parliamentary by-election held on 14 May 1945 for the British House of Commons constituency of Middlesbrough West.- Previous MP :...
and gaining Torrington.
Until the Crewe and Nantwich by-election, 2008
Crewe and Nantwich by-election, 2008
The Crewe and Nantwich by-election, 2008 was a parliamentary by-election held on 22 May 2008, for the British House of Commons constituency of Crewe and Nantwich, in Cheshire, England...
, the opposition Conservative Party had not gained a seat in almost 26 years, the last being the Mitcham and Morden by-election, 1982
Mitcham and Morden by-election, 1982
-Overview:The British by-election was caused by the resignation of Bruce Douglas-Mann, the Member of Parliament for Mitcham and Morden. Douglas-Mann had retained the seat for the Labour Party since its creation for the February 1974 general election...
, which occurred during the unique circumstances of the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
and the sitting Labour MP defecting to the Social Democratic Party and seeking re-election under his new party label. The Conservatives' last gain while in Opposition was 30 years previously at the Ilford North by-election, 1978
Ilford North by-election, 1978
The Ilford North by-election of 2 March 1978 was held after the death of Labour Member of Parliament Millie Miller on 29 October 1977. The seat was gained by the Conservatives in a defeat for James Callaghan's government.-Results:...
.
Labour's longest lean stretch was almost 18 years, between gaining the Brecon and Radnor by-election, 1939 and the Lewisham North by-election, 1957
Lewisham North by-election, 1957
The Lewisham North by-election of 14 February 1957 was held following the death of Conservative Member of Parliament Sir Austin Hudson, 1st Baronet the previous year...
.1
Note
1 The Labour Party were the official opposition in the Parliament elected in 1935, but after the major parties agreed an electoral truce on the outbreak of war in 1939, they did not contest any Conservative or Liberal seats for the remainder of the Parliament, a period of six years, and were members of the wartime coalition government between May 1940 and May 1945.
Longest period between by-election holds for a party
The Conservatives did not successfully defend a single by-election in the eight years between their holds of the Richmond by-election, 1989Richmond by-election, 1989
A by-election was held in the Richmond constituency of the United Kingdom Parliament on 23 February 1989. It followed the resignation of the sitting Conservative Member of Parliament Leon Brittan on 31 December 1988, to allow him to take up the position of Vice-President of the European...
and the Uxbridge by-election, 1997
Uxbridge by-election, 1997
The Uxbridge by-election, 1997 was a parliamentary by-election held in July 1997 to elect a new Member of Parliament for the constituency of Uxbridge in London, England....
, losing a record 15 consecutive seats where they were the incumbents. By the time of the by-election in Uxbridge, the victor in Richmond, William Hague
William Hague
William Jefferson Hague is the British Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State. He served as Leader of the Conservative Party from June 1997 to September 2001...
, had become leader of the Conservative Party.
Labour's worst run was in losing 4 by-elections on the trot, which has occurred three times since 1945:
between holding the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central by-election, 1976
Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central by-election, 1976
The Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central by-election of 4 November 1976 was held after the resignation of Labour Member of Parliament Edward Short who left to take up the position of Chairman of Cable & Wireless. Labour held on to the seat in the by-election....
and the Grimsby by-election, 1977.
between holding the Manchester Gorton by-election, 1967
Manchester Gorton by-election, 1967
The Manchester Gorton by-election of 2 November 1967 was held after the death of Labour MP Konni Zilliacus:The seat was safe, having been won by Labour at the United Kingdom general election, 1966 by over 8,000 votes/.-Candidates:...
and the Sheffield Brightside by-election, 1968
Sheffield Brightside by-election, 1968
The Sheffield Brightside by-election of 15 June 1968 was held after the death of Labour MP Richard Winterbottom:The seat was very safe, having been won by Labour at the United Kingdom general election, 1966 by over 19,000 votes-Candidates:...
.
between holding the Rhondda West by-election, 1967
Rhondda West by-election, 1967
The Rhondda West by-election, 1967 was a parliamentary by-election held in 1967 for the British House of Commons constituency of Rhondda West in Wales....
and the Manchester Gorton by-election, 1967
Manchester Gorton by-election, 1967
The Manchester Gorton by-election of 2 November 1967 was held after the death of Labour MP Konni Zilliacus:The seat was safe, having been won by Labour at the United Kingdom general election, 1966 by over 8,000 votes/.-Candidates:...
.
Longest period without an opposition gain
For a period of 11 years, until the Crewe and Nantwich by-election, 2008Crewe and Nantwich by-election, 2008
The Crewe and Nantwich by-election, 2008 was a parliamentary by-election held on 22 May 2008, for the British House of Commons constituency of Crewe and Nantwich, in Cheshire, England...
, the principal opposition Conservative Party failed to register a by-election gain against the incumbent Labour Government. This is the longest period of such failure since records began, and more than twice the previous record of the five years it took the then Labour opposition to gain the Lewisham North by-election, 1957
Lewisham North by-election, 1957
The Lewisham North by-election of 14 February 1957 was held following the death of Conservative Member of Parliament Sir Austin Hudson, 1st Baronet the previous year...
.
Apart from the brief parliaments of 1910, 1950-1 and 1974, the parliaments of 1951-5 and 1997-2001 are the only occasions when the Government did not lose a by-election.
Most by-elections in one day
The largest number of by-elections held on a single day occurred on 23 January 1986 when 15 simultaneous contests were held in Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland by-elections, 1986
The 1986 Northern Ireland by-elections were fifteen by-elections held on 23 January 1986, to fill vacancies in the Parliament of the United Kingdom caused by the resignation in December 1985 of all sitting Unionist Members of Parliament...
. The elections had been engineered by the incumbent Unionist parties as a protest against the Anglo-Irish Agreement
Anglo-Irish Agreement
The Anglo-Irish Agreement was an agreement between the United Kingdom and Ireland which aimed to help bring an end to the Troubles in Northern Ireland...
of 1985. They intended the results to be interpreted as a referendum on the treaty. The elections were boycotted by the main Nationalist parties except in four seats where they had a reasonable prospect of victory. In the event, the Social Democratic and Labour Party
Social Democratic and Labour Party
The Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom...
gained one seat, Newry and Armagh
Newry and Armagh (UK Parliament constituency)
Newry and Armagh is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.-Boundaries:The seat was created in boundary changes in 1983, as part of an expansion of Northern Ireland's constituencies from 12 to 17, and was predominantly made up from the old Armagh constituency with the...
, from the Ulster Unionist Party
Ulster Unionist Party
The Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
.
Apart from the above example, it is common for UK mainland parties to schedule several by-elections on the same day. Motivations include attempting to divide opponents' resources and getting bad news (expected losses) out of the way. Since 1945, the largest number of simultaneous mainland by-elections has been 6, held on 16 November 1960. On four occasions, 5 by-elections have been held on the same day, most recently on 9 June 1994. Groupings of two or three are very common.
Most by-election losses in one day
The largest number of by-elections lost on a single day is three, when the Labour party lost ActonActon by-election, 1968
The Acton by-election of 28 March 1968 was held after the death of Labour Member of Parliament Bernard Floud on 10 October 1967. The seat was gained by the Conservatives in a defeat for Harold Wilson's government. It was one of the three Conservative gains from Labour on the same day, the others...
, Dudley
Dudley by-election, 1968
The Dudley by-election, 1968 was a by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Dudley in Worcestershire on 28 March 1968...
and Meriden
Meriden by-election, 1968
The Meriden by-election, 1968 was a by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Meriden in Warwickshire on 28 March 1968. It was won by the Conservative Party candidate Keith Speed.- Vacancy :...
on 28 March 1968, all to the Conservatives.
Occasions since 1945 when two seats have fallen are:
- 7 November 1991
- Kincardine and Deeside by-election, 1991Kincardine and Deeside by-election, 1991The Kincardine and Deeside by-election was a parliamentary election held in Kincardine and Deeside, Scotland, on 7 November 1991, caused by the death of its Conservative Member of Parliament , Alick Buchanan-Smith on 29 August 1991....
Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative - Langbaurgh by-election, 1991Langbaurgh by-election, 1991The Langbaurgh by-election, 1991 was a by-election held on 7 November 1991 for the British House of Commons constituency of Langbaurgh, in the former county of Cleveland in North East England...
Labour gain from Conservative
- Kincardine and Deeside by-election, 1991
- 4 November 1976
- Walsall North by-election, 1976Walsall North by-election, 1976The Walsall North by-election on 4 November 1976 was held after the resignation of sitting Member of Parliament John Stonehouse. Elected as a Labour candidate, Stonehouse was a member of the English National Party when he resigned, after an interlude in which he faked his own death...
Conservative gain from Labour - Workington by-election, 1976Workington by-election, 1976The Workington by-election, 1976 was a parliamentary by-election held in England for the House of Commons constituency of Workington in Cumbria on 4 November 1976...
Conservative gain from Labour
- Walsall North by-election, 1976
- 8 November 1973
- Glasgow Govan by-election, 1973Glasgow Govan by-election, 1973The Glasgow Govan by-election was held on 8 November 1973, following the death of John Rankin, Labour Party Member of Parliament for the Glasgow Govan constituency. Rankin had died one month earlier, on 8 October 1973. Rankin had held the seat since 1955. With the exception of a narrow Conservative...
SNP gain from Labour - Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1973Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1973The Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1973 was a parliamentary by-election held on 8 November 1973 for the British House of Commons constituency of Berwick-upon-Tweed. It was one of four UK by-elections held on the same day....
Liberal gain from Conservative
- Glasgow Govan by-election, 1973
- 26 July 1973
- Ripon by-election, 1973Ripon by-election, 1973The Ripon by-election, 1973 was a parliamentary by-election held on 26 July 1973 for the British House of Commons constituency of Ripon.The by-election took place during the 1970s Liberal revival. This seat and Isle of Ely were gained on the same day, the third and fourth Liberal gains during the...
Liberal gain from Conservative - Isle of Ely by-election, 1973Isle of Ely by-election, 1973The Isle of Ely by-election, 1973 was a parliamentary by-election held on 26 July 1973 for the British House of Commons constituency of Isle of Ely....
Liberal gain from Conservative
- Ripon by-election, 1973
- 2 November 1967
- Hamilton by-election, 1967Hamilton by-election, 1967The Hamilton by-election, in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, which took place on the 2nd of November 1967, was a milestone in the politics of Scotland...
SNP gain from Labour - Leicester South West by-election, 1967Leicester South West by-election, 1967The Leicester South West by-election of 2 November 1967 was held after the resignation of Labour MP Herbert Bowden:The seat was safe, having been won by Labour at the United Kingdom general election, 1966 by over 5,500 votes-Candidates:...
Conservative gain from Labour
- Hamilton by-election, 1967
- 21 September 1967
- Walthamstow West by-election, 1967Walthamstow West by-election, 1967The Walthamstow West by-election of 21 September 1967 was held after the death of Labour Member of Parliament Ted Redhead on 15 April of that year. The seat was gained by the Conservative Party by just 62 votes.-Results:...
Conservative gain from Labour - Cambridge by-election, 1967Cambridge by-election, 1967The Cambridge by-election of 21 September 1967 was held after the premature death of Cambridge's Labour MP Robert Davies in June 1967.:The seat was highly marginal, having only been won by Labour during the previous year's Labour landslide by 439 votes, and it had only been the second time Labour...
Conservative gain from Labour
- Walthamstow West by-election, 1967
- 22 November 1962
- Glasgow Woodside by-election, 1962 Labour gain from Conservative
- South Dorset by-election, 1962South Dorset by-election, 1962The South Dorset by-election, 1962 occurred following the death of George Montagu, 9th Earl of Sandwich on 15 June 1962. His son Viscount Hinchingbrooke, the incumbent MP for the constituency of South Dorset, was subsequently elevated to the peerage becoming the 10th Earl of Sandwich...
Labour gain from Conservative
Seats with more than one by-election in a single Parliament
- BootleBootle (UK Parliament constituency)Bootle is a borough 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. Since 1990 the MP has been Joe Benton of the Labour Party...
: May and November 1990. - Fermanagh and South TyroneFermanagh and South Tyrone (UK Parliament constituency)Fermanagh and South Tyrone is a Parliamentary constituency in the British House of Commons. The current MP for the constituency is Michelle Gildernew of Sinn Féin....
: April and August 1981. - Bristol South EastBristol South East (UK Parliament constituency)Bristol South East was a borough constituency in the city of Bristol. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom by the first past the post system of election....
: 1961Bristol South East by-election, 1961The Bristol South East by-election, 1961 was a by-election held on 4 May 1961 for the British House of Commons constituency of Bristol South East in the city of Bristol....
and 1963Bristol South East by-election, 1963The Bristol South East by-election, 1963 was a by-election held on 20 August 1963 for the British House of Commons constituency of Bristol South East in the city of Bristol....
. - Mid UlsterMid Ulster (UK Parliament constituency)Mid Ulster is a Parliamentary Constituency in the British House of Commons.-Boundaries:The constituency was created in 1950 when the old two-seat constituency of Fermanagh and Tyrone was abolished as part of the final move to single member seats...
: 1955Mid Ulster by-election, 1955The by-election held in Mid Ulster on 11 August 1955 was called as a result of a vote in the British parliament on 18 July 1955 which voted 197 votes to 63 to nullify the result of the previous 1955 UK General Election in the constituency...
and 1956Mid Ulster by-election, 1956The by-election held in Mid Ulster on 8 May 1956 was called because both candidates in the Mid Ulster by-election, 1955 were disqualified. Tom Mitchell was disqualified from assuming office because he was a convicted felon. Charles Beattie was awarded the seat but he was also disqualified because...
. - Edinburgh EastEdinburgh East (UK Parliament constituency)Edinburgh East is a burgh constituency of 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....
: 1945 and 1947. - Middlesbrough WestMiddlesbrough West (UK Parliament constituency)Middlesbrough West was a parliamentary constituency in the town of Middlesbrough in North East England. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first-past-the-post voting system....
: 1940Middlesbrough West by-election, 1940The Middlesbrough West by-election, 1940 was a parliamentary by-election held on 7 August 1940 for the British House of Commons constituency of Middlesbrough West.- Previous MP :...
and 1945Middlesbrough West by-election, 1945The Middlesbrough West by-election, 1945 was a parliamentary by-election held on 14 May 1945 for the British House of Commons constituency of Middlesbrough West.- Previous MP :...
. - Combined Scottish Universities: 1936Combined Scottish Universities by-election, 1936The Combined Scottish Universities by-election, 1936 was a by-election held from 27 January to 31 January 1936 for the Combined Scottish Universities, a university constituency of the British House of Commons.- Vacancy :...
, 1938Combined Scottish Universities by-election, 1938The Combined Scottish Universities by-election, 1938 was a by-election held from 21 February to 25 February 1938 for the Combined Scottish Universities, a university constituency of the British House of Commons.- Vacancy :...
and 1945Combined Scottish Universities by-election, 1945The Combined Scottish Universities by-election, 1945 was a by-election held from 9 April to 13 April 1945 for the Combined Scottish Universities, a university constituency of the British House of Commons.- Vacancy :...
. - Berwick-upon-TweedBerwick-upon-Tweed (UK Parliament constituency)Berwick-upon-Tweed is a 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.-Boundaries:...
: 1941Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1941The Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1941 was a parliamentary by-election held on 18 August 1941 for the British House of Commons constituency of Berwick-upon-Tweed.- Previous MP :...
and 1944Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1944The Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1944 was a parliamentary by-election held on 17 October 1944 for the British House of Commons constituency of Berwick-upon-Tweed.- Previous MP :...
. - Clay CrossClay Cross (UK Parliament constituency)Clay Cross was a county constituency centred on the village of Clay Cross in north-east Derbyshire. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post system....
: 1936 and 1944. - West DerbyshireWest Derbyshire (UK Parliament constituency)West Derbyshire was a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. From 1885 until it was replaced by the Derbyshire Dales constituency in the 2010 General Election, it elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post voting system.It...
: 1938 and 1944. - BuckinghamBuckingham (UK Parliament constituency)Buckingham 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.-Boundaries:...
: 1937Buckingham by-election, 1937The Buckingham by-election of 1937 was a by-election held on 11 June 1937 for the British House of Commons constituency of Buckingham in Buckinghamshire....
and 1943Buckingham by-election, 1943The Buckingham by-election of 1943 was a parliamentary by-election held in England on 4 August 1943 for the House of Commons constituency of Buckingham in Buckinghamshire....
. - Manchester GortonManchester Gorton (UK Parliament constituency)Manchester, Gorton is a parliamentary constituency in the city of Manchester, 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.-1885–1918:...
: 1937 and 1942. - DunbartonshireDunbartonshire (UK Parliament constituency)Dunbartonshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1708 to 1801 and of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1950...
: 1936 and 1941. - GreenockGreenock (UK Parliament constituency)Greenock was a burgh constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 until 1974, when it was abolished and its area was merged into the new Greenock and Port Glasgow constituency.- Members of Parliament :...
: 1936Greenock by-election, 1936The Greenock by-election, 1936 was a by-election held on 26 November 1936 for the House of Commons constituency of Greenock in Renfrewshire, Scotland.- Vacancy :...
and 1941Greenock by-election, 1941The Greenock by-election, 1941 was a parliamentary by-election held on 10 July 1941 for the British House of Commons constituency of Greenock in Renfrewshire....
. - DoncasterDoncaster (UK Parliament constituency)Doncaster was a Parliamentary constituency covering the town of Doncaster in England. The constituency was created in 1885 and abolished in 1983.- Boundaries :...
: 1938 and 1941. - SouthamptonSouthampton (UK Parliament constituency)Southampton was a parliamentary constituency which was represented in the British House of Commons. Centred on the town of Southampton, it returned two Members of Parliament from 1295 until it was abolished for the 1950 general election....
: February and November 1940. - PrestonPreston (UK Parliament constituency)Preston is a borough 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.-Boundaries:...
: 1936Preston by-election, 1936The Preston by-election, 1936 was a parliamentary by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Preston on 25 November 1936...
and 1940Preston by-election, 1940The Preston by-election, 1940 was a parliamentary by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Preston in Lancashire on 29 September 1940...
. - Wandsworth CentralWandsworth Central (UK Parliament constituency)Wandsworth Central was a parliamentary constituency in the Wandsworth district of South London. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
: 1937 and 1940. - City of LondonCity of London (UK Parliament constituency)The City of London was a United Kingdom Parliamentary constituency. It was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1950.-Boundaries and boundary...
: 1938City of London by-election, 1938The City of London by-election, 1938 was a by-election held on 6 April 1938 for the British House of Commons constituency of City of London, which covered the "Square Mile" which was the United Kingdom's traditional financial district....
and 1940City of London by-election, 1940The City of London by-election, 1940 was a by-election held on 5 February 1940 for the British House of Commons constituency of City of London, which covered the "Square Mile" which was the United Kingdom's traditional financial district....
. - Combined Scottish Universities: 1934Combined Scottish Universities by-election, 1934The Combined Scottish Universities by-election, 1934 was a by-election held from 7 March to 12 March 1934 for the Combined Scottish Universities, a university constituency of the British House of Commons.- Vacancy :...
and 1935Combined Scottish Universities by-election, 1935The Combined Scottish Universities by-election, 1935 was a by-election held from 17 June to 22 June 1935 for the Combined Scottish Universities, a university constituency of the British House of Commons.- Vacancy :...
. - EastbourneEastbourne (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...
: 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....
and 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....
. - TwickenhamTwickenham (UK Parliament constituency)Twickenham is a borough 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.-Boundaries:...
: 1932Twickenham by-election, 1932The Twickenham by-election, 1932 was a parliamentary by-election held on 16 September 1932 for the British House of Commons constituency of Twickenham in Middlesex....
and 1934Twickenham by-election, 1934The Twickenham by-election, 1934 was a parliamentary by-election held on 22 June 1934 for the British House of Commons constituency of Twickenham in Middlesex....
. - Portsmouth South: 1922 and 1923.
- North DownNorth Down (UK Parliament constituency)North Down is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons. The current MP is Sylvia Hermon, elected as an Independent in the 2010 General Election. -Boundaries:The county constituency was first created in 1885 from the northern part of Down...
: 1921, February and July 1922. - West DownWest Down (UK Parliament constituency)West Down was a UK Parliament constituency in Ireland.-Boundaries and Boundary Changes:This county constituency comprised the western part of County Down...
: 1921 and 1922. - South LondonderrySouth Londonderry (UK Parliament constituency)South Londonderry was a UK Parliament constituency in Ireland. It returned one Member of Parliament to the British House of Commons from 1885 until it was abolished in 1922.-Boundaries and Boundary Changes:...
: 1921 and 1922. - LouthLouth, Lincolnshire (UK Parliament constituency)Louth was a county constituency in Lincolnshire which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885 until it was abolished for the 1983 general election....
: 1920Louth by-election, 1920The Louth by-election, 1920 was a by-election held on 3 June 1920 for the British House of Commons constituency of Louth in Lincolnshire....
and 1921Louth by-election, 1921The Louth by-election, 1921 was a by-election held on 22 September 1921 for the British House of Commons constituency of Louth in Lincolnshire....
. - The WrekinThe Wrekin (UK Parliament constituency)The Wrekin is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom since 1918. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
: February and November 1920. - Londonderry North: 1919 and 1922.
Other seats with by-elections less than five years apart
- Upper BannUpper Bann (UK Parliament constituency)Upper Bann is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons. The current Member of Parliament for Upper Bann is David Simpson.-Boundaries:...
: 1986 and 1990Upper Bann by-election, 1990The 1990 by-election in Upper Bann was caused by the death of the sitting Ulster Unionist Party Member of Parliament Harold McCusker on February 2, 1990....
. - Belfast SouthBelfast South (UK Parliament constituency)Belfast South is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.-Boundaries:The seat was created in 1922 when, as part of the establishment of the devolved Stormont Parliament for Northern Ireland, the number of MPs in the Westminster Parliament was drastically cut...
: 1982Belfast South by-election, 1982The Belfast South by-election was held on 4 March 1982 following the death of Robert Bradford, Ulster Unionist Party Member of Parliament for Belfast South....
and 1986. - Fermanagh and South TyroneFermanagh and South Tyrone (UK Parliament constituency)Fermanagh and South Tyrone is a Parliamentary constituency in the British House of Commons. The current MP for the constituency is Michelle Gildernew of Sinn Féin....
: August 1981 and 1986. - NuneatonNuneaton (UK Parliament constituency)Nuneaton is a county 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.- Pre-2010 :...
: 1965 and 1967Nuneaton by-election, 1967The Nuneaton by-election of 16 December 1966 was held after the resignation of Labour MP Frank Cousins:The seat was safe, having been won by Labour at the United Kingdom general election, 1966 by over 11,000 votes-Candidates:...
. - OrmskirkOrmskirk (UK Parliament constituency)Ormskirk was a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election. It was created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 as a division of the parliamentary county of...
: 1951Ormskirk by-election, 1951The Ormskirk by-election of 5 April 1951 was held after the appointment of Conservative MP Ronald Cross as Governor of Tasmania:The seat was safe, having been won at the United Kingdom general election, 1950 by over 14,000 votes...
and 1953Ormskirk by-election, 1953The Ormskirk by-election of 12 November 1953 was held after the elevation to the Peerage of Conservative MP Atrhur Salter as Governor of Tasmania:The seat was safe, having been won at the United Kingdom general election, 1951 by almost 14,000 votes...
. - Liverpool Wavertree: 1931Liverpool Wavertree by-election, 1931The Liverpool Wavertree by-election, 1931 was a parliamentary by-election held in England for the House of Commons constituency of Liverpool Wavertree on 23 June 1931. It was won by the Conservative Party candidate Ronald Nall-Cain.- Vacancy :...
and 1935Liverpool Wavertree by-election, 1935The Liverpool Wavertree by-election, 1935 was a by-election held in England for the House of Commons constituency of Liverpool Wavertree on 6 February 1935. It was won by the Labour Party candidate Joseph Jackson Cleary.- Vacancy :...
. - Westminster Abbey: 1921Westminster Abbey by-election, 1921The Westminster Abbey by-election, 1921 was a parliamentary by-election held on 25 August 1921 for the British House of Commons constituency of Westminster Abbey in London. The seat had become vacant when the Conservative Member of Parliament William Burdett-Coutts had died on 28 July 1921...
and 1924Westminster Abbey by-election, 1924The Westminster Abbey by-election, 1924 was a parliamentary by-election held on 19 March 1924 for the British House of Commons constituency of Westminster Abbey in London. The seat had become vacant when the Conservative Member of Parliament John Nicholson had died on 21 February 1924. Nicholson...
.
By-election days
Currently, all British Parliamentary elections are invariably held on a Thursday. The last by-election not held on a Thursday was the Hamilton by-election, 1978Hamilton by-election, 1978
There was a by-election for the United Kingdom House of Commons in Hamilton on Wednesday 31 May 1978. It was caused by the death of Labour Party Member of Parliament Alexander Wilson.The by-election was the last in the UK to date not held on a Thursday...
, held on Wednesday 31 May due to a World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
opening match on the Thursday evening.
Due to an administrative oversight, the Manchester Exchange by-election, 1973
Manchester Exchange by-election, 1973
The Manchester Exchange by-election of 13 June 1973 was held after the death of William Griffiths on 14 April of the same year. The Labour Party won the by-election in what had traditionally been a safe seat....
was held on Wednesday 27 June 1973. Prior to that, the last by-elections not held on a Thursday were the Saffron Walden by-election, 1965 held on Tuesday 23 March, and the Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles by-election, 1965
Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles by-election, 1965
The Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles by-election was significant in that it led to the election of David Steel, who went on to lead the Liberal Party, to the British House of Commons for the first time...
held the following day.
Until the mid-1960s, it was common to hold by-elections on any day of the week (other than Sunday).
Countermanded Poll
Very occasionally, a scheduled by-election may be overtaken by the calling of a general election and the dissolution of Parliament, in which case the poll is countermanded by the Returning Officer. There are only two occasions since 1918: a by-election was scheduled to take place in Warwick and Leamington on 21 November 1923, but was cancelled by a dissolution of Parliament on 16 November. A by-election was scheduled to poll between 13-17 October 1924 in London UniversityLondon University (UK Parliament constituency)
London University was a university constituency electing one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, from 1868 to 1950.-Boundaries, electorate and history:...
but was cancelled by a dissolution of Parliament on 9 October.
By-elections prompted by assassination
- Eastbourne by-election, 1990Eastbourne by-election, 1990The 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....
: Ian GowIan GowIan 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...
was killed by a Provisional IRA bomb under his car, 30 July 1990 - Enfield Southgate by-election, 1984Enfield Southgate by-election, 1984The Enfield Southgate by-election, 1984 was a parliamentary by-election held on 13 December 1984 for the British House of Commons constituency of Enfield Southgate.- Previous MP :...
: Sir Anthony BerryAnthony BerrySir Anthony George Berry was a British politician, the Conservative Member of Parliament for Enfield Southgate, and a Whip in Margaret Thatcher's government...
was killed in the Provisional IRA Brighton hotel bombingBrighton hotel bombingThe Brighton hotel bombing happened on 12 October 1984 at the Grand Hotel in Brighton, England. The bomb was planted by Provisional Irish Republican Army member Patrick Magee, with the intention of assassinating Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her cabinet who were staying at the hotel for the...
, 12 October 1984. - Belfast South by-election, 1982Belfast South by-election, 1982The Belfast South by-election was held on 4 March 1982 following the death of Robert Bradford, Ulster Unionist Party Member of Parliament for Belfast South....
: Rev. Robert BradfordRobert Bradford (NI politician)Robert Jonathan Bradford MP was a Vanguard Unionist and Ulster Unionist Member of Parliament for the Belfast South constituency in Northern Ireland until he was killed by the Provisional Irish Republican Army on 14 November 1981....
was shot at a constituency surgery by the Provisional IRA, 14 November 1981. - North Down by-election, July 1922: Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson, Bt. was shot by the IRA outside his home, 22 June 1922.
By-elections prompted by accidental death
- Romsey by-election, 2000Romsey by-election, 2000Conservative Member of Parliament Michael Colvin and his wife died in a fire at their home on 24 February 2000. This created a by-election in his constituency of Romsey in Hampshire, England....
: Michael ColvinMichael ColvinMichael Keith Beale Colvin was a politician in the United Kingdom. He was first elected as a Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Bristol North West in 1979...
was killed by a house fire. - Eastleigh by-election, 1994Eastleigh by-election, 1994The Eastleigh by-election, 1994 was a parliamentary by-election held on 9 June 1994 for the United Kingdom House of Commons constituency of Eastleigh in Hampshire. The seat had fallen vacant because of the death of Conservative Party Member of Parliament Stephen Milligan on 7 February.The result...
: Stephen MilliganStephen MilliganStephen David Wyatt Milligan was a British Conservative politician and journalist. He held a number of senior journalistic posts until his election to serve as Member of Parliament for Eastleigh in 1992...
accidentally choked himself while attempting autoerotic asphyxia. - Bradford South by-election, 1994Bradford South by-election, 1994The Bradford South by-election, 1994 was a by-election held in England on 9 June 1994 for the House of Commons constituency of Bradford South in West Yorkshire....
: Bob CryerBob CryerGeorge Robert Cryer, known as Bob Cryer was a politician in the United Kingdom.He was educated at Salt High School, Shipley, and the University of Hull...
was killed in a car crash. - Truro by-election, 1987Truro by-election, 1987The Truro by-election, 1987, was caused by the death of David Penhaligon, the Liberal Member of Parliament for Truro on 22 December 1986 in a car crash near the city. The election was held on 12 March 1987...
: David PenhaligonDavid PenhaligonDavid Charles Penhaligon was a British politician from Cornwall who was a Liberal Member of Parliament from October 1974 until his death...
was killed in a car crash. - Glasgow Central by-election, 1980Glasgow Central by-election, 1980The Glasgow Central by-election, 1980 was a by-election held on 26 June 1980 for the British House of Commons constituency of Glasgow Central, following the death of its sitting MP, Thomas McMillan.On a turnout of 48%, the Labour Party held the seat....
: Thomas McMillan died from injuries received in falling from a bus. - Rotherham by-election, 1963: Jack JonesJack Jones (Rotherham politician)John Henry Jones, known as Jack Jones , was a British Labour Party politician.- Early life :Jones was born in Rotherham, and educated at Port Talbot School, at an elementary school in Rotherham, and at Bangor University...
was killed in a car crash. - South West Norfolk by-election, 1959South West Norfolk by-election, 1959The South West Norfolk by-election of 25 March 1959 was held after Labour Member of Parliament Sidney Dye died on 9 December 1958. The seat was retained by Labour.-Candidates:Labour chose Albert Hilton as their candidate for the by-election...
: Sidney DyeSidney DyeSidney Dye, JP was a British Labour Party politician.Born at Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, Sidney Dye was educated at Wells Elementary School and Ruskin College, Oxford....
was killed in a car crash. - Islington North by-election, 1958Islington North by-election, 1958The Islington North by-election, 1958 was a parliamentary by-election held on 15 May 1958 for the British House of Commons constituency of Islington North in Islington, North London....
: Wilfred FienburghWilfred FienburghWilfred Fienburgh MBE was a British Labour Party politician.-Early life:...
was killed in a car crash. - Ipswich by-election, 1957Ipswich by-election, 1957The member of Parliament for Ipswich in Suffolk, Richard Stokes, of the Labour Party died on August 3, 1957.The by-election to fill his seat was held on October 24.-External links:*...
: Richard StokesRichard StokesMajor Sir Richard Rapier Stokes MC was a British Labour politician who served briefly as Lord Privy Seal in 1951....
died from injuries received in a car crash. - North Down by-election, 1953: Sir Walter Smiles was killed in the MV Princess VictoriaMV Princess VictoriaMV Princess Victoria was one of the earliest roll-on/roll-off ferries. Built in 1947, she operated from Stranraer to Larne. During a severe European windstorm on 31 January 1953, she sank in the North Channel with the loss of 133 lives, the deadliest maritime disaster in United Kingdom waters...
disaster during the storm surge. - Dundee East by-election, 1952: Thomas CookThomas Cook (Scottish politician)Thomas Fotheringham Cook was a Scottish Labour Party politician who served as Member of Parliament for constituencies in Dundee from 1945 until his death in 1952.- External links :...
was killed in a car crash. - Edmonton by-election, 1948: Evan DurbinEvan DurbinEvan Frank Mottram Durbin was a British economist and left-wing politician, whose writings combined a belief in central economic planning with a conviction that the price mechanism of markets was indispensable....
was drowned while swimming. - Stirling and Falkirk by-election, 1948: Joseph WestwoodJoseph WestwoodJoseph Westwood was a Scottish Labour politician.Educated at Buckhaven Higher Grade School, he worked as a draper's apprentice, messenger boy and miner...
was killed in a car crash. - Armagh by-election, 1948Armagh by-election, 1948The Armagh by-election was held on 5 March 1948, following the death of Ulster Unionist Party Member of Parliament William Allen.Allen had held the seat of Armagh since its recreation for the 1922 UK general election...
: Sir William AllenWilliam Allen (UK politician)Sir William James Allen was a Northern Irish unionist politician.He was elected to the British House of Commons at a by-election in 1917, as an Irish Unionist Party Member of Parliament for North Armagh, and retained his seat at the 1918 general election...
was killed in a car crash. - Liverpool Edge Hill by-election, 1947Liverpool Edge Hill by-election, 1947The Liverpool Edge Hill by-election, 1947 was a parliamentary by-election held in England to elect a new Member of Parliament for the British House of Commons constituency of Liverpool Edge Hill on 11 September 1947...
: Dr Richard ClitherowRichard ClitherowRichard Clitherow was a Labour party politician in the United Kingdom.He was elected as Member of Parliament for Liverpool Edge Hill at the 1945 general election, but died in office in 1947, aged 45. After his death, the by-election for his seat was won by Labour's Arthur Irvine.- External links :...
died due to an overdose of barbiturates after he had been "run down and jaded". - Glasgow Cathcart by-election, 1946: Francis BeattieFrancis BeattieFrancis Beattie was Unionist Party MP for Glasgow Cathcart . Beattie won it at a by-election in 1942, and was re-elected in 1945, but he was killed in a road accident later that year....
was killed in a car crash. - Smethwick by-election, 1945Smethwick by-election, 1945The Smethwick by-election, 1945 was a by-election held on 1 October 1945 for the British House of Commons constituency of Smethwick in Staffordshire ....
: Alfred DobbsAlfred DobbsAlfred James Dobbs was a British Labour Party politician and trade unionist. He is most notable for being the Member of Parliament who served the shortest term, since the Second World War — just one day....
was killed in a car crash. - Motherwell by-election, 1945Motherwell by-election, 1945The Motherwell by-election was held on 12 April 1945, following the death of Labour Party Member of Parliament for Motherwell James Walker.The by-election took place during the Second World War during unusual political conditions...
: James WalkerJames Walker (UK politician)James Walker, , was a Labour Party Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom, representing the Newport constituency in Monmouthshire from 1929 to 1931 and Motherwell from 1935 until his death in 1945, aged 61....
was killed in a road accident. - Bury St. Edmunds by-election, 1944: Lieut-Col. Frank HeilgersFrank HeilgersLieutenant-Colonel Frank Frederick Alexander Heilgers was a British Conservative Party Member of Parliament who was killed in a train crash during World War II....
was killed in a train crash. - Manchester Clayton by-election, 1942: John JaggerJohn JaggerJohn Jagger was a British trade unionist and Labour Party politician. After a career in business and trade union leadership, he won a seat in the House of Commons in 1935, and held it until his death in a road accident.- Career :...
was killed in a motorcycle accident. - Stretford by-election, 1939: Anthony CrossleyAnthony CrossleyAnthony Crommelin Crossley was a British a writer, publisher and Conservative politician.Crossley was born on 13 August 1903, the only son of Sir Kenneth Irwin Crossley, 2nd Baronet. His father was chairman of Crossley Brothers Limited and Crossley Motors Limited.In 1916 Crossley enrolled at Eton...
was killed in an air crash. - Hitchin by-election, 1933: Viscount Knebworth Antony Bulwer-Lytton, Viscount KnebworthEdward Antony James Bulwer-Lytton, Viscount Knebworth , was a British pilot and Conservative politician.Knebworth was the eldest son of Victor Bulwer-Lytton, 2nd Earl of Lytton, and his wife Pamela, daughter of Sir Trevor Chichele-Plowden. Lady Hermione Lytton was his sister. He was educated at...
was killed in an plane crash.
By-elections prompted by suicide
- Paisley South by-election, 1997Paisley South by-election, 1997The Member of Parliament for Paisley South, in Scotland, Gordon McMaster, died on 28 July 1997.A by-election to fill the seat was held on 6 November...
: Gordon McMasterGordon McMasterGordon James McMaster was a Scottish politician.Born in Johnstone, Renfrewshire, he was elected as Labour Member of Parliament for Paisley South at a by-election in 1990, following the death of Norman Buchan, and retained the seat until his own death in 1997...
committed suicide. - Mid Staffordshire by-election, 1990Mid Staffordshire by-election, 1990The Mid Staffordshire constituency of the United Kingdom Parliament held a by-election on 22 March 1990. The result was the election of Labour candidate Sylvia Heal to succeed the previous Conservative Member of Parliament John Heddle, who had precipitated the byelection by committing...
: John HeddleJohn HeddleBentley John Heddle , known as John Heddle, was a British Conservative Party politician.Heddle was Member of Parliament for Lichfield and Tamworth from 1979 to 1983, and for Mid Staffordshire from 1983 until his death in 1989 at the age of 46...
committed suicide. - Birmingham Northfield by-election, 1982Birmingham Northfield by-election, 1982The Birmingham, Northfield by-election of 28 October 1982 was held after the death of Conservative Member of Parliament Jocelyn Cadbury on 31 July 1982...
: Jocelyn CadburyJocelyn CadburyJocelyn Benedict Laurence Cadbury was a British Conservative Party politician.Cadbury was educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated with a degree in Economics and Anthropology...
committed suicide. - Fermanagh and South Tyrone by-election, August 1981: Bobby SandsBobby SandsRobert Gerard "Bobby" Sands was an Irish volunteer of the Provisional Irish Republican Army and member of the United Kingdom Parliament who died on hunger strike while imprisoned in HM Prison Maze....
continued his hunger strike until death. - Acton by-election, 1968Acton by-election, 1968The Acton by-election of 28 March 1968 was held after the death of Labour Member of Parliament Bernard Floud on 10 October 1967. The seat was gained by the Conservatives in a defeat for Harold Wilson's government. It was one of the three Conservative gains from Labour on the same day, the others...
: Bernard FloudBernard FloudBernard Francis Castle Floud was a British farmer, television company executive and politician.-Before Parliament:...
committed suicide. - Harrow West by-election, 1959: Sir Albert BraithwaiteAlbert BraithwaiteSir Albert Newby Braithwaite DSO was a British Conservative Party politician. He was the son of Albert Braithwaite, one time Lord Mayor of Leeds and Patti Braithwaite....
committed suicide. - Leeds West by-election, 1949: Thomas StamfordThomas William StamfordThomas William Stamford was a British politician. He was Labour Member of Parliament for Leeds West from 1923 to 1931, and from 1945 to 1949.- External links :...
committed suicide. - Jarrow by-election, 1947: Ellen WilkinsonEllen WilkinsonEllen Cicely Wilkinson was the Labour Member of Parliament for Middlesbrough and later for Jarrow on Tyneside. She was one of the first women in Britain to be elected as a Member of Parliament .- History :...
committed suicide. - Heywood and Radcliffe by-election, 1946: John WhittakerJohn Edmondson WhittakerJohn Edmondson Whittaker was a Labour Party politician in the United Kingdom.John Whittaker was born in Burnley in 1897. After working as a weaver in a cotton mill as a boy, Whittaker was educated at Burnley Municipal College and Sarisbury Court Church of England Teachers Training College,...
committed suicide. - City of Chester by-election, 1940: Sir Charles CayzerSir Charles William Cayzer, 3rd BaronetSir Charles William Cayzer, 3rd Baronet was a British Conservative Party Member of Parliament .He was the son of Sir Charles William Cayzer, 2nd Baronet, of Gartmore, whom he succeeded in 1917...
committed suicide after killing his butler. - Wells by-election, 1939Wells by-election, 1939The Wells by-election, 1939 was a parliamentary by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Wells in Somerset on 13 December 1939. The seat had become vacant when Anthony Muirhead, the constituency's Conservative Party Member of Parliament had died on 29 October, aged 48. He...
: Anthony MuirheadAnthony MuirheadLieutenant-Colonel Anthony John Muirhead MC & Bar TD was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom...
committed suicide.
By-elections prompted by posthumous election of MP
- Bromley by-election, 1945: Sir Edward Taswell Campbell died before his election declaration at the 1945 General Election.
- Monmouth by-election, 1945Monmouth by-election, 1945The Monmouth by-election, 1945 was a by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Monmouth in Wales on 30 October 1945...
: Leslie PymLeslie PymLeslie Ruthven Pym was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom.He was elected as Member of Parliament for Monmouth in Wales at a by-election in 1939. He represented the constituency in the House of Commons until his death during the 1945 general election. Polling took place on 5...
died before his election declaration at the 1945 General Election. - Combined Scottish Universities by-election, 1935Combined Scottish Universities by-election, 1935The Combined Scottish Universities by-election, 1935 was a by-election held from 17 June to 22 June 1935 for the Combined Scottish Universities, a university constituency of the British House of Commons.- Vacancy :...
: Noel Skelton died before his election declaration at the 1935 General Election. - North Galway by-election, 1906: Thomas HigginsThomas Higgins (Irish politician)Thomas Higgins was an Irish nationalist politician and auctioneer, who as member of the Irish Parliamentary Party was posthumously declared elected Member of Parliament of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1906.Higgins, originally from Monivea, who was...
died before his election declaration at the 1906 General Election.
By-elections prompted by scandal
- Barnsley Central by-election, 2011Barnsley Central by-election, 2011The Barnsley Central by-election was a by-election for the Parliament of the United Kingdom's House of Commons constituency of Barnsley Central which took place on 3 March 2011...
: Eric IllsleyEric IllsleyEric Evlyn Illsley is a former British politician who was the Member of Parliament for Barnsley Central from 1987 until 2011. He was a Labour Party representative until suspended from the party after being charged with false accounting as part of the United Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandal,...
resigned after pleading guilty to charges of false accounting arising from the United Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandalUnited Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandalThe United Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal was a major political scandal triggered by the leak and subsequent publication by the Telegraph Group in 2009 of expense claims made by members of the United Kingdom Parliament over several years...
. - Glasgow North East by-election, 2009Glasgow North East by-election, 2009The 2009 Glasgow North East by-election was a by-election for the Parliament of the United Kingdom's House of Commons constituency of Glasgow North East. The by-election was held on 12 November 2009 following the resignation of Michael Martin as an MP and as Speaker of the British House of Commons...
: Michael MartinMichael Martin (politician)Michael John Martin, Baron Martin of Springburn, PC is a British politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Glasgow Springburn from 1979 to 2005, and then for Glasgow North East until 2009...
resigned as Speaker rather than face a vote of no-confidence, amid criticism of his actions arising from the United Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandalUnited Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandalThe United Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal was a major political scandal triggered by the leak and subsequent publication by the Telegraph Group in 2009 of expense claims made by members of the United Kingdom Parliament over several years...
. - Norwich North by-election, 2009Norwich North by-election, 2009The 2009 Norwich North by-election was a by-election for the United Kingdom Parliament's House of Commons constituency of Norwich North. The by-election took place due to the resignation of Ian Gibson after being banned from standing as a Labour candidate for the next general election...
: Ian GibsonIan Gibson (politician)Ian Gibson is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Norwich North from 1997 to 2009...
resigned after being debarred as a Labour candidate, due to allegations arising from the United Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandalUnited Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandalThe United Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal was a major political scandal triggered by the leak and subsequent publication by the Telegraph Group in 2009 of expense claims made by members of the United Kingdom Parliament over several years...
. - Beckenham by-election, 1997Beckenham by-election, 1997A by-election in Beckenham, England, was called in 1997 when the sitting Member of Parliament, Piers Merchant , resigned from Parliament on 21 October 1997...
: Piers MerchantPiers MerchantPiers Rolf Garfield Merchant was a British Conservative Party politician. He was the Member of Parliament for Newcastle upon Tyne Central from 1983 to 1987, and then MP for Beckenham from 1992 until he resigned in October 1997 following a scandal.- Education :He was educated at Nottingham High...
resigned after a newspaper story revealed that his previous denials of an affair were lies. - Bournemouth East by-election, 1977Bournemouth East by-election, 1977The Bournemouth East by election was a by election for the Parliament of the United Kingdom held on 24 November 1977 after the resignation of John Cordle following his criticism by a Select Committee for business links to corrupt architect John Poulson....
: John CordleJohn CordleJohn Howard Cordle was a British Conservative Party politician.Cordle, the son of Ernest William Cordle, was educated at the City of London School and became managing director of E. W. Cordle and Son Ltd. in 1946. He was also a member of Lloyd's of London...
resigned after he was criticised by a Select Committee for business links to corrupt architect John PoulsonJohn PoulsonJohn Garlick Llewellyn Poulson was a British architect and businessman who caused a major political scandal when his use of bribery was disclosed in 1972. The highest-ranking figure to be forced out was Conservative Home Secretary Reginald Maudling...
. - Walsall North by-election, 1976Walsall North by-election, 1976The Walsall North by-election on 4 November 1976 was held after the resignation of sitting Member of Parliament John Stonehouse. Elected as a Labour candidate, Stonehouse was a member of the English National Party when he resigned, after an interlude in which he faked his own death...
: John StonehouseJohn StonehouseJohn Thomson Stonehouse was a British politician and minister under Harold Wilson. Stonehouse is perhaps best remembered for his unsuccessful attempt at faking his own death in 1974...
resigned after being convicted of insurance fraud. - Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1973Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1973The Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1973 was a parliamentary by-election held on 8 November 1973 for the British House of Commons constituency of Berwick-upon-Tweed. It was one of four UK by-elections held on the same day....
: Antony Lambton resigned after his visits to prostitutes and use of cannabis were exposed by the News of the WorldNews of the WorldThe News of the World was a national red top newspaper published in the United Kingdom from 1843 to 2011. It was at one time the biggest selling English language newspaper in the world, and at closure still had one of the highest English language circulations...
. - Stratford-upon-Avon by-election, 1963: John ProfumoJohn ProfumoBrigadier John Dennis Profumo, 5th Baron Profumo CBE , informally known as Jack Profumo , was a British politician. His title, 5th Baron, which he did not use, was Italian. Although Profumo held an increasingly responsible series of political posts in the 1950s, he is best known today for his...
resigned after his denials of an affair with Christine KeelerChristine KeelerChristine Margaret Keeler is an English former model and showgirl. Her involvement with a British government minister discredited the Conservative government of Harold Macmillan in 1963, in what is known as the Profumo Affair....
were shown to be lies. - Harrow East by-election, 1959: Ian HarveyIan Harvey (politician)Lieutenant-Colonel Ian Douglas Harvey RA was an English businessman and politician, serving as a Conservative Member of Parliament and junior Minister until his resignation in 1958.-Early career:...
resigned after conviction for gross indecency with a guardsman in Hyde Park. - Paddington North by-election, 1953: Bill FieldWilliam J. FieldWilliam James Field was a British politician who found his career ruined by a conviction for "importuning for immoral purposes" in the 1950s. He was Labour Member of Parliament for Paddington North from 1946 to 1953....
resigned after conviction for importuning for immoral purposes in a public lavatory. - Sowerby by-election, 1949: John BelcherJohn Belcher (politician)John William Belcher was a British Labour Party politician, the first to resign in disgrace over a political scandal.-Political career:...
resigned after being found to have accepted gifts from businessmen for political favours. - Scarborough and Whitby by-election, 1941: Sir Paul LathamSir Paul Latham, 2nd BaronetMajor Sir Paul Latham, 2nd Baronet was a British Conservative Party politician who served as Member of Parliament for Scarborough and Whitby constituency from 1931 to 1941....
resigned after he was arrested to be tried by court-martial on 13 charges of disgraceful conduct. - Derby by-election, 1936: James Henry ThomasJames Henry ThomasJames Henry "Jimmy" Thomas was a British trade unionist and Labour politician. He was involved in a political scandal involving budget leaks.-Early career and Trade Union activities:...
resigned after being found to have disclosed budget secrets. - Balham and Tooting by-election, 1936: Sir Alfred ButtAlfred ButtSir Alfred Butt, 1st Baronet was a British theatre entrepreneur, Conservative politician and racehorse owner and breeder...
resigned after being found to have disclosed budget secrets. - Pontypridd by-election, 1931: Thomas Mardy JonesThomas Isaac Mardy JonesThomas Isaac Mardy Jones was a British politician and miner.The son of a Welsh miner, who later died in the mines, Jones rose up the ranks of the Labour Party to become Member of Parliament for Pontypridd in 1922....
resigned after being found to have abused a travel voucher. - Buckrose by-election, 1926: Guy GauntGuy Gaunt-External links:...
resigned after being cited as co-respondent in a divorce case.
By-elections prompted to provide seat for seat-less personality
- Nuneaton by-election, 1965: For Frank CousinsFrank CousinsFrank Cousins PC was a British trade union leader and Labour politician.He was born in Bulwell, Nottinghamshire, and became a full-time official in the road transport section of the Transport and General Workers' Union in July 1938...
. - Leyton by-election, 1965Leyton by-election, 1965The Leyton by-election, 1965 was a parliamentary by-election held on 21 January 1965 for the British House of Commons constituency of Leyton in east London....
: For Patrick Gordon-Walker (defeated). - Sheffield Neepsend by-election, 1950Sheffield Neepsend by-election, 1950The Sheffield Neepsend by-election, 1950 was a parliamentary by-election held on 5 April 1950 for the British House of Commons constituency of Sheffield Neepsend in Neepsend, an industrial suburb of the city of Sheffield....
: For Frank SoskiceFrank SoskiceFrank Soskice, Baron Stow Hill PC was a British lawyer and Labour Party politician.-Background and education:...
.
- Southampton by-election, 1940: For Sir John ReithJohn Reith, 1st Baron ReithJohn Charles Walsham Reith, 1st Baron Reith, KT, GCVO, GBE, CB, TD, PC was a Scottish broadcasting executive who established the tradition of independent public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom...
. - Portsmouth South by-election, 1922: For Leslie Orme WilsonLeslie Orme WilsonSir Leslie Orme Wilson, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, DSO, PC was a British soldier, Conservative politician and Governor of Queensland.-Personal life:...
. - City of London by-election, 1906: For Arthur BalfourArthur BalfourArthur James Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour, KG, OM, PC, DL was a British Conservative politician and statesman...
.
By-elections prompted by party splits or disputes
- Bermondsey by-election, 1983Bermondsey by-election, 1983A by-election was held in the Bermondsey constituency in South London, on 24 February 1983, following the resignation of Labour MP Robert Mellish, who had represented the constituency and its predecessors in the House of Commons since 1946...
: Robert MellishBob Mellish, Baron MellishRobert Joseph Mellish, Baron Mellish, PC was a British politician. He was a long-serving Labour Party MP and served as the Labour Chief Whip from 1969 until 1976 but in his later years he fell out with his local Constituency Labour Party which had become dominated by left-wingers, and eventually...
, disenchanted with the left-wing takeover of his Constituency Labour PartyConstituency Labour PartyA Constituency Labour Party is an organisation of members of the British Labour Party who live in a particular UK parliamentary constituency in England, Scotland and Wales. The Labour Party in Northern Ireland has, since February 2009, been organised as a province-wide Constituency Labour Party...
(CLP), obtained a job with the London Docklands Development CorporationLondon Docklands Development CorporationThe London Docklands Development Corporation was a quango agency set up by the UK Government in 1981 to regenerate the depressed Docklands area of east London. During its eighteen-year existence it was responsible for regenerating an area of in the London Boroughs of Newham, Tower Hamlets and...
, left the Labour Party and then resigned to force a byelection. - Lincoln by-election, 1973Lincoln by-election, 1973The Lincoln by-election of 1 March 1973 saw the re-election of Dick Taverne as Member of Parliament for Lincoln as a Democratic Labour representative, after Taverne's pro-Common Market views saw him repudiated by the Lincoln Constituency Labour Party...
: Dick TaverneDick Taverne, Baron TaverneDick Taverne, Baron Taverne, QC, is an English politician, who is one of the small number of members of the British House of Commons elected since the Second World War who was not the candidate of a major political party...
sought re-election as an Independent 'Democratic Labour' candidate after being deselected by his CLP; he was successful. - Southwark by-election, 1972Southwark by-election, 1972The Southwark by-election, 1972 was a by-election held on 4 May 1972 for the British House of Commons constituency of Southwark.The by-election was triggered by the resignation of the serving Labour Party Member of Parliament , Ray Gunter.-Candidates:...
: Ray GunterRay GunterRaymond Jones Gunter , British Labour Party politician, was born in Wales and had a background in the railway industry and the British trade union movement – specifically his union, the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association .After seeing active service in the Second World War, enlisting in the...
resigned from the Labour Party in disagreement with its stance opposing European Economic CommunityEuropean Economic CommunityThe European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) The European Economic Community (EEC) (also known as the Common Market in the English-speaking world, renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993The information in this article primarily covers the EEC's time as an independent...
entry, and then from Parliament because he had been elected as a Labour candidate. - Liverpool Garston by-election, 1957Liverpool Garston by-election, 1957The Liverpool Garston by-election of 5 December 1957 was held after the death of Conservative Party MP SirVictor Raikes:The seat was safe for the Conservatives, having been won at the United Kingdom general election, 1955 by nearly 12,000 votes...
: Victor RaikesVictor RaikesSir Henry Victor Alpin MacKinnon Raikes KBE was a British Conservative politician.Raikes was the son of Henry St. John Digby Raikes, eldest son of Henry Cecil Raikes. His mother was Annie Lucinda...
resigned the Conservative whip over the withdrawal from Suez, and then resigned from Parliament on obtaining a business appointment in Southern RhodesiaSouthern RhodesiaSouthern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa. From its independence in 1965 until its extinction in 1980, it was known as Rhodesia...
. - Wednesbury by-election, 1957: Stanley EvansStanley EvansStanley Norman Evans was a British industrialist and Labour Party politician. He served very briefly as an Agriculture Minister in the post-war Attlee government but was forced to resign when he claimed that farmers were being "featherbedded"...
, a Labour MP who supported the Conservative government's Suez policy, resigned after being asked to by his Constituency Labour Party. - Melton by-election, 1956: Anthony NuttingAnthony NuttingSir Harold Anthony Nutting, 3rd Baronet was a British diplomat and Conservative Party politician.-Early and private life:...
resigned in protest at government policy on Suez.
By-elections re-contested over a single issue
- Haltemprice and Howden by-election, 2008Haltemprice and Howden by-election, 2008The 2008 Haltemprice and Howden by-election was a by-election held in the United Kingdom on 10 July 2008 to elect a new Member of Parliament for constituency of Haltemprice and Howden...
: David DavisDavid Davis (British politician)David Michael Davis is a British Conservative Party politician who is the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Haltemprice and Howden...
resigned to force a by-election on the issue of civil liberties. He was re-elected with neither of the other main parties contesting the seat. - Northern Ireland by-elections, 1986Northern Ireland by-elections, 1986The 1986 Northern Ireland by-elections were fifteen by-elections held on 23 January 1986, to fill vacancies in the Parliament of the United Kingdom caused by the resignation in December 1985 of all sitting Unionist Members of Parliament...
: Fifteen Unionist MPs resigned and re-contested their seats in protest at the Anglo-Irish AgreementAnglo-Irish AgreementThe Anglo-Irish Agreement was an agreement between the United Kingdom and Ireland which aimed to help bring an end to the Troubles in Northern Ireland...
, all but one successful in gaining re-election. - Kinross-shire and Perthshire by-election, 1938: The Duchess of AthollKatharine Marjory Stewart-Murray, Duchess of AthollKatharine Marjory Stewart-Murray, Duchess of Atholl, DBE , born Katharine Marjory Ramsay and known as the Marchioness of Tullibardine from 1899 to 1917, was a British noblewoman and Unionist politician....
resigned in protest at Neville ChamberlainNeville ChamberlainArthur Neville Chamberlain FRS was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from May 1937 to May 1940. Chamberlain is best known for his appeasement foreign policy, and in particular for his signing of the Munich Agreement in 1938, conceding the...
's appeasement policy and sought re-election. She was defeated. - Southwark North by-election, 1927Southwark North by-election, 1927The Southwark North by-election, 1927 was a parliamentary by-election for the British House of Commons constituency of Southwark North held on 28 March 1927.-Vacancy:The by-election was caused by the resignation of the sitting Labour MP, Leslie Haden-Guest...
: Leslie Haden-Guest resigned from the Labour Party over its policy on China, and re-contested the seat as an Independent Constitutionalist with Conservative support. He was defeated, finishing bottom of the poll. The Liberals gained the seat. - Cork City by-election, 1914: William O'BrienWilliam O'BrienWilliam O'Brien was an Irish nationalist, journalist, agrarian agitator, social revolutionary, politician, party leader, newspaper publisher, author and Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
resigned to submit himself to the voters after the Irish NationalistsIrish Parliamentary PartyThe Irish Parliamentary Party was formed in 1882 by Charles Stewart Parnell, the leader of the Nationalist Party, replacing the Home Rule League, as official parliamentary party for Irish nationalist Members of Parliament elected to the House of Commons at...
had made council gains in Cork. He was returned unopposed. - Bow and Bromley by-election, 1912Bow and Bromley by-election, 1912The Bow and Bromley by-election was a by-election held on 26 November 1912 for the British House of Commons constituency of Bow and Bromley. It was triggered when the Labour Party Member of Parliament , George Lansbury, accepted the post of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds as a technical measure...
: George LansburyGeorge LansburyGeorge Lansbury was a British politician, socialist, Christian pacifist and newspaper editor. He was a Member of Parliament from 1910 to 1912 and from 1922 to 1940, and leader of the Labour Party from 1932 to 1935....
resigned to contest his seat on the issue of Women's SuffrageWomen's suffrageWomen's suffrage or woman suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. The expression is also used for the economic and political reform movement aimed at extending these rights to women and without any restrictions or qualifications such as property ownership, payment of tax, or...
, although he was disenchanted with a range of Labour party policies. He was defeated. - Stratford-on-Avon by-election, 1909: Thomas Kincaid-SmithThomas Kincaid-SmithLieutenant-Colonel Thomas Malcolm Harvey Kincaid-Smith was a British Liberal politician and soldier.Commissioned into the 9th Lancers, he was promoted from second lieutenant to lieutenant in 1895. Kincaid-Smith was seconded for Colonial Office service in 1898...
resigned from the Liberal Party on the issue of compulsory national service. He stood as an Independent with National Service LeagueNational Service LeagueThe National Service League was a British pressure group founded in February 1902 to alert the country to the inadequacy of the British Army to fight a major war and to propose the solution of national service....
support. He was defeated, finishing bottom of the poll. - Mid Cork by-election, 1906: D. D. SheehanD. D. SheehanDaniel Desmond Sheehan, usually known as D. D. Sheehan was an Irish nationalist, politician, labour leader, journalist, barrister and author...
resigned and re-contested his seat following his expulsion from the Irish Nationalist group for not signing the party pledge. Re-elected as an independent.
By-elections to ratify a change of party
By-elections are ostensibly to vote for a 'person', not a 'party', meaning that a member switching parties mid-term is not cause for a by-election. However, some members do seek re-election under their new party as a point of principle.- Merton, Mitcham and Morden by-election, 1982: Bruce Douglas-MannBruce Douglas-MannBruce Leslie Home Douglas-Mann was a British politician.Bruce Douglas-Mann was born at Bexhill, Sussex, the son of a solicitor, Leslie John Douglas-Mann, MC....
honoured a pledge to seek re-election when he left Labour to join the SDP. He was defeated by the Conservative candidate. - Lincoln by-election, 1973Lincoln by-election, 1973The Lincoln by-election of 1 March 1973 saw the re-election of Dick Taverne as Member of Parliament for Lincoln as a Democratic Labour representative, after Taverne's pro-Common Market views saw him repudiated by the Lincoln Constituency Labour Party...
: Dick Taverne resigned and successfully re-contested his seat following his resignation from the Labour PartyLabour 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...
. - Preston by-election, 1929Preston by-election, 1929The Preston by-election, 1929 was a parliamentary by-election held in England for the House of Commons constituency of Preston on 31 July 1929...
: William Allen Jowitt resigned and successfully re-contested his seat having left the Liberal PartyLiberal Party (UK)The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
and joined LabourLabour 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...
. - Kingston-upon-Hull Central by-election, 1926: Joseph Kenworthy resigned and successfully re-contested his seat having left the Liberal PartyLiberal Party (UK)The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
and joined LabourLabour 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...
. - Isle of Wight by-election, 1904: J. E. B. Seely resigned and successfully recontested his seat as an Independent Conservative having left the Conservative PartyConservative 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...
. He joined the Liberals the following month. - Orkney and Shetland by-election, 1902: Cathcart Wilson resigned and successfully recontested his seat having left the Liberal PartyLiberal Party (UK)The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
.
By-elections triggered when member leaves on principle
- Bristol South East by-election, 1963Bristol South East by-election, 1963The Bristol South East by-election, 1963 was a by-election held on 20 August 1963 for the British House of Commons constituency of Bristol South East in the city of Bristol....
: Malcolm St ClairMalcolm St. Clair (UK politician)Malcolm Archibald James St. Clair was a British Conservative Party politician.He was the son of Major-General G.P. St Clair CB CBE DSO, and was educated at Eton College....
honoured a pledge to stand down if law changed to allow Tony BennTony BennAnthony Neil Wedgwood "Tony" Benn, PC is a British Labour Party politician and a former MP and Cabinet Minister.His successful campaign to renounce his hereditary peerage was instrumental in the creation of the Peerage Act 1963...
to disclaim his peerage. - Edinburgh Leith by-election, 1927: William Wedgwood BennWilliam Wedgwood Benn, 1st Viscount StansgateAir Commodore William Wedgwood Benn, 1st Viscount Stansgate PC, DSO, DFC was a British Liberal politician who later joined the Labour Party. He was Secretary of State for India between 1929 and 1931 and Secretary of State for Air between 1945 and 1946...
resigned following his resignation from the Liberal party and joining the Labour Party. He did not contest the by-election out of fairness to the existing Labour candidate. The seat was narrowly held by a new Liberal candidate.
By-elections prompted by Member's desire to contest another seat
- East Tyrone by-election, 1918: William Redmond resigned in order to defend his late father's seat at Waterford CityWaterford City (UK Parliament constituency)Waterford City was a United Kingdom Parliament constituency, in Ireland.-Boundaries and boundary changes:This constituency was the Parliamentary borough of Waterford in County Waterford.It returned one MP 1801–1832, two MPs 1832–1885 and one 1885–1922...
. He was successful. - East Worcestershire by-election, 1914: Austin Chamberlain resigned in order to defend his late father's seat at Birmingham WestBirmingham West (UK Parliament constituency)Birmingham West was a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It returned one Member of Parliament , elected by the first-past-the-post voting system....
. He was successful. - East Wicklow by-election, 1911: John Muldoon resigned in order to contest the East Cork by-electionEast Cork (UK Parliament constituency)East Cork, a division of County Cork, was a parliamentary constituency in Ireland, represented in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. From 1885 to 1922 it returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.Until the 1885 general election...
. He was successful.
By-elections caused by the previous result being declared void
- Oldham East and Saddleworth by-election, 2011Oldham East and Saddleworth by-election, 2011The 2011 by-election in Oldham East and Saddleworth was a by-election for the Parliament of the United Kingdom's House of Commons constituency of Oldham East and Saddleworth held on 13 January 2011...
: The result of the 2010 general election was declared void because the victor was found guilty of knowingly making false statements about a rival candidate. - Winchester by-election, 1997Winchester by-election, 1997The 1997 Winchester by-election was a by-election to the UK House of Commons in the constituency of Winchester, Hampshire. After an unclear result in Winchester at the general election on 1 May 1997, a new election was allowed by the High Court...
: The result of the 1997 general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 1997The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
was declared void because ballot papers which had not received the official mark would have affected the result, if counted. Liberal Democrat Mark OatenMark OatenMark Oaten is a former British Liberal Democrat politician. He served as the Member of Parliament for Winchester from 1997 to 2010, and was his party's Home Affairs spokesperson from 2003 to 2006...
massively increased the minute majority he had achieved in the general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 1997The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
. - Oxford by-election, 1924Oxford by-election, 1924The Oxford by-election, 1924 was a parliamentary by-election held on 5 June 1924 for the British House of Commons constituency of Oxford. The seat had become vacant when the Liberal Member of Parliament Frank Gray had been unseated on petition, after his agent had falsified the account for his...
: The result of the 1923 UK general election was declared void because there were irregularities in the election expenses of the successful candidate. - Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1923Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1923The Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election of 31 May 1923 was a by-election to the British House of Commons which saw Mabel Philipson become the third woman to take her seat in Parliament. The election was caused when her husband, Hilton Philipson, was deprived of his seat due to corruption by his election...
: The result of the 1922 UK general election was declared void because there were irregularities in the election expenses of the successful candidate. - North Louth by-election, 1911: The result of the December 1910 UK general election was declared void because of corrupt practices and bribery on the part of the successful candidate.
By-elections prompted by disqualification of the sitting Member
- Bristol South East by-election, 1961Bristol South East by-election, 1961The Bristol South East by-election, 1961 was a by-election held on 4 May 1961 for the British House of Commons constituency of Bristol South East in the city of Bristol....
: Tony BennTony BennAnthony Neil Wedgwood "Tony" Benn, PC is a British Labour Party politician and a former MP and Cabinet Minister.His successful campaign to renounce his hereditary peerage was instrumental in the creation of the Peerage Act 1963...
had inherited a PeeragePeerage of the United KingdomThe Peerage of the United Kingdom comprises most peerages created in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Act of Union in 1801, when it replaced the Peerage of Great Britain...
from his father. Although by-elections were routinely called where Members had succeeded to the Peerage, the seat was not considered vacated until the Member had received a Writ of Summons to the House of LordsHouse of LordsThe House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
, and Benn, who refused to accept the Peerage, did not apply for one. The seat was declared vacant by a resolution of the House of Commons. - Mid Ulster by-election, 1956Mid Ulster by-election, 1956The by-election held in Mid Ulster on 8 May 1956 was called because both candidates in the Mid Ulster by-election, 1955 were disqualified. Tom Mitchell was disqualified from assuming office because he was a convicted felon. Charles Beattie was awarded the seat but he was also disqualified because...
: Charles BeattieCharles BeattieCharles Beattie was a Northern Irish farmer and auctioneer. Active in the Ulster Farmers' Union and in Unionist associations, he achieved senior office in the Orange Order and the Royal Black Institution and served on Omagh Rural District Council from 1952 until his death...
was found to be disqualified through membership of National Assistance panels. A bill indemnifying him from the consequences of acting as an MP while disqualified was passed by the House of Commons; Beattie did not stand in the by-election. - Mid Ulster by-election, 1955Mid Ulster by-election, 1955The by-election held in Mid Ulster on 11 August 1955 was called as a result of a vote in the British parliament on 18 July 1955 which voted 197 votes to 63 to nullify the result of the previous 1955 UK General Election in the constituency...
: Tom Mitchell was disqualified as a felon (resolution of the House). - Belfast West by-election, 1950Belfast West by-election, 1950There was a by-election for Belfast West constituency on 29 November 1950.It occurred after the winner at the 1950 UK general election, James Godfrey MacManaway, was disqualified as he was a priest....
: Rev James Godfrey MacManawayJames Godfrey MacManawayJames Godfrey MacManaway, MBE was a British Unionist politician and Church of Ireland cleric, notable for being disqualified as a Member of Parliament, owing to his status as a priest.-Early life:...
was found by the Judicial Committee of the Privy CouncilJudicial Committee of the Privy CouncilThe Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is one of the highest courts in the United Kingdom. Established by the Judicial Committee Act 1833 to hear appeals formerly heard by the King in Council The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) is one of the highest courts in the United...
to be disqualified, as a Minister of the Church of IrelandChurch of IrelandThe Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
. - Walsall by-election, 1925: William PrestonWilliam Preston (UK politician)William Preston was a British industrialist and Conservative politician.Born in 1874, Preston was educated at Walsall Grammar School and Weston School, Bath. In 1907 he married Lilly Swinton Sanders, and he became managing director of William Sanders & Co Limited, a major manufacturer of...
was found to be disqualified owing to his holding government contracts. A bill indemnifying him was passed by the House of Commons and Preston was re-elected at the by-election. - Dover by-election, 1924: John Astor was disqualified for voting before he took the oath. He was returned unopposed at the by-election.
- Whitechapel by-election, 1913: Sir Stuart Samuel was found to be disqualified owing to his holding government contracts. A bill indemnifying him was passed by the House of Commons and Samuel was narrowly re-elected at the by-election.
- City of London by-election, 1904City of London by-election, 1904The City of London by-election, 1904 was a parliamentary by-election held in England on 9 February 1904 for the House of Commons constituency of City of London....
: Alban GibbsAlban Gibbs, 2nd Baron AldenhamAlban George Henry Gibbs, MA, FSA, MP, 2nd Baron Aldenham was a British Conservative Party politician and peer, the son of Henry Hucks Gibbs, 1st Baron Aldenham....
was found to be disqualified owing to his holding government contracts. Gibbs resigned and was re-elected unopposed at the by-election. - St. Albans by-election, 1904: Vicary GibbsVicary Gibbs (MP)The Hon. Vicary Gibbs was a British barrister, merchant and Conservative Party politician. He sat in the House of Commons from 1892 to 1904.- Early life and family :Gibbs came from an old Devon family....
was found to be disqualified owing to his holding government contracts. Gibbs resigned and was narrowly defeated at the by-election.
By-elections prompted by expulsion from the House
- South Norfolk by-election, 1955South Norfolk by-election, 1955The South Norfolk by-election, 1955 was a by-election held on 13th January 1955 for the British House of Commons constituency of South Norfolk....
: Peter BakerPeter Baker (UK politician)Peter Arthur David Baker MC was a British Conservative politician and Member of Parliament . He was the last MP to be expelled from the House of Commons....
was expelled after being convicted of uttering, forgery and fraud. - Gravesend by-election, 1947Gravesend by-election, 1947The Gravesend by-election, 1947 was a by-election held on 26 November 1947 to fill the vacant British House of Commons seat of Gravesend. The vacancy arose when the sitting Member of Parliament , Garry Allighan, was expelled from the House for making allegations of corruption.The seat was...
: Garry AllighanGarry AllighanGarry Allighan was a British journalist and Labour Party Member of Parliament . His birth name was Ernest Alligan...
was expelled after being found to be in extreme contempt of the House by his peers. - Hackney South by-election, 1922: Horatio BottomleyHoratio BottomleyHoratio William Bottomley was a British financier, swindler, journalist, newspaper proprietor, populist politician and Member of Parliament .-Early life:...
was expelled after being convicted of fraud, perjury and false accounting. - Galway Borough by-election, 1903: the seat was declared vacant after Arthur Alfred LynchArthur Alfred LynchArthur Alfred Lynch was an Irish Australian civil engineer, physician, journalist, author, soldier, anti-imperialist and polymath. He served as MP in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland as member of the Irish Parliamentary Party, and represented Galway Borough...
was convicted of high treason.
By-elections prompted by lunacy
- Colne Valley by-election, 1916: Charles LeachCharles LeachRev. Charles Leach was a Congregationalist Minister and Liberal Party politician in the United Kingdom. He is notable as the only Member of Parliament to be deprived of his seat after being declared of unsound mind....
was adjudged a lunatic and his seat declared vacant.
By-elections prompted by bankruptcy
- Ashton-under-Lyne by-election, 1928Ashton-under-Lyne by-election, 1928The Ashton-under-Lyne by-election was held on 29 October 1928. It was notable for having the highest turnout of any Parliamentary by-election in Great Britain....
: Cornelius HomanCornelius HomanCornelius William James Homan was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom who served as Member of Parliament for Ashton-under-Lyne from 1924 to 1928....
lost his seat after being declared bankrupt. - North Galway by-election, 1914: Richard Hazelton resigned before being declared bankrupt. He discharged his bankruptcy and was returned in the by-election.
- Hackney South by-election, 1912: Horatio BottomleyHoratio BottomleyHoratio William Bottomley was a British financier, swindler, journalist, newspaper proprietor, populist politician and Member of Parliament .-Early life:...
resigned after filing a bankruptcy petition. - South Kilkenny by-election, 1909: Nicholas Joseph Murphy was declared bankrupt.
By-elections prompted for miscellaneous reasons
- Widnes by-election, 1916: William Hall WalkerWilliam Walker, 1st Baron WavertreeWilliam Hall Walker, 1st Baron Wavertree was a British businessman, politician, art collector, and an important figure in Thoroughbred racehorse breeding.-Background:...
resigned to permit him to donate his thoroughbred racing stock to create a National Stud in an "arms-length" transaction. He was returned unopposed at the by-election.
Second World War
- Chelmsford by-election, 1945Chelmsford by-election, 1945The Chelmsford by-election, 1945 was a by-election held on 26 April 1945 for the British House of Commons constituency of Chelmsford in Essex. The seat was won by Ernest Millington for the short-lived Common Wealth Party....
: John MacnamaraJohn MacnamaraColonel John Robert Jermain Macnamara was a British Conservative Party politician and British Army officer who was killed in Italy during the Second World War....
was killed in action fighting in Italy. - Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1944Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1944The Berwick-upon-Tweed by-election, 1944 was a parliamentary by-election held on 17 October 1944 for the British House of Commons constituency of Berwick-upon-Tweed.- Previous MP :...
: George Charles GreyGeorge Charles GreyGeorge Charles Grey was Liberal Member of Parliament for the Berwick-upon-Tweed constituency in England from August 1941 until his death in action in July 1944....
was killed in action fighting in Normandy, France. - Bury St. Edmunds by-election, 1944: Frank HeilgersFrank HeilgersLieutenant-Colonel Frank Frederick Alexander Heilgers was a British Conservative Party Member of Parliament who was killed in a train crash during World War II....
was killed in a train crash in Ilford. - Acton by-election, 1943Acton by-election, 1943The Acton by-election, 1943 was a by-election held on 12 December 1943 for the British House of Commons constituency of Acton in London.The seat had become vacant after the death in October of the Conservative Member of Parliament Hubert Duggan...
: Hubert DugganHubert DugganHubert John Duggan was a British Army officer and politician, who was Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Acton from 1931 until his death...
died of tuberculosis contracted on active service. a - Darwen by-election, 1943Darwen by-election, 1943The Darwen by-election, 1943 was a by-election held on 12 December 1943 for the British House of Commons constituency of Darwen in Lancashire....
: Stuart RussellStuart Russell (politician)Captain Stuart Hugh Minto Russell was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom.He was elected as Member of Parliament for the Darwen constituency in Lancashire at the 1935 general election, defeating the Liberal Party leader Herbert Samuel.Russell was Parliamentary Private Secretary...
died of fever on active service in Egypt. - Chippenham by-election, 1943Chippenham by-election, 1943The Chippenham by-election, 1943 was a parliamentary by-election held in England on 24 August 1943 for the British House of Commons constituency of Chippenham in Wiltshire....
: Victor CazaletVictor CazaletColonel Victor Alexander Cazalet MC was a British Conservative Party Member of Parliament .Cazalet was commissioned into the Queen's Own West Kent Yeomanry in 1915 and reached the rank of Captain, winning the Military Cross in 1917...
was killed in a plane crash in Gibraltar while escorting General Sikorski. - Birmingham Aston by-election, 1943: Edward Orlando KellettEdward Orlando KellettColonel Edward Orlando Kellett DSO was a British Member of Parliament and British Army officer who was killed in action during fighting in Tunisia during World War II....
was killed in action fighting in North Africa. - Buckingham by-election, 1943Buckingham by-election, 1943The Buckingham by-election of 1943 was a parliamentary by-election held in England on 4 August 1943 for the House of Commons constituency of Buckingham in Buckinghamshire....
: John WhiteleyJohn Whiteley (politician)Brigadier John Percival Whiteley OBE was a British Army officer and a Conservative Party politician.Whiteley was commissioned into the Royal Artillery during the First World War, ending the war as a Lieutenant...
was killed in a plane crash in Gibraltar while escorting General Sikorski. - Bristol Central by-election, 1943Bristol Central by-election, 1943The Bristol Central by-election, 1943 was a by-election held on 18 February 1943 for the British House of Commons constituency of Bristol Central in the city of Bristol. The seat had become vacant when the constituency's Conservative Member of Parliament Lord Apsley had been killed on 17 December...
: Lord ApsleyAllen Bathurst, Lord ApsleyAllen Algernon Bathurst, Lord Apsley, DSO, MC, TD, DL was a British Conservative Party politician.-Family:...
was killed in action in a plane crash in the Middle-East. - King's Lynn by-election, 1943King's Lynn by-election, 1943The King's Lynn by-election, 1943 was a by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of King's Lynn in Norfolk on 12 February 1943...
: Somerset MaxwellSomerset MaxwellSomerset Maxwell may refer to:* Somerset Maxwell, 8th Baron Farnham , MP for Cavan* Somerset Maxwell, 10th Baron Farnham , Irish Representative peer* Somerset Arthur Maxwell , MP for King's Lynn...
died of wounds received at the Battle of El Alamein. - Salisbury by-election, 1942Salisbury by-election, 1942The Salisbury by-election, 1942 was a by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Salisbury in Wiltshire on 8 July 1942. It was won by the Conservative Party candidate John Morrison, later Baron Margadale.- Vacancy :...
: James Despencer-RobertsonJames Despencer-RobertsonLieutenant-Colonel James Archibald St George Fitzwarenne-Despencer Robertson OBE , born James Archibald St George Robertson, was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom....
died suddenly, apparently from overwork as military secretary at Southern Command Headquarters. b - Llandaff and Barry by-election, 1942: Patrick MunroPatrick MunroPatrick Munro , also known as Pat Munro, was a British Conservative politician and international rugby union player.-Biography:...
died while taking part in an exercise for the Home Guard at Westminster. - The Wrekin by-election, 1941: James Baldwin-WebbJames Baldwin-WebbColonel James Baldwin-Webb was a British Conservative Party politician who served in the House of Commons as a Member of Parliament from 1931 to 1941....
drowned when the SS City of Benares was torpedoed. - Dudley by-election, 1941: Dudley JoelDudley JoelDudley Jack Barnato Joel was a British businessman and Conservative Party politician.-Biography:Part of the wealthy and prominent Joel family, he was the son of businessman Solomon Barnato Joel and his wife Ellen Ridley and was married to Esme Oldham.Heavily involved in Thoroughbred horse racing,...
was killed in action while serving with the Royal Navy. - Bodmin by-election, 1941: John RathboneJohn Rathbone (Bodmin)John Rankin Rathbone was a British Conservative Party politician. A fighter pilot with the Royal Air Force, he was killed shortly after the Battle of Britain....
was killed in action on bombing operations over Germany. - Hitchin by-election, 1941: Sir Arnold WilsonArnold WilsonSir Arnold Talbot Wilson KCIE CSI CMG DSO was the British civil commissioner in Baghdad in 1918-1920. Wilson became publicly known for his role as the colonial administrator of Mesopotamia during and after the First World War. His high-handedness arguably led to an Iraqi revolt in 1920. He was...
was killed in action over northern France while a gunner in Bomber Command - King's Norton by-election, 1941: Ronald CartlandRonald CartlandJohn Ronald Hamilton Cartland was a British Conservative Party politician. He was the Member of Parliament for King's Norton in Birmingham from 1935 until he was killed in action in 1940, aged 33.-Background:...
was killed in action during the retreat to Dunkirk. - Manchester Exchange by-election, 1940: Peter EckersleyPeter Eckersley (cricketer)Peter Thorp Eckersley was the captain of Lancashire County Cricket Club who retired for a career as a Conservative Party politician.He was elected at the 1935 general election as Member of Parliament for Manchester Exchange...
was killed in action in a plane crash while serving with the Fleet Air Arm. - Heywood and Radcliffe by-election, 1940: Richard PorrittRichard Whitaker PorrittCaptain Richard Whitaker Porritt was the Member of Parliament for Heywood and Radcliffe and became the first British MP to be killed in World War II....
was killed in action fighting in Belgium. - Wells by-election, 1939Wells by-election, 1939The Wells by-election, 1939 was a parliamentary by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Wells in Somerset on 13 December 1939. The seat had become vacant when Anthony Muirhead, the constituency's Conservative Party Member of Parliament had died on 29 October, aged 48. He...
: Anthony MuirheadAnthony MuirheadLieutenant-Colonel Anthony John Muirhead MC & Bar TD was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom...
committed suicide owing to his fear that a leg-injury might prevent his service in the War. b
- Notes: The above list is of those members either mentioned as having died on War Service in a written Commons answer from Prime Minister Winston ChurchillWinston ChurchillSir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
on 19 January 1945, or who appear in the House of Commons Book of Remembrance unveiled in 1949.
- a Mentioned in the written Commons answer, but does not appear in the House of Commons Book of Remembrance.
- b Not mentioned in the written Commons answer, but does appear in the House of Commons Book of Remembrance.
- NB:- The above list does not include the names of three members who deaths on active service were overtaken by the 1945 General Election. For a complete list see Records of members of parliament of the United Kingdom#Second World War
First World War
- Prestwich by-election, October 1918Prestwich by-election, October 1918The Prestwich by-election, 1918 was a parliamentary by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Prestwich on 24 October 1918. The seat had become vacant upon the death in action near Merville of the sitting Liberal MP, the Hon...
- Bath by-election, 1918
- Ross by-election, 1918
- Manchester South by-election, 1918
- Wisbech by-election, 1917Wisbech by-election, 1917The Wisbech by-election, 1917 was a by-election held on 14 December 1917 for the House of Commons constituency of Wisbech in Cambridgeshire.-Vacancy:...
- Spalding by-election, 1917
- East Clare by-election, 1917
- Henley by-election, 1917Henley by-election, 1917The Henley by-election of 1917 was a by-election in Henley caused by the death of Major Valentine Fleming during World War I. The Conservative Party candidate Robert Hermon-Hodge won the subsequent by-election....
- Winchester by-election, 1916
- Tewkesbury by-election, 1916
- St. Austell by-election, 1915
- Cardiff by-election, 1915
- Uxbridge by-election, 1915
- Heywood by-election, 1915
- Kilmarnock by-election, 1915
- Mid-Antrim by-election, 1915
Incumbents fall directly from first place to third place
- Littleborough and Saddleworth by-election, 1995Littleborough and Saddleworth by-election, 1995A by-election was called in the constituency of Littleborough and Saddleworth in Greater Manchester, England, on 27 July 1995 following the death of Conservative Party MP Geoffrey Dickens on 17 May of that year....
Conservatives loss, gained by the Liberal Democrats - Perth and Kinross by-election, 1995Perth and Kinross by-election, 1995A by-election for the UK Parliament constituency of Perth and Kinross in Scotland was held on 25 May 1995, following the death of Conservative MP Sir Nicholas Fairbairn on 19 February of that year....
Conservative loss, gained by the SNP - Eastleigh by-election, 1994Eastleigh by-election, 1994The Eastleigh by-election, 1994 was a parliamentary by-election held on 9 June 1994 for the United Kingdom House of Commons constituency of Eastleigh in Hampshire. The seat had fallen vacant because of the death of Conservative Party Member of Parliament Stephen Milligan on 7 February.The result...
Conservative loss, gained by the Liberal Democrats - Brecon and Radnor by-election, 1985Brecon and Radnor by-election, 1985The Brecon and Radnor by-election, 1985 was a parliamentary by-election held on 4 July 1985 for the British House of Commons constituency of Brecon and Radnor .- Previous MP :The seat had become vacant on 9 May 1985, when the constituency's Conservative Member of Parliament ,...
Conservative loss, gained by the Liberals - Mitcham and Morden by-election, 1982Mitcham and Morden by-election, 1982-Overview:The British by-election was caused by the resignation of Bruce Douglas-Mann, the Member of Parliament for Mitcham and Morden. Douglas-Mann had retained the seat for the Labour Party since its creation for the February 1974 general election...
1 Labour loss, gained by the Conservatives - Rochdale by-election, 1958Rochdale by-election, 1958The Rochdale by-election of 13 February 1958 was a by-election for the constituency of Rochdale, in Lancashire, England, in the House of Commons...
Conservative loss, gained by Labour - Merthyr by-election, 1934Merthyr by-election, 1934The Merthyr by-election, 1934 was a parliamentary by-election held on 5 June 1934 for the British House of Commons constituency of Merthyr in Wales....
ILP loss, gained by Labour - Holland-with-Boston by-election, 1929 Conservative loss, gained by the Liberals
- Bosworth by-election, 1927Bosworth by-election, 1927The Bosworth by-election, 1927 was a parliamentary by-election for the House of Commons constituency of Bosworth in Leicestershire on 31 May 1927.-Vacancy:...
Conservative loss, gained by the Liberals - Hull Central by-election, 19262 Liberal loss, gained by Labour
- South Norfolk by-election, 1920South Norfolk by-election, 1920The South Norfolk by-election, 1920 was a by-election held on 27 July 1920 for the British House of Commons constituency of South Norfolk.The by-election was triggered by the succession to the peerage of the serving Coalition Liberal Member of Parliament , William Cozens-Hardy.South Norfolk had...
Liberal loss, gained by Labour
- 1 Bruce Douglas-MannBruce Douglas-MannBruce Leslie Home Douglas-Mann was a British politician.Bruce Douglas-Mann was born at Bexhill, Sussex, the son of a solicitor, Leslie John Douglas-Mann, MC....
had been re-elected as Labour MP for the seat in the 1979 General Election. In 1981, along with several other MPs, he defected to the newly-formed Social Democratic PartySocial Democratic Party (UK)The Social Democratic Party was a political party in the United Kingdom that was created on 26 March 1981 and existed until 1988. It was founded by four senior Labour Party 'moderates', dubbed the 'Gang of Four': Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams...
. Against his new colleagues' advice, he honoured a pledge to face his electors under his new party colours and precipitated a by-election. He came second in the by-election which was won by the Conservatives. The new Labour candidate finished third.
- 2 the Liberal MP, Lt-Commander the Hon. Joseph Montague Kenworthy, defected to Labour and sought re-election under his new colours. He was successful, and the new Liberal candidate lost his deposit.
Incumbent Government gains seats
These records show the rare occasions when the Government won a seat they had not won at the previous General election.Conservative
- Mitcham and Morden by-election, 1982Mitcham and Morden by-election, 1982-Overview:The British by-election was caused by the resignation of Bruce Douglas-Mann, the Member of Parliament for Mitcham and Morden. Douglas-Mann had retained the seat for the Labour Party since its creation for the February 1974 general election...
, from Labour - Bristol South-East by-election, 19611, from Labour
- Brighouse and Spenborough by-election, 1960Brighouse and Spenborough by-election, 1960A by-election was held for the British House of Commons constituency of Brighouse and Spenborough on 17th March 1960. The seat became vacant following the death on 23 November 1959 of the Labour Party Member of Parliament Lewis John Edwards, who had held the seat since a by-election in 1950, but...
, from Labour - Sunderland South by-election, 1953, from Labour
- Combined English Universities by-election, 1926, from the Liberals
- Hackney South by-election, 1922, from the Independent Parliamentary GroupIndependent Parliamentary GroupThe Independent Parliamentary Group was a right-wing political organisation in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1920 by Horatio Bottomley, elected in the 1918 UK general election as an independent Member of Parliament....
- Woolwich East by-election, 1921Woolwich East by-election, 1921The Woolwich East by-election, 1921 was a parliamentary by-election held on 2 March 1921 for the British House of Commons constituency of Woolwich East, in the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich in London....
, from Labour - Stockport by-election, 1920Stockport by-election, 1920The Stockport by-election, 1920 was a parliamentary by-election held on 27 March 1920 for the constituency of Stockport, in Cheshire.It followed the death of Spencer Leigh Hughes and resignation of George Wardle, the two Members of Parliament for Stockport. With the departure of both MPs, a...
, from Coalition Labour2
- 1 Seat awarded by Election Court to Conservative runner-up because Labour victor deemed ineligible.
- 2 An arguable gain; Stockport was a two-member seat; in the 1918 general election it was won by two supporters of the Coalition Government, one a Liberal and one a Labour member. After a death and a resignation, a by-election was held for both seats. The seats were again won by two Coalition Government supporters, but this time a Conservative and a Liberal, while a Labour candidate who did not support the government was unsuccessful.
Labour
- Liverpool Scotland by-election, 1929Liverpool Scotland by-election, 1929The Liverpool Scotland by-election, 1929 was a parliamentary by-election held in England on 14 December 1929 to elect a new Member of Parliament for the House of Commons constituency of the Scotland division of Liverpool....
1, from Irish Nationalist - Preston by-election, 1929Preston by-election, 1929The Preston by-election, 1929 was a parliamentary by-election held in England for the House of Commons constituency of Preston on 31 July 1929...
2, from the Liberals - Liverpool West Toxteth by-election, 1924, from the Conservatives
- 1 Uncontested gain from Irish Nationalist.
- 2 Liberal MP defected to Labour and was re-elected as Labour at a by-election the Liberals did not contest.
Labour won both the West Bromwich West by-election, 2000
West Bromwich West by-election, 2000
The West Bromwich West by-election, 2000 was a by-election held on 23rd November 2000 for the British House of Commons constituency of West Bromwich West.The constituency's Member of Parliament was the Rt. Hon. Betty Boothroyd, the Speaker...
and Glasgow North East by-election, 2009
Glasgow North East by-election, 2009
The 2009 Glasgow North East by-election was a by-election for the Parliament of the United Kingdom's House of Commons constituency of Glasgow North East. The by-election was held on 12 November 2009 following the resignation of Michael Martin as an MP and as Speaker of the British House of Commons...
, regarded as a gain from the contest at the United Kingdom general elections in 1997 and 2005 respectively as those seats had been contested by the then Speakers of the House of Commons, although prior to assuming the Speakership they had both been elected as Labour MPs in safe seats.
Principal Opposition loses seats
These records show the rare occasions when the official Opposition failed to hold on to a seat they had won at the previous General election.Conservative
- Romsey by-election, 2000Romsey by-election, 2000Conservative Member of Parliament Michael Colvin and his wife died in a fire at their home on 24 February 2000. This created a by-election in his constituency of Romsey in Hampshire, England....
, lost to the Liberal Democrats - Mid Ulster by-election, 1969Mid Ulster by-election, 1969The Mid Ulster by-election was held on 17 April 1969, following the death of Ulster Unionist Party Member of Parliament for Mid Ulster, George Forrest. The two-way contest was unusual in featuring two women candidates....
, (from Ulster Unionist), lost to UnityUnity (Northern Ireland)"Unity" was the political label for a series of electoral pacts by Irish nationalist and Irish Republican candidates in Northern Ireland elections in the late 1960s and early 1970s... - Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles by-election, 1965Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles by-election, 1965The Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles by-election was significant in that it led to the election of David Steel, who went on to lead the Liberal Party, to the British House of Commons for the first time...
, lost to the Liberals - Paddington South by-election, 19301, lost to the Empire Free Trade Crusade
- Liverpool West Toxteth by-election, 1924, lost to Labour
- 1A confused situation, where the victorious Empire Free Trade CrusadeEmpire Free Trade CrusadeThe Empire Free Trade Crusade was a political party in the United Kingdom. It was founded by Lord Beaverbrook in July 1929 to press for the British Empire to become a free trade bloc....
candidate was effectively a right-wing unofficial Conservative, who subsequently took the whip and was re-elected as official Conservative candidate.
Labour
- Glasgow Govan by-election, 1988Glasgow Govan by-election, 1988The Glasgow Govan by-election, in the British House of Commons constituency of Glasgow Govan, Scotland, was held on 10 November 1988. It was caused by the resignation of Bruce Millan as Member of Parliament for the constituency....
, lost to the SNP - Greenwich by-election, 1987Greenwich by-election, 1987The Greenwich by-election of 1987 was a closely fought by-election often credited with boosting the SDP-Liberal Alliance shortly before the 1987 general election...
, lost to the SDP - Bermondsey by-election, 1983Bermondsey by-election, 1983A by-election was held in the Bermondsey constituency in South London, on 24 February 1983, following the resignation of Labour MP Robert Mellish, who had represented the constituency and its predecessors in the House of Commons since 1946...
, lost to the Liberals - Mitcham and Morden by-election, 1982Mitcham and Morden by-election, 1982-Overview:The British by-election was caused by the resignation of Bruce Douglas-Mann, the Member of Parliament for Mitcham and Morden. Douglas-Mann had retained the seat for the Labour Party since its creation for the February 1974 general election...
, lost to the Conservatives - Glasgow Govan by-election, 1973Glasgow Govan by-election, 1973The Glasgow Govan by-election was held on 8 November 1973, following the death of John Rankin, Labour Party Member of Parliament for the Glasgow Govan constituency. Rankin had died one month earlier, on 8 October 1973. Rankin had held the seat since 1955. With the exception of a narrow Conservative...
, lost to the SNP - Lincoln by-election, 1973Lincoln by-election, 1973The Lincoln by-election of 1 March 1973 saw the re-election of Dick Taverne as Member of Parliament for Lincoln as a Democratic Labour representative, after Taverne's pro-Common Market views saw him repudiated by the Lincoln Constituency Labour Party...
, lost to Lincoln Democratic Labour - Rochdale by-election, 1972Rochdale by-election, 1972The Rochdale by-election, 1972 was a parliamentary by-election held on 26 October 1972 for the British House of Commons constituency of Rochdale....
, lost to the Liberals - Bristol South-East by-election, 19611, awarded to the Conservatives
- Brighouse and Spenborough by-election, 1960Brighouse and Spenborough by-election, 1960A by-election was held for the British House of Commons constituency of Brighouse and Spenborough on 17th March 1960. The seat became vacant following the death on 23 November 1959 of the Labour Party Member of Parliament Lewis John Edwards, who had held the seat since a by-election in 1950, but...
, lost to the Conservatives - Sunderland South by-election, 1953, lost to the Conservatives
- Southwark North by-election, 1927Southwark North by-election, 1927The Southwark North by-election, 1927 was a parliamentary by-election for the British House of Commons constituency of Southwark North held on 28 March 1927.-Vacancy:The by-election was caused by the resignation of the sitting Labour MP, Leslie Haden-Guest...
, lost to the Liberals - Anglesey by-election, 19232, lost to the Liberals
- Woolwich East by-election, 1921Woolwich East by-election, 1921The Woolwich East by-election, 1921 was a parliamentary by-election held on 2 March 1921 for the British House of Commons constituency of Woolwich East, in the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich in London....
, lost to the Coalition Conservatives
- 1seat awarded by Election Court to Conservative runner-up because Labour victor Viscount StansgateTony BennAnthony Neil Wedgwood "Tony" Benn, PC is a British Labour Party politician and a former MP and Cabinet Minister.His successful campaign to renounce his hereditary peerage was instrumental in the creation of the Peerage Act 1963...
was deemed ineligible. - 2Sir Owen ThomasOwen ThomasOwen Thomas may refer to:*Owen Thomas , UK radio and television reporter/presenter*Owen Thomas , lead singer in American rock band The Elms*Owen Thomas , former editor of Valleywag...
had been elected as Independent Labour, took the whip for a while, before reverting to Independent Labour.
By-election holds overturned at next general election
By-elections usually see the high-water mark of any challenge to the incumbents. On rare occasions a party has failed to overturn an incumbent in the by-election yet has gone on to gain the seat at the subsequent general election.- Blaenau Gwent by-election, 2006, held by an independent; gained by Labour in 2010.
- South Down by-election, 1986, held by the Ulster Unionists; gained by the Social Democratic and Labour Party in 1987.
- Darlington by-election, 1983Darlington by-election, 1983The Darlington by-election, 1983 was a parliamentary by-election held on 24 March 1983 for the British House of Commons constituency of Darlington in County Durham....
, held by Labour; gained by the Conservatives in 1983. - Dundee East by-election, 1973Dundee East by-election, 1973There was a by-election for Dundee East, in Scotland, on March 1st, 1973. It was one of three UK parliamentary by-elections held on that day.It was caused by the appointment of George Thomson as a European commissioner....
, held by Labour; gained by the Scottish National Party in February 1974. - Bolton East by-election, 1960Bolton East by-election, 1960The Bolton East by-election, 1960 was a by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Bolton East in Lancashire on 16 November 1960. It was won by the Conservative Party candidate Edwin Taylor.- Vacancy :...
, held by the Conservatives; gained by Labour in 1964. - Carmarthen by-election, 1928Carmarthen by-election, 1928The Carmarthen by-election, 1928 was a parliamentary by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Carmarthen in West Wales on 28 June 1928.- Vacancy :...
, held by the Liberals; gained by Labour in 1929. - New Forest by-election, 1905, held by the Conservatives; gained by the Liberals in 1906.
By-election victors had not contested previous general election
It is unusual for a political party which has not contested a seat at a general election to take it at a subsequent by-election. Many of the parties which have done so were founded after the general election. Independent candidates are not included.- South Antrim by-election, 2000South Antrim by-election, 2000Clifford Forsythe, the Ulster Unionist Member of Parliament for South Antrim, died on April 27, 2000, precipitating a by-election.-Candidates:...
, gained by the DUP - North Down by-election, 1995North Down by-election, 1995The North Down by-election, in the North Down constituency, was held on 15 June 1995, following the death of James Kilfedder, who had represented the constituency since the 1970 general election...
, gained by the UK Unionists - Glasgow Hillhead by-election, 1982Glasgow Hillhead by-election, 1982A Glasgow Hillhead by-election was held on 25 March 1982. The by-election was caused by the death of the Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Glasgow Hillhead Tam Galbraith on 2 January 1982....
, gained by the SDP 1 - Crosby by-election, 1981Crosby by-election, 1981The Crosby by-election, 1981 was a by-election held in England on 26 November 1981 to elect a new Member of Parliament for the House of Commons constituency of Crosby on Merseyside...
, gained by the SDP 1 - Isle of Ely by-election, 1973Isle of Ely by-election, 1973The Isle of Ely by-election, 1973 was a parliamentary by-election held on 26 July 1973 for the British House of Commons constituency of Isle of Ely....
, gained by the Liberals - Lincoln by-election, 1973Lincoln by-election, 1973The Lincoln by-election of 1 March 1973 saw the re-election of Dick Taverne as Member of Parliament for Lincoln as a Democratic Labour representative, after Taverne's pro-Common Market views saw him repudiated by the Lincoln Constituency Labour Party...
, gained by Lincoln Democratic Labour 2 - Mid Ulster by-election, 1969Mid Ulster by-election, 1969The Mid Ulster by-election was held on 17 April 1969, following the death of Ulster Unionist Party Member of Parliament for Mid Ulster, George Forrest. The two-way contest was unusual in featuring two women candidates....
, gained by Unity - Hamilton by-election, 1967Hamilton by-election, 1967The Hamilton by-election, in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, which took place on the 2nd of November 1967, was a milestone in the politics of Scotland...
, gained by the SNP - Torrington by-election, 1958Torrington by-election, 1958The Torrington by-election of 1958, in Devon, England, was the first gain by the British Liberal Party at a by-election since Holland with Boston in 1929....
, gained by the Liberals - Chelmsford by-election, 1945Chelmsford by-election, 1945The Chelmsford by-election, 1945 was a by-election held on 26 April 1945 for the British House of Commons constituency of Chelmsford in Essex. The seat was won by Ernest Millington for the short-lived Common Wealth Party....
, gained by Common Wealth - Motherwell by-election, 1945Motherwell by-election, 1945The Motherwell by-election was held on 12 April 1945, following the death of Labour Party Member of Parliament for Motherwell James Walker.The by-election took place during the Second World War during unusual political conditions...
, gained by the SNP - Skipton by-election, 1944, gained by Common Wealth
- Eddisbury by-election, 1943, gained by Common Wealth
- Belfast West by-election, 1943Belfast West by-election, 1943The Belfast West by-election 1943, was a by-election held on 9 February 1943 for the British House of Commons constituency of Belfast West, in Northern Ireland...
, gained by the Northern Ireland Labour Party - Ross and Cromarty by-election, 1936Ross and Cromarty by-election, 1936The Ross and Cromarty by-election, 1936 was a parliamentary by-election for the British House of Commons constituency of Ross and Cromarty held on 10 February 1936. The by-election was triggered when Sir Ian Macpherson, a Liberal National was given a peerage...
, gained by National Labour - Combined Scottish Universities by-election, 1936Combined Scottish Universities by-election, 1936The Combined Scottish Universities by-election, 1936 was a by-election held from 27 January to 31 January 1936 for the Combined Scottish Universities, a university constituency of the British House of Commons.- Vacancy :...
, gained by National Labour - Merthyr by-election, 1934Merthyr by-election, 1934The Merthyr by-election, 1934 was a parliamentary by-election held on 5 June 1934 for the British House of Commons constituency of Merthyr in Wales....
, gained by Labour - Paddington South by-election, 1930, gained by Empire Free Trade CrusadeEmpire Free Trade CrusadeThe Empire Free Trade Crusade was a political party in the United Kingdom. It was founded by Lord Beaverbrook in July 1929 to press for the British Empire to become a free trade bloc....
- Liverpool Scotland by-election, 1929Liverpool Scotland by-election, 1929The Liverpool Scotland by-election, 1929 was a parliamentary by-election held in England on 14 December 1929 to elect a new Member of Parliament for the House of Commons constituency of the Scotland division of Liverpool....
, gained by Labour - Kingston-upon-Hull Central by-election, 1929, gained by Labour
- Kirkcaldy by-election, 1921, gained by Labour
- Woolwich East by-election, 1921Woolwich East by-election, 1921The Woolwich East by-election, 1921 was a parliamentary by-election held on 2 March 1921 for the British House of Commons constituency of Woolwich East, in the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich in London....
, gained by the Coalition Conservatives
Notes:
- 1 Alliance partner the Liberal party had contested the seat.
- 2 the victor was the sitting MP, who had left the Labour party.
Incumbent party did not contest
- North Down by-election, 1995North Down by-election, 1995The North Down by-election, in the North Down constituency, was held on 15 June 1995, following the death of James Kilfedder, who had represented the constituency since the 1970 general election...
(party disintegrated before by-election) - Bristol South East by-election, 1963Bristol South East by-election, 1963The Bristol South East by-election, 1963 was a by-election held on 20 August 1963 for the British House of Commons constituency of Bristol South East in the city of Bristol....
(Conservative candidate awarded seat after 1961 by-election had agreed to stand aside, if law changed to permit disqualified Labour candidate to take his seat) - Cardiff East by-election, 1942Cardiff East by-election, 1942The Cardiff East by-election, 1942 was a parliamentary by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Cardiff East on 13 April 1942.-Vacancy:...
(Conservatives stood aside to allow election of National Government minister) - City of London by-election, 1940City of London by-election, 1940The City of London by-election, 1940 was a by-election held on 5 February 1940 for the British House of Commons constituency of City of London, which covered the "Square Mile" which was the United Kingdom's traditional financial district....
(Conservatives stood aside to allow election of National Government minister) - Southampton by-election, 1940 (National Liberals stood aside to allow election of National Government minister)
- Combined Scottish Universities by-election, 1938Combined Scottish Universities by-election, 1938The Combined Scottish Universities by-election, 1938 was a by-election held from 21 February to 25 February 1938 for the Combined Scottish Universities, a university constituency of the British House of Commons.- Vacancy :...
(National Labour stood aside to allow election of National Government minister) - Ross and Cromarty by-election, 1936Ross and Cromarty by-election, 1936The Ross and Cromarty by-election, 1936 was a parliamentary by-election for the British House of Commons constituency of Ross and Cromarty held on 10 February 1936. The by-election was triggered when Sir Ian Macpherson, a Liberal National was given a peerage...
(National Liberals stood aside to allow election of National Government minister from National Labour) - Combined Scottish Universities by-election, 1936Combined Scottish Universities by-election, 1936The Combined Scottish Universities by-election, 1936 was a by-election held from 27 January to 31 January 1936 for the Combined Scottish Universities, a university constituency of the British House of Commons.- Vacancy :...
(Conservatives stood aside to allow election of National Government minister from National Labour) - Perth by-election, 1935 (Conservatives stood aside to allow election of National Liberal)
- Liverpool Scotland by-election, 1929Liverpool Scotland by-election, 1929The Liverpool Scotland by-election, 1929 was a parliamentary by-election held in England on 14 December 1929 to elect a new Member of Parliament for the House of Commons constituency of the Scotland division of Liverpool....
(lone mainland Irish Nationalist was essentially a Labour supporter) - Preston by-election, 1929Preston by-election, 1929The Preston by-election, 1929 was a parliamentary by-election held in England for the House of Commons constituency of Preston on 31 July 1929...
(Liberals acquiesced to William Jowitt becoming Labour's Attorney GeneralAttorney GeneralIn most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
)
Losers had been unopposed at previous election
- Paddington South by-election, 1930 Conservative loss, gained by Empire Free Trade Crusade.
- Liverpool Scotland by-election, 1929Liverpool Scotland by-election, 1929The Liverpool Scotland by-election, 1929 was a parliamentary by-election held in England on 14 December 1929 to elect a new Member of Parliament for the House of Commons constituency of the Scotland division of Liverpool....
Irish Nationalist loss, gained by Labour.1 - Halifax by-election, 1928Halifax by-election, 1928The Halifax by-election, 1928 was a parliamentary by-election held on 13 July 1928 for the British House of Commons constituency of Halifax in West Yorkshire....
Speaker loss, gained by Labour.2 - Kirkcaldy Burghs by-election, 1921 Coalition Liberal loss, gained by Labour.
- Woolwich East by-election, 1921Woolwich East by-election, 1921The Woolwich East by-election, 1921 was a parliamentary by-election held on 2 March 1921 for the British House of Commons constituency of Woolwich East, in the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich in London....
Labour loss, gained by Conservative. - The Wrekin by-election, February 1920 Coalition Liberal loss, gained by Independent.
Notes:
- 1 the Nationalists did not contest the by-election
- 2 the Speaker had originally been a Liberal MP.
Great Britain
- Neither the Liberal Democrat nor the Labour Party stood candidates in the Haltemprice and Howden by-election, 2008Haltemprice and Howden by-election, 2008The 2008 Haltemprice and Howden by-election was a by-election held in the United Kingdom on 10 July 2008 to elect a new Member of Parliament for constituency of Haltemprice and Howden...
. The by-election was a single-issue election in regards to government security policy, in which the Liberal Democrats supported the Conservative candidate.
- The Conservative Party did not run a candidate in the Bristol South East by-election, 1963Bristol South East by-election, 1963The Bristol South East by-election, 1963 was a by-election held on 20 August 1963 for the British House of Commons constituency of Bristol South East in the city of Bristol....
, the Carmarthen by-election, 1957Carmarthen by-election, 1957The Carmarthen by-election of 1957 in Carmarthenshire, Wales, was notable for resulting in the nadir of the British Liberal Party and for being the first election in the United Kingdom in which two women competed for the same seat....
, the Paisley by-election, 1948Paisley by-election, 1948The Paisley by-election, 1948 was a parliamentary by-election held on 18 February 1948 for the British House of Commons constituency of Paisley in Scotland....
or the Ogmore by-election, 1946Ogmore by-election, 1946The Ogmore by-election, 1946 was a parliamentary by-election held on 4 June 1946 for the British House of Commons constituency of Ogmore in Wales.- Previous MP :...
.
- The Labour Party did not run in the City of London by-election, 1945, the Kensington South by-election, 1945 or the Combined English Universities by-election, 1946Combined English Universities by-election, 1946The Combined English Universities by-election, 1946 was a parliamentary by-election held on 18 March 1946 for the British House of Commons constituency of Combined English Universities....
.
- Prior to 2008, the last by-election without an official Liberal Democrat, Liberal or SDP candidate had been the Newham North East by-election, 1994Newham North East by-election, 1994The Newham North East by-election, in London Borough of Newham, on 9 June 1994 was held after long-serving Labour Member of Parliament Ron Leighton died. A safe Labour seat, it was won by Stephen Timms, who would go on to retain the East Ham seat which replaced it in 1997.-Candidates:* Richard...
; the Lib Dems nominated a candidate, but he joined the Labour Party before the election. No official Liberal candidate was nominated was the Glasgow Central by-election, 1980Glasgow Central by-election, 1980The Glasgow Central by-election, 1980 was a by-election held on 26 June 1980 for the British House of Commons constituency of Glasgow Central, following the death of its sitting MP, Thomas McMillan.On a turnout of 48%, the Labour Party held the seat....
, whilst no Liberal stood in either the Westhoughton by-election, 1973Westhoughton by-election, 1973The Westhoughton by election took place for the House of Commons of the United Kingdom in Westhoughton on 24 May 1973.It was won by Roger Stott who held the seat for Labour after the death on 1 February of the previous MP, Tom Price.-External links:*...
or the West Bromwich by-election, 1973West Bromwich by-election, 1973The West Bromwich by-election of 24 May 1973 was held after the appointment of Labour Member of Parliament Maurice Foley to the European Commission...
, both held on 24 May 1973.
- The last Scottish by-elections without official Scottish National PartyScottish National PartyThe Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
candidates were the Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles by-election, 1965Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles by-election, 1965The Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles by-election was significant in that it led to the election of David Steel, who went on to lead the Liberal Party, to the British House of Commons for the first time...
and the Rutherglen by-election, 1964Rutherglen by-election, 1964There was a by-election for the constituency of Rutherglen in the United Kingdom House of Commons in May 1964, not long before the 1964 general election....
.
- The last Welsh by-elections without official Welsh Nationalist candidates were the Abertillery by-election, 1950Abertillery by-election, 1950The Abertillery by-election of 30 November 1950 was held after the death of Labour MP George Daggar.The seat was very safe, having been won at the United Kingdom general election, 1950 by over 25,000 votes-Result of the previous general election:...
, the Pontypool by-election, 1946 and the Monmouth by-election, 1945Monmouth by-election, 1945The Monmouth by-election, 1945 was a by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Monmouth in Wales on 30 October 1945...
.
Northern Ireland
- The more fluid nature of politics in Northern Ireland makes it harder to define all major parties. In addition many by-elections have not been contested by parties holding other seats in the House of Commons, whether due to agreements with other parties, poor organisation in the constituency or the particular circumstances on the by-election. However for the period since 1981 (which saw the first by-elections in twelve years, during which time several major political realignments had occurred) the main parties are usually considered to be the Democratic Unionist PartyDemocratic Unionist PartyThe Democratic Unionist Party is the larger of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland. Founded by Ian Paisley and currently led by Peter Robinson, it is currently the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the fourth-largest party in the House of Commons of the...
, Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
, the Social Democratic and Labour PartySocial Democratic and Labour PartyThe Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom...
and the Ulster Unionist PartyUlster Unionist PartyThe Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
.
- The last by-elections without official Democratic Unionist candidates were the North Down by-election, 1995North Down by-election, 1995The North Down by-election, in the North Down constituency, was held on 15 June 1995, following the death of James Kilfedder, who had represented the constituency since the 1970 general election...
and the Upper Bann by-election, 1990Upper Bann by-election, 1990The 1990 by-election in Upper Bann was caused by the death of the sitting Ulster Unionist Party Member of Parliament Harold McCusker on February 2, 1990....
. They also did not stand in the twelve seats held by other Unionist parties in the 15 by-elections in 1986Northern Ireland by-elections, 1986The 1986 Northern Ireland by-elections were fifteen by-elections held on 23 January 1986, to fill vacancies in the Parliament of the United Kingdom caused by the resignation in December 1985 of all sitting Unionist Members of Parliament...
.
- The last by-election without official candidates from either Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
or the Social Democratic and Labour PartySocial Democratic and Labour PartyThe Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom...
was the North Down by-election, 1995North Down by-election, 1995The North Down by-election, in the North Down constituency, was held on 15 June 1995, following the death of James Kilfedder, who had represented the constituency since the 1970 general election...
. Both parties also declined to stand in the eleven Unionist majority seats in the 15 by-elections in 1986Northern Ireland by-elections, 1986The 1986 Northern Ireland by-elections were fifteen by-elections held on 23 January 1986, to fill vacancies in the Parliament of the United Kingdom caused by the resignation in December 1985 of all sitting Unionist Members of Parliament...
. The SDLP also did not contest either the April or August 1981 by-elections in Fermanagh and South TyroneFermanagh and South Tyrone (UK Parliament constituency)Fermanagh and South Tyrone is a Parliamentary constituency in the British House of Commons. The current MP for the constituency is Michelle Gildernew of Sinn Féin....
.
- The last by-elections without official Ulster Unionist candidates were North Antrim, East Belfast, Mid Ulster and North Down in the 15 by-elections in 1986Northern Ireland by-elections, 1986The 1986 Northern Ireland by-elections were fifteen by-elections held on 23 January 1986, to fill vacancies in the Parliament of the United Kingdom caused by the resignation in December 1985 of all sitting Unionist Members of Parliament...
.
- The main British parties have generally not stood in seats in Northern Ireland. The by-election exceptions are the Upper Bann by-election, 1990Upper Bann by-election, 1990The 1990 by-election in Upper Bann was caused by the death of the sitting Ulster Unionist Party Member of Parliament Harold McCusker on February 2, 1990....
(Conservatives and continuing SDPSocial Democratic Party (UK, 1988)A Social Democratic Party was formed in the United Kingdom in 1981 by a group of dissident Labour Party Members of Parliament : Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams, who became known as the "Gang of Four"....
) and the North Down by-election, 1995North Down by-election, 1995The North Down by-election, in the North Down constituency, was held on 15 June 1995, following the death of James Kilfedder, who had represented the constituency since the 1970 general election...
(Conservatives). Prior to the 1970s the Ulster Unionists were effectively the local Conservatives, whilst the LiberalsUlster Liberal PartyThe Ulster Liberal Party was a liberal political party in Northern Ireland, supporting a unionist position and linked to the British Liberal Party....
contested some but not all seats. The Social Democratic and Labour PartySocial Democratic and Labour PartyThe Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom...
has traditionally seen itself as a "sister party" to the British Labour party, and its MPs usually accept the Labour whip in Parliament.
Victories by minor parties
Victories by independent and minor party candidates since 1945. For a complete list, see the list of UK minor party and independent MPs elected.- Blaenau Gwent by-election, 2006 - IndependentIndependent (politician)In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
candidate, election agent of the previous incumbent, won with 46.7%. - North Down by-election, 1995North Down by-election, 1995The North Down by-election, in the North Down constituency, was held on 15 June 1995, following the death of James Kilfedder, who had represented the constituency since the 1970 general election...
- UK Unionist PartyUK Unionist PartyThe UK Unionist Party was a small unionist political party operating in Northern Ireland from 1995 to 2008. It was nominally formed by Robert McCartney, formerly of the Ulster Unionist Party, to contest a by-election the North Down by-election, 1995 and then further constituted to contest the 1996...
candidate won with tacit backing of Democratic Unionist PartyDemocratic Unionist PartyThe Democratic Unionist Party is the larger of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland. Founded by Ian Paisley and currently led by Peter Robinson, it is currently the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the fourth-largest party in the House of Commons of the... - North Down by-election, 1986 - Ulster Popular Unionist PartyUlster Popular Unionist PartyThe Ulster Popular Unionist Party was a unionist political party in Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1980 by James Kilfedder, independent Unionist Member of Parliament for North Down, who led the party until his death in 1995....
candidate won without Unionist opposition. - Fermanagh and South Tyrone by-elections, August and April 1981 - Anti H-BlockAnti H-BlockAnti H-Block was the political label used in 1981 by supporters of the Irish republican hunger strike who were standing for election in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland...
candidates linked to Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
won. - Lincoln by-election, 1973Lincoln by-election, 1973The Lincoln by-election of 1 March 1973 saw the re-election of Dick Taverne as Member of Parliament for Lincoln as a Democratic Labour representative, after Taverne's pro-Common Market views saw him repudiated by the Lincoln Constituency Labour Party...
- Lincoln Democratic Labour Association, incumbent MP held seat in new party colours. - Mid Ulster by-election, 1969Mid Ulster by-election, 1969The Mid Ulster by-election was held on 17 April 1969, following the death of Ulster Unionist Party Member of Parliament for Mid Ulster, George Forrest. The two-way contest was unusual in featuring two women candidates....
- Unity candidate won without Irish Nationalist opposition. - Mid Ulster by-election, 1956Mid Ulster by-election, 1956The by-election held in Mid Ulster on 8 May 1956 was called because both candidates in the Mid Ulster by-election, 1955 were disqualified. Tom Mitchell was disqualified from assuming office because he was a convicted felon. Charles Beattie was awarded the seat but he was also disqualified because...
- Independent Unionist candidate won without Unionist opposition. - Glasgow Bridgeton by-election, 1946Glasgow Bridgeton by-election, 1946The Glasgow Bridgeton by-election was held on 29 August 1946, following the death of Independent Labour Party Member of Parliament for Glasgow Bridgeton, James Maxton.The constituency had been held by Maxton since the 1922 UK general election...
- Independent Labour PartyIndependent Labour PartyThe Independent Labour Party was a socialist political party in Britain established in 1893. The ILP was affiliated to the Labour Party from 1906 to 1932, when it voted to leave...
candidate held seat.
Minor parties other strong performance
Parties without representation in Parliament which saved their depositDeposit (politics)
A deposit is a sum of money that a candidate must pay in return for the right to stand for election to certain political offices, particularly seats in legislatures.-United Kingdom:...
:
| Party | By-election | Candidate | Votes | Percentage | Position | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast East by-election, 1986 | Oliver Napier Oliver Napier Sir Oliver Napier was the first leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland. In 1974 he served as the first and only Legal Minister and head of the Office of Legal Reform in the Northern Ireland power-sharing executive set up by the Sunningdale Agreement.-Early life:Napier was educated at St... |
5,917 | 17.4 | 2 | Party historically represented at Westminster | ||
| Belfast North by-election, 1986 | Paul Maguire Paul Maguire (politician) Paul Maguire is a barrister and former politician in Northern Ireland.Maguire was elected to Belfast City Council for the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland in 1981. He was then elected at the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1982, from North Belfast... |
5,072 | 16.7 | 2 | Party historically represented at Westminster | ||
| Belfast South by-election, 1982 Belfast South by-election, 1982 The Belfast South by-election was held on 4 March 1982 following the death of Robert Bradford, Ulster Unionist Party Member of Parliament for Belfast South.... |
David Cook David Cook (politician) David Cook is a former politician in Northern Ireland.Cook works as a solicitor, eventually becoming a senior partner at Sheldon and Stewart Solicitors.... |
11,726 | 26.9 | 2 | Party historically represented at Westminster | ||
| Belfast South by-election, 1986 | David Cook David Cook (politician) David Cook is a former politician in Northern Ireland.Cook works as a solicitor, eventually becoming a senior partner at Sheldon and Stewart Solicitors.... |
7,635 | 25.0 | 2 | Party historically represented at Westminster | ||
| East Antrim by-election, 1986 | Sean Neeson Séan Neeson Seán Neeson is a politician in Northern Ireland who served as leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland between 1998 and 2001.- Education and early life :... |
5,405 | 15.1 | 2 | Party historically represented at Westminster | ||
| North Down by-election, 1986 | John Cushnahan John Cushnahan John Walls Cushnahan is a former politician in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland who served as leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland and then as a Member of the European Parliament for Fine Gael.... |
8,066 | 20.8 | 2 | Party historically represented at Westminster | ||
| North Down by-election, 1995 North Down by-election, 1995 The North Down by-election, in the North Down constituency, was held on 15 June 1995, following the death of James Kilfedder, who had represented the constituency since the 1970 general election... |
Oliver Napier Oliver Napier Sir Oliver Napier was the first leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland. In 1974 he served as the first and only Legal Minister and head of the Office of Legal Reform in the Northern Ireland power-sharing executive set up by the Sunningdale Agreement.-Early life:Napier was educated at St... |
6,970 | 25.4 | 3 | Party historically represented at Westminster | ||
| South Antrim by-election, 2000 South Antrim by-election, 2000 Clifford Forsythe, the Ulster Unionist Member of Parliament for South Antrim, died on April 27, 2000, precipitating a by-election.-Candidates:... |
David Ford David Ford David Ford is a politician who is a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Ford has been leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland since 2001 and has been Northern Ireland Minister of Justice since April 2010.- Early life :... |
2,031 | 6.6 | 5 | Party represented in the Northern Ireland Assembly and historically at Westminster | ||
| Oldham West by-election, 1968 Oldham West by-election, 1968 The Oldham West by-election for the British House of Commons took place on 13 June 1968, at a time when the Labour government of Harold Wilson was deeply unpopular. The election was caused by the resignation of Labour Member of Parliament Charles Leslie Hale for reasons of ill health... |
John Creasey John Creasey John Creasey MBE was an English crime and science fiction writer. The author of more than 600 novels, he published them using 28 different pseudonyms, including Anthony Morton, Michael Halliday, Kyle Hunt, J.J. Marric, Jeremy York, Richard Martin, Peter Manton, Norman Deane, Gordon Ashe, Henry St... |
3,389 | 13.2 | 3 | |||
| Dagenham by-election, 1994 Dagenham by-election, 1994 The Dagenham by-election, in Dagenham, on 9 June 1994 was held after Labour Member of Parliament Bryan Gould resigned the seat. A safe Labour seat, it was won by Judith Church, who would go on to retain the seat in 1997.-Candidates:... |
John Tyndall John Tyndall (politician) John Hutchyns Tyndall was a British politician who was prominently associated with several fascist/neo-Nazi sects. However, he is best known for leading the National Front in the 1970s and founding the contemporary British National Party in 1982.The most prominent figure in British nationalism... |
1,511 | 7.0 | 4 | |||
| Barnsley Central by-election, 2011 Barnsley Central by-election, 2011 The Barnsley Central by-election was a by-election for the Parliament of the United Kingdom's House of Commons constituency of Barnsley Central which took place on 3 March 2011... |
Enis Dalton | 1,463 | 6.0 | 4 | |||
| Sedgefield by-election, 2007 Sedgefield by-election, 2007 The Sedgefield by-election, 2007 was a by-election held on 19 July 2007 for the British House of Commons constituency of Sedgefield in County Durham... |
Andrew Spence | 2,494 | 8.9 | 4 | |||
| Haltemprice and Howden by-election, 2008 Haltemprice and Howden by-election, 2008 The 2008 Haltemprice and Howden by-election was a by-election held in the United Kingdom on 10 July 2008 to elect a new Member of Parliament for constituency of Haltemprice and Howden... |
Joanne Robinson | 1,714 | 7.2 | 3 | |||
| Haltemprice and Howden by-election, 2008 Haltemprice and Howden by-election, 2008 The 2008 Haltemprice and Howden by-election was a by-election held in the United Kingdom on 10 July 2008 to elect a new Member of Parliament for constituency of Haltemprice and Howden... |
Shan Oakes | 1,758 | 7.4 | 2 | Party represented in the European Parliament and historically and subsequently at Westminster | ||
| Norwich North by-election, 2009 Norwich North by-election, 2009 The 2009 Norwich North by-election was a by-election for the United Kingdom Parliament's House of Commons constituency of Norwich North. The by-election took place due to the resignation of Ian Gibson after being banned from standing as a Labour candidate for the next general election... |
Rupert Read Rupert Read Rupert Read is an academic and a Green Party politician in England. He is currently a city councillor in Norwich, and a Reader in Philosophy at the University of East Anglia.Read comments regularly through the Eastern Daily Press 'One World Column'... |
3,350 | 9.7 | 5 | Party represented in the European Parliament and historically and subsequently at Westminster | ||
| Vauxhall by-election, 1989 Vauxhall by-election, 1989 A by-election for the United Kingdom House of Commons was held in the constituency of Vauxhall on the 15th June 1989, following the resignation of sitting Member of Parliament Stuart Holland.... |
Henry Bewley | 1,767 | 6.1 | 4 | Party historically represented at Westminster | ||
| Combined English Universities by-election, 1946 Combined English Universities by-election, 1946 The Combined English Universities by-election, 1946 was a parliamentary by-election held on 18 March 1946 for the British House of Commons constituency of Combined English Universities.... |
Mary Stocks Mary Stocks Mary Danvers Stocks, Baroness Stocks née Brinton, was a British writer. She was the daughter of a London Doctor. She was closely associated with the Strachey, the Wedgwood and the Ricardo families... |
5,124 | 28.0 | 2 | |||
| Combined English Universities by-election, 1946 Combined English Universities by-election, 1946 The Combined English Universities by-election, 1946 was a parliamentary by-election held on 18 March 1946 for the British House of Commons constituency of Combined English Universities.... |
Ernest Simon | 4,028 | 22.0 | 3 | |||
| East Londonderry by-election, 1986 | Peter Barry | 2,001 | 6.1 | 2 | |||
| Barnsley Central by-election, 2011 Barnsley Central by-election, 2011 The Barnsley Central by-election was a by-election for the Parliament of the United Kingdom's House of Commons constituency of Barnsley Central which took place on 3 March 2011... |
Tony Devoy | 1,266 | 5.2 | 5 | |||
| Hamilton South by-election, 1999 Hamilton South by-election, 1999 On August 4, 1999 NATO announced that the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Hamilton South, in Scotland, the Rt. Hon. George Robertson, had been chosen as its new Secretary-General. This meant that Robertson was required to resign his seat which he had won as a Labour candidate in the... |
Stephen Mungall | 1,075 | 5.5 | 5 | |||
| Sedgefield by-election, 2007 Sedgefield by-election, 2007 The Sedgefield by-election, 2007 was a by-election held on 19 July 2007 for the British House of Commons constituency of Sedgefield in County Durham... |
Paul Gittins | 1,885 | 6.7 | 5 | |||
| South Antrim by-election, 1986 | Peter Barry | 1,870 | 5.9 | 2 | |||
| Strangford by-election, 1986 | Peter Barry | 1,993 | 5.8 | 2 | |||
| Combined English Universities by-election, 1946 Combined English Universities by-election, 1946 The Combined English Universities by-election, 1946 was a parliamentary by-election held on 18 March 1946 for the British House of Commons constituency of Combined English Universities.... |
S. Wormald | 3,414 | 18.7 | 4 | |||
| Liverpool Walton by-election, 1991 Liverpool Walton by-election, 1991 The Liverpool Walton by-election was held on 4 July 1991, following the death of the Labour Party Member of Parliament Eric Heffer for Liverpool Walton, on 27 May.The constituency had become a safe Labour seat under Heffer, who was known as a left-wing MP... |
Lesley Mahmood Lesley Mahmood Lesley Mahmood is an English politician.She was active in Militant Tendency and Liverpool politics along with her brother Roy Farrar in the 1970s and 1980s.... |
2,613 | 6.5 | 3 | |||
| Down by-election, 1946 Down by-election, 1946 The Down by-election was held on 6 June 1946, following the death of James Little, the independent Unionist Member of Parliament for Down.The Down constituency elected two members... |
J. Hastings-Little | 16,895 | 17.1 | 3 | |||
| North Down by-election, 1995 North Down by-election, 1995 The North Down by-election, in the North Down constituency, was held on 15 June 1995, following the death of James Kilfedder, who had represented the constituency since the 1970 general election... |
Alan Chambers | 2,170 | 7.9 | 4 | |||
| Armagh by-election, 1948 Armagh by-election, 1948 The Armagh by-election was held on 5 March 1948, following the death of Ulster Unionist Party Member of Parliament William Allen.Allen had held the seat of Armagh since its recreation for the 1922 UK general election... |
James O'Reilly James O'Reilly (Irish politician) James O'Reilly, also known as Seamas O'Reilly, was a nationalist politician in Ireland.O'Reilly was a farmer and an activist in the Nationalist Party and was elected to Kilkeel Rural District Council... |
16,284 | 40.3 | 2 | Party later represented at Westminster | ||
| Belfast West by-election, 1950 Belfast West by-election, 1950 There was a by-election for Belfast West constituency on 29 November 1950.It occurred after the winner at the 1950 UK general election, James Godfrey MacManaway, was disqualified as he was a priest.... |
Jack Beattie Jack Beattie Jack Beattie was a politician from Northern Ireland.He was a teacher by profession. He joined the Northern Ireland Labour Party . In 1925, he became a Member of the Northern Ireland House of Commons for Belfast East. He represented Belfast Pottinger from 1929... |
30,833 | 49.2 | 2 | Party previously and later represented at Westminster | ||
| National Fellowship National Fellowship The National Fellowship was a minor far right political party in the United Kingdom.The party was launched under Chairman Edward Martell on 1 January 1962, with full page advertisements in national broadsheets. The advert referred to the organisation as part of a movement spearheaded by The New... |
Bristol South East by-election, 1963 Bristol South East by-election, 1963 The Bristol South East by-election, 1963 was a by-election held on 20 August 1963 for the British House of Commons constituency of Bristol South East in the city of Bristol.... |
Edward Martell Edward Martell (politician) Edward Drewett Martell was a British politician and libertarian activist.-Family and education:Martell was the eldest son of E E Martell and Ethel Horwood. He was educated at St. George's School, Harpenden. In 1932 he married Ethel Maud Beverley. They had one son.-Journalism:Martell worked in the... |
4,834 | 19.0 | 2 | ||
| West Bromwich by-election, 1973 West Bromwich by-election, 1973 The West Bromwich by-election of 24 May 1973 was held after the appointment of Labour Member of Parliament Maurice Foley to the European Commission... |
Martin Webster Martin Webster Martin Guy Alan Webster is a former leading figure on the far-right in British politics.-Early political activism:An early member of the Young Conservatives, from which he claimed to have been expelled, Webster was associated loosely with the League of Empire Loyalists until he joined the National... |
4,789 | 16.0 | 3 | |||
| Belfast East by-election, 1959 Belfast East by-election, 1959 The Belfast East by-election of 19 March 1959 was held after the elevation to the Peerage of Ulster Unionist Party MP Alan McKibbin:The seat was safe, having been won by Unionists at the United Kingdom general election, 1955 by nearly 14,000 votes... |
James Gardner | 14,264 | 42.2 | 2 | Party represented in the Parliament of Northern Ireland and previously at Westminster | ||
| Belfast South by-election, 1952 Belfast South by-election, 1952 The Belfast South by-election, 1952 was held following the resignation of Ulster Unionist Party Member of Parliament, Hugh Gage.-History:... |
Samuel Napier | 7,655 | 24.9 | 2 | Party previously represented at Westminster | ||
| Belfast South by-election, 1963 Belfast South by-election, 1963 The Belfast South by-election of 22 October 1963 was held after the death of Ulster Unionist Party Member of Parliament Sir David Campbell on 12 June the same year. The seat was retained by the Ulster Unionists.-Results:-References:***... |
Norman Searight | 7,209 | 25.8 | 2 | Party represented in the Parliament of Northern Ireland and previously at Westminster | ||
| Down by-election, 1946 Down by-election, 1946 The Down by-election was held on 6 June 1946, following the death of James Little, the independent Unionist Member of Parliament for Down.The Down constituency elected two members... |
Desmond Donnelly Desmond Donnelly Desmond Louis Donnelly was a British politician, author and journalist who was a member of four different political parties during the course of his career, and moved between parties on five occasions.- Origins :... |
28,846 | 29.3 | 2 | Party represented in the Parliament of Northern Ireland and previously at Westminster | ||
| Aberdare by-election, 1946 Aberdare by-election, 1946 The Aberdare by-election, 1946 was a parliamentary by-election held on 5 December 1946 for the British House of Commons constituency of Aberdare in Wales. The seat had become vacant when the Labour Member of Parliament George Hall had been created Viscount Hall on 28 October 1946. Hall had held... |
Wynne Samuel | 7,090 | 20.0 | 2 | Party later represented at Westminster | ||
| Aberdare by-election, 1954 Aberdare by-election, 1954 The Aberdare by-election, 1954 was a parliamentary by-election held on 28 October 1954 for the British House of Commons constituency of Aberdare in Wales. The seat had become vacant when the Labour Member of Parliament David Thomas had died on 20 June 1954. Thomas had held the seat since a 1946... |
Gwynfor Evans Gwynfor Evans Dr Richard Gwynfor Evans , was a Welsh politician, lawyer and author. President of Plaid Cymru for thirty six years, he was the first Member of Parliament to represent Plaid Cymru at Westminster .... |
5,671 | 16.0 | 2 | Party later represented at Westminster | ||
| Merthyr Tydfil by-election, 1972 Merthyr Tydfil by-election, 1972 The Merthyr Tydfil by-election of 13 April 1972 was held after the death of S. O. Davies on 25 February the same year. The Labour Party won the by-election in what had traditionally been a safe seat, although Davies had been elected in the 1970 general election as an Independent after he had been... |
Emrys Roberts | 11,852 | 37.0 | 2 | Party previously and later represented at Westminster | ||
| Ogmore by-election, 1946 Ogmore by-election, 1946 The Ogmore by-election, 1946 was a parliamentary by-election held on 4 June 1946 for the British House of Commons constituency of Ogmore in Wales.- Previous MP :... |
T. R. Morgan | 5,685 | 29.4 | 2 | Party later represented at Westminster | ||
| Belfast West by-election, 2011 Belfast West by-election, 2011 The Belfast West by-election, 2011 was a by-election for the United Kingdom constituency of Belfast West following the resignation of the constituency's Member of Parliament, Gerry Adams... |
Gerry Carroll | 1,751 | 7.6 | 3 | Two members elected to the Dáil in 2011 | ||
| Birmingham Hodge Hill by-election, 2004 | John Rees | 1,282 | 6.3 | 4 | George Galloway George Galloway George Galloway is a British politician, author, journalist and broadcaster who was a Member of Parliament from 1987 to 2010. He was formerly an MP for the Labour Party, first for Glasgow Hillhead and later for Glasgow Kelvin, before his expulsion from the party in October 2003, the same year... MP was a party member, but was usually considered Independent Labour in Parliament at the time |
||
| Leicester South by-election, 2004 Leicester South by-election, 2004 A by-election was held in Leicester South on 15 July, the same day as the Birmingham Hodge Hill by-election. It was won by Parmjit Singh Gill of the Liberal Democrats, over-turning a Labour majority of 13,243 votes at the 2001 General Election.... |
Yvonne Ridley Yvonne Ridley Yvonne Ridley is a British journalist, war correspondent and Respect Party activist best known for her capture by the Taliban and subsequent conversion to Islam after release, her outspoken opposition to Zionism, and her criticism of Western media portrayals of the War on Terror... |
3,724 | 12.7 | 4 | George Galloway George Galloway George Galloway is a British politician, author, journalist and broadcaster who was a Member of Parliament from 1987 to 2010. He was formerly an MP for the Labour Party, first for Glasgow Hillhead and later for Glasgow Kelvin, before his expulsion from the party in October 2003, the same year... MP was a party member, but was usually considered Independent Labour in Parliament at the time |
||
| Glasgow Bridgeton by-election, 1946 Glasgow Bridgeton by-election, 1946 The Glasgow Bridgeton by-election was held on 29 August 1946, following the death of Independent Labour Party Member of Parliament for Glasgow Bridgeton, James Maxton.The constituency had been held by Maxton since the 1922 UK general election... |
M. Wood | 2,575 | 13.9 | 4 | Party previously and later represented at Westminster | ||
| Glasgow Bridgeton by-election, 1961 | Ian MacDonald | 3,549 | 18.7 | 3 | Party previously and later represented at Westminster | ||
| Glasgow Pollok by-election, 1967 Glasgow Pollok by-election, 1967 The Glasgow Pollok by-election of 16 December 1966 was held after the death of Labour MP Alex Carrow:The seat was marginal, having been won by Labour at the United Kingdom general election, 1966 by under 2,000 votes-Candidates:... |
George Leslie George Leslie (politician) George Leslie is a Scottish nationalist politician.Leslie studied at Hillhead High School and Glasgow University before becoming a vet. He joined the Scottish National Party in the early 1960s, and was selected to stand for the party at the Glasgow Pollok by-election, 1967... |
10,884 | 29.2 | 3 | Party previously and later represented at Westminster | ||
| South Ayrshire by-election, 1970 South Ayrshire by-election, 1970 The South Ayrshire by-election of 19 March 1970 was held after the death of Labour Member of Parliament Emrys Hughes on 18 October 1969. The seat was retained by the Labour Party.... |
Sam Purdie | 7,785 | 19.9 | 3 | Party previously and later represented at Westminster | ||
| West Lothian by-election, 1962 West Lothian by-election, 1962 The West Lothian by-election, 1962 was a British parliamentary by-election held in the West Lothian constituency in Scotland on 14 June 1962, caused by the death of John Taylor... |
William Wolfe William Wolfe William Cuthbertson "Billy" Wolfe was the leader of the Scottish National Party from 1969 to 1979... |
9,750 | 23.3 | 2 | Party previously and later represented at Westminster | ||
| Falkirk West by-election, 2000 Falkirk West by-election, 2000 The Falkirk West by-election, 2000 was a parliamentary by-election held on 21 December 2000 for the Scottish constituency of Falkirk West.The vacancy was caused the resignation from the House of Commons of Dennis Canavan, the Member of Parliament for Falkirk West... |
Iain Hunter | 989 | 5.1 | 4 | Party represented in the Scottish Parliament | ||
| Glasgow Anniesland by-election, 2000 | Charlie McCarthy | 1,441 | 7.2 | 5 | Party represented in the Scottish Parliament | ||
| Hamilton South by-election, 1999 Hamilton South by-election, 1999 On August 4, 1999 NATO announced that the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Hamilton South, in Scotland, the Rt. Hon. George Robertson, had been chosen as its new Secretary-General. This meant that Robertson was required to resign his seat which he had won as a Labour candidate in the... |
Shareen Blackall | 1,847 | 9.5 | 3 | Party represented in the Scottish Parliament | ||
| Neath by-election, 1991 Neath by-election, 1991 The Neath by-election, 1991 was a by-election held on 4 April 1991 for the British House of Commons constituency of Neath in Wales. It was won by the Labour Party candidate Peter Hain.- Vacancy :... |
John Warman | 1,826 | 5.3 | 5 | Party of same name which was dissolved in 1990 was represented in Parliament | ||
| Preston by-election, 2000 Preston by-election, 2000 The Member of Parliament for Preston, Audrey Wise, died on 2 September 2000.A by-election to fill the seat was held on 23 November.The Labour vote share declined, but with the main beneficiaries being fringe parties they held the seat comfortably.... |
Terry Cartwright | 1,210 | 5.7 | 4 | |||
| Tottenham by-election, 2000 Tottenham by-election, 2000 The Labour Member of Parliament for Tottenham, Bernie Grant, died on 8 April 2000, creating a by-election in his constituency.Grant was one of the first four black MPs and the constituency was one of the centres of the London Afro-Caribbean community... |
Weyman Bennett | 885 | 5.4 | 4 | |||
| Barnsley East by-election, 1996 Barnsley East by-election, 1996 The Barnsley East by-election was held on 12 December 1996, following the death of the Labour Party Member of Parliament Terry Patchett for Barnsley East, in South Yorkshire, England, on 11 October.... |
Ken Capstick | 949 | 5.3 | 4 | |||
| Hemsworth by-election, 1996 Hemsworth by-election, 1996 The Hemsworth by-election, 1996 was a parliamentary by-election held in England on 1 February 1996 for the House of Commons constituency of Hemsworth in West Yorkshire.... |
Brenda Nixon | 1,193 | 5.4 | 4 | |||
| Ogmore by-election, 2002 Ogmore by-election, 2002 The Member of Parliament for Ogmore in Mid Glamorgan, Sir Raymond Powell, of the Labour Party died on 7 December 2001.The by-election to fill his seat was held on 14 February 2002. Labour faced no realistic challenge in this very safe seat and retained it easily, with only Plaid Cymru making... |
Christopher Herriot | 1,152 | 6.3 | 5 | |||
| Barnsley Central by-election, 2011 Barnsley Central by-election, 2011 The Barnsley Central by-election was a by-election for the Parliament of the United Kingdom's House of Commons constituency of Barnsley Central which took place on 3 March 2011... |
Jane Collins | 2,953 | 12.2 | 2 | |||
| Bromley and Chislehurst by-election, 2006 Bromley and Chislehurst by-election, 2006 A by-election was held in the UK parliament constituency of Bromley and Chislehurst in London, following the death of Conservative Member of Parliament Eric Forth on 17 May 2006. The writ for the electing of a new member was issued on 6 June for a polling day of 29 June 2006, the same day as the... |
Nigel Farage Nigel Farage Nigel Paul Farage MEP , a position he previously held from September 2006 to November 2009. He is a current Member of the European Parliament for South East England and co-chairs the Eurosceptic Europe of Freedom and Democracy group.... |
2,347 | 8.1 | 3 | Party represented in the European Parliament and later at Westminster | ||
| Hartlepool by-election, 2004 Hartlepool by-election, 2004 On 23 July 2004, the Member of Parliament for Hartlepool, in England, Peter Mandelson , was nominated as the United Kingdom's new European Commissioner. On 8 September he accepted the office of Steward of the Manor of Northstead, thereby disqualifying himself from Parliament and causing a by-election... |
Stephen Allison | 2,347 | 10.2 | 3 | Party represented in the European Parliament and later at Westminster | ||
| Norwich North by-election, 2009 Norwich North by-election, 2009 The 2009 Norwich North by-election was a by-election for the United Kingdom Parliament's House of Commons constituency of Norwich North. The by-election took place due to the resignation of Ian Gibson after being banned from standing as a Labour candidate for the next general election... |
Glenn Tingle | 4,068 | 11.8 | 4 | Party represented in the European Parliament and previously at Westminster | ||
| Oldham East and Saddleworth by-election, 2011 Oldham East and Saddleworth by-election, 2011 The 2011 by-election in Oldham East and Saddleworth was a by-election for the Parliament of the United Kingdom's House of Commons constituency of Oldham East and Saddleworth held on 13 January 2011... |
Paul Nuttall Paul Nuttall Paul Andrew Nuttall is a former chairman of the United Kingdom Independence Party, and a Member of the European Parliament for the North West England region. He was elected in 2009... |
2,029 | 5.8 | 4 | Party represented in the European Parliament and previously at Westminster | ||
| Belfast North by-election, 1986 | Seamus Lynch Seamus Lynch Seamus Lynch is a former Irish republican and socialist politician.Born in North Belfast, Lynch became a republican activist around the start of The Troubles, and sided with the Official wing of Sinn Féin in the split of 1970. He was imprisoned from October 1971 until the following year... |
3,563 | 11.8 | 3 | |||
| Lagan Valley by-election, 1986 | John Lowry John Lowry For the 19th-century baseball player, see John Lowry .John Lowry is the General Secretary of the Workers' Party in Ireland. He is a native of the Lower Falls area of Belfast.... |
3,328 | 9.3 | 2 | |||
| Upper Bann by-election, 1986 | Tom French Tom French (politician) Tom French is a former President of the Workers' Party of Ireland and former member of Craigavon Borough Council.Born in Belfast in 1934, French joined Sinn Féin as a youth and remained with the party as it evolved into the Workers' Party.... |
6,978 | 19.2 | 2 |
Miscellaneous notable results
It is unusual for one of the major parties to finish outside of the top three in England and Wales (or outside of the top four in Scotland). It is also unusual for the principle Opposition party to suffer a significant reverse in its share of the vote or ranking.- At the Barnsley Central by-election, 2011Barnsley Central by-election, 2011The Barnsley Central by-election was a by-election for the Parliament of the United Kingdom's House of Commons constituency of Barnsley Central which took place on 3 March 2011...
, the Liberal Democrats took sixth place, dropping from second at the 2010 UK general election, and the worst ranking ever for a major party in England.
- In the Hamilton South by-election, 1999Hamilton South by-election, 1999On August 4, 1999 NATO announced that the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Hamilton South, in Scotland, the Rt. Hon. George Robertson, had been chosen as its new Secretary-General. This meant that Robertson was required to resign his seat which he had won as a Labour candidate in the...
, and Glasgow North East by-election, 2009Glasgow North East by-election, 2009The 2009 Glasgow North East by-election was a by-election for the Parliament of the United Kingdom's House of Commons constituency of Glasgow North East. The by-election was held on 12 November 2009 following the resignation of Michael Martin as an MP and as Speaker of the British House of Commons...
the Liberal Democrats came sixth in both cases, equalling the worst ever placing by a major party in the UK. In 1999 the party had 634 votes while in Glasgow the party gained 474 votes.
- At the Henley by-election, 2008Henley by-election, 2008The Henley by-election, 2008 to elect a member of the British House of Commons for the constituency of Henley in Oxfordshire was held on 26 June 2008. It followed the election of Boris Johnson as Mayor of London in May 2008...
the Labour Party finished in fifth place, the worst ranking for the party in its history, and a record low for any government in a UK mainland constituency. The lowest ever for an incumbent government was the Upper Bann by-election, 1990Upper Bann by-election, 1990The 1990 by-election in Upper Bann was caused by the death of the sitting Ulster Unionist Party Member of Parliament Harold McCusker on February 2, 1990....
when the Conservatives came sixth, although they had not previously contested the seat.
- The drop in the Conservative share of the vote, 11.1%, at the Bromley and Chislehurst by-election, 2006Bromley and Chislehurst by-election, 2006A by-election was held in the UK parliament constituency of Bromley and Chislehurst in London, following the death of Conservative Member of Parliament Eric Forth on 17 May 2006. The writ for the electing of a new member was issued on 6 June for a polling day of 29 June 2006, the same day as the...
was their worst result in a Conservative-held seat while in opposition since 19301. At the same by-election, the Labour Party's fall from second to fourth place was the first time the party had suffered such a reverse in an English seat.
- At the Blaenau Gwent by-election, 2006, held on the same day as Bromley, the Conservative Party's fifth-place ranking equalled the worst-place achieved by a major party in England or Wales, a feat the Conservatives had first achieved in the same seat in the 2005 General Election. The Blaenau victor, Dai DaviesDai Davies (politician)David Clifford Davies, commonly known as Dai Davies, was the Blaenau Gwent People's Voice Member of Parliament for the Blaenau Gwent constituency in South Wales from 2006 to 2010...
was the first independent to hold a seat previously occupied by an independent since Sir C.V.F. TownshendCharles Vere Ferrers TownshendMajor General Sir Charles Vere Ferrers Townshend KCB, DSO was a British Indian Army officer who led the ultimately disastrous first British Expedition against Baghdad during World War I, and was later elected to Parliament....
held The WrekinThe Wrekin (UK Parliament constituency)The Wrekin is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom since 1918. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
in 1920.
- The Conservative Party fell from second to fourth place in the Hartlepool by-election, 2004Hartlepool by-election, 2004On 23 July 2004, the Member of Parliament for Hartlepool, in England, Peter Mandelson , was nominated as the United Kingdom's new European Commissioner. On 8 September he accepted the office of Steward of the Manor of Northstead, thereby disqualifying himself from Parliament and causing a by-election...
.
- The Labour party fell from second to fourth place in the Ceredigion by-election, 2000Ceredigion by-election, 2000The Plaid Cymru Member of Parliament for Ceredigion, Cynog Dafis, was unexpectedly elected to the National Assembly for Wales in May 1999 and decided to give up his seat in the House of Commons in order to concentrate on his work in the Assembly...
.
- The Conservative party fell from third to fourth place in the Liverpool Walton by-election, 1991Liverpool Walton by-election, 1991The Liverpool Walton by-election was held on 4 July 1991, following the death of the Labour Party Member of Parliament Eric Heffer for Liverpool Walton, on 27 May.The constituency had become a safe Labour seat under Heffer, who was known as a left-wing MP...
.
- At the Bootle by-election, 1990Bootle (UK Parliament constituency)Bootle is a borough 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. Since 1990 the MP has been Joe Benton of the Labour Party...
the "continuing" SDPSocial Democratic Party (UK, 1988)A Social Democratic Party was formed in the United Kingdom in 1981 by a group of dissident Labour Party Members of Parliament : Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams, who became known as the "Gang of Four"....
finished seventh out of eight candidates, behind the Monster Raving Loony Party, in a seat parts of which had once been in adjoining CrosbyCrosby (UK Parliament constituency)Crosby was a constituency in Merseyside, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1950 until 2010. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-History:...
, scene of the party's greatest triumph only eight years previously.
- The Labour Party achieved fourth place in the Richmond (Yorks) by-election, 1989 although this was contrived somewhat by the Social and Liberal DemocratsLiberal DemocratsThe Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
and Social Democratic PartySocial Democratic Party (UK, 1988)A Social Democratic Party was formed in the United Kingdom in 1981 by a group of dissident Labour Party Members of Parliament : Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams, who became known as the "Gang of Four"....
parties running separate candidates.
- The Conservative party fell from second place to fourth place in the Bermondsey by-election, 1983Bermondsey by-election, 1983A by-election was held in the Bermondsey constituency in South London, on 24 February 1983, following the resignation of Labour MP Robert Mellish, who had represented the constituency and its predecessors in the House of Commons since 1946...
, the first time they had suffered such a reverse since at least 1945.
- At the Walsall North by-election, 1976Walsall North by-election, 1976The Walsall North by-election on 4 November 1976 was held after the resignation of sitting Member of Parliament John Stonehouse. Elected as a Labour candidate, Stonehouse was a member of the English National Party when he resigned, after an interlude in which he faked his own death...
, the Liberal Party could take only fifth place. Beaten by an independent and a minor party candidate, this was the worst placing for any major party in an English by-election since at least 1945.
- The Conservative party fell from third place to fourth place in the Newham South by-election, 1974Newham South by-election, 1974The Newham South by-election was a by-election held on 23 May 1974 for the British House of Commons constituency of Newham South. It was triggered when Elwyn Jones, the constituency's Labour Party Member of Parliament , was appointed as Lord Chancellor and subsequently awarded a life peerage.The...
, at the time their worst ranking in an English by-election since at least 1945.
- The last time time the Liberals lost a by-election they were defending was at the Carmarthen by-election, 1957Carmarthen by-election, 1957The Carmarthen by-election of 1957 in Carmarthenshire, Wales, was notable for resulting in the nadir of the British Liberal Party and for being the first election in the United Kingdom in which two women competed for the same seat....
, defeated by the former Liberal MP turned Labour candidate, Lady Megan Lloyd-George. The Liberal parliamentary contingent was thus reduced to five MPs, its lowest ever level.
Notes
1Excluding the Westminster, St.George's by-election, 1931 and the Paddington South by-election, 1930, which were essentially intra-Conservative contests, the previous worst result was, ironically, the Bromley by-election, 1930
Bromley by-election, 1930
The Bromley by-election, 1930 was a parliamentary by-election held on 2 September 1930 for the British House of Commons constituency of Bromley in north-west Kent....
By-elections having national significance
- Crewe and Nantwich by-election, 2008Crewe and Nantwich by-election, 2008The Crewe and Nantwich by-election, 2008 was a parliamentary by-election held on 22 May 2008, for the British House of Commons constituency of Crewe and Nantwich, in Cheshire, England...
: A Conservative gain (from Labour in this case) at a by-election for the first time since 1982, and the first time as an opposition party since 1978, demonstrated the Conservatives were back in contention to possibly win the next general election. - Wirral South by-election, 1997Wirral South by-election, 1997A by-election was held for the United Kingdom parliament constituency of Wirral South, in Merseyside, England, on 27 February 1997. The seat became vacant on the death of Conservative Party Member of Parliament Barry Porter, and was won by Labour's Ben Chapman....
: A Labour gain on a large swing just weeks before a general election confirmed the move in the party's favour was real. - Liverpool Walton by-election, 1991Liverpool Walton by-election, 1991The Liverpool Walton by-election was held on 4 July 1991, following the death of the Labour Party Member of Parliament Eric Heffer for Liverpool Walton, on 27 May.The constituency had become a safe Labour seat under Heffer, who was known as a left-wing MP...
: The Militant TendencyMilitant TendencyThe Militant tendency was an entrist group within the British Labour Party based around the Militant newspaper that was first published in 1964...
opposed a Labour candidate for the first time; their showing led to the decision to organise as a separate party. - Bootle by-election, May 1990: Abysmal showing of the 'continuing SDPSocial Democratic Party (UK, 1988)A Social Democratic Party was formed in the United Kingdom in 1981 by a group of dissident Labour Party Members of Parliament : Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams, who became known as the "Gang of Four"....
' led to the party being wound up. - Greenwich by-election, 1987Greenwich by-election, 1987The Greenwich by-election of 1987 was a closely fought by-election often credited with boosting the SDP-Liberal Alliance shortly before the 1987 general election...
: Defeat of a left-wing Labour candidate demonstrated the party's vulnerability. - Darlington by-election, 1983Darlington by-election, 1983The Darlington by-election, 1983 was a parliamentary by-election held on 24 March 1983 for the British House of Commons constituency of Darlington in County Durham....
: Labour's successful defence of a marginal seat stabilised the party, and secured the position of Leader Michael FootMichael FootMichael Mackintosh Foot, FRSL, PC was a British Labour Party politician, journalist and author, who was a Member of Parliament from 1945 to 1955 and from 1960 until 1992...
. - Crosby by-election, 1981Crosby by-election, 1981The Crosby by-election, 1981 was a by-election held in England on 26 November 1981 to elect a new Member of Parliament for the House of Commons constituency of Crosby on Merseyside...
: Victory of the Social Democratic PartySocial Democratic Party (UK)The Social Democratic Party was a political party in the United Kingdom that was created on 26 March 1981 and existed until 1988. It was founded by four senior Labour Party 'moderates', dubbed the 'Gang of Four': Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams...
in a rock-solid Conservative seat showed the national appeal of the party. - Fermanagh and South Tyrone by-election, April 1981: Election of Maze prison hunger-striker Bobby SandsBobby SandsRobert Gerard "Bobby" Sands was an Irish volunteer of the Provisional Irish Republican Army and member of the United Kingdom Parliament who died on hunger strike while imprisoned in HM Prison Maze....
demonstrated that nationalist voters could support violent Republican candidates; taken by the Republican movement as a vindication of their stance. - Hamilton by-election, 1967Hamilton by-election, 1967The Hamilton by-election, in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, which took place on the 2nd of November 1967, was a milestone in the politics of Scotland...
: Scottish National Party victory massively boosted the prospects of the party. - Hull North by-election, 1966Hull North by-election, 1966The Hull North by-election of 27 January 1966 was held after the death of Labour Member of Parliament Henry Solomons on 7 November 1965. The seat was retained by the Labour Party. This has been attributed to the announcement of the construction of the Humber Bridge by the government during the...
: Easy Labour victory in a marginal seat demonstrated to Prime Minister Harold WilsonHarold WilsonJames Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, FSS, PC was a British Labour Member of Parliament, Leader of the Labour Party. He was twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s, winning four general elections, including a minority government after the...
that he would probably win a snap general election. - Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles by-election, 1965Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles by-election, 1965The Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles by-election was significant in that it led to the election of David Steel, who went on to lead the Liberal Party, to the British House of Commons for the first time...
: Rare Conservative loss in Opposition leads to resignation of leader Sir Alec Douglas-HomeAlec Douglas-HomeAlexander Frederick Douglas-Home, Baron Home of the Hirsel, KT, PC , known as The Earl of Home from 1951 to 1963 and as Sir Alec Douglas-Home from 1963 to 1974, was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from October 1963 to October 1964.He is the last...
and election of Edward HeathEdward HeathSir Edward Richard George "Ted" Heath, KG, MBE, PC was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and as Leader of the Conservative Party ....
as first democratically-elected Conservative leader. - Leyton by-election, 1965Leyton by-election, 1965The Leyton by-election, 1965 was a parliamentary by-election held on 21 January 1965 for the British House of Commons constituency of Leyton in east London....
: Foreign Secretary Patrick Gordon-Walker, who was found the seat after losing SmethwickSmethwick (UK Parliament constituency)Smethwick was a parliamentary constituency, centred on the town of Smethwick in Staffordshire. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system....
in 1964United Kingdom general election, 1964The United Kingdom general election of 1964 was held on 15 October 1964, more than five years after the preceding election, and thirteen years after the Conservative Party had retaken power...
, is again defeated; he is forced to resign from the Government. - Kinross and West Perthshire by-election, 1963Kinross and West Perthshire by-election, 1963The Kinross and West Perthshire by-election of 7 November 1963 was a by-election to the House of Commons. It was unique among by-elections since 1918 in that one of the candidates was the sitting Prime Minister, Sir Alec Douglas-Home; he had been nominated for the constituency after disclaiming a...
: Prime Minister Sir Alec Douglas-Home successfully returned to the House of Commons after disclaiming his Peerage. - Orpington by-election, 1962Orpington by-election, 1962The Orpington by-election of 1962 is often described as the start of the Liberal Party revival in the United Kingdom.The election was caused by the appointment of Donald Sumner, Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Orpington as a County Court Judge...
: A Liberal gain in a suburban seat led to a national revival for the party. - Bristol South East by-election, 1961Bristol South East by-election, 1961The Bristol South East by-election, 1961 was a by-election held on 4 May 1961 for the British House of Commons constituency of Bristol South East in the city of Bristol....
: Incumbent Labour MP Tony BennTony BennAnthony Neil Wedgwood "Tony" Benn, PC is a British Labour Party politician and a former MP and Cabinet Minister.His successful campaign to renounce his hereditary peerage was instrumental in the creation of the Peerage Act 1963...
re-elected after inheriting a Peerage; the seat was awarded to the defeated Conservative, but the circumstances led to the Peerage Act 1963Peerage Act 1963The Peerage Act 1963 is the Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that permitted peeresses in their own right and all Scottish hereditary peers to sit in the House of Lords, and which allows newly inherited hereditary peerages to be "disclaimed".-Background:The Act resulted largely from the...
allowing hereditary Peerages to be disclaimed. - Oxford by-election, 1938Oxford by-election, 1938The Oxford by-election, 1938 was a parliamentary by-election for the British House of Commons constituency of Oxford, held on October 27, 1938. The by-election was triggered when Robert Croft Bourne, the sitting Conservative Member of Parliament died on August 7, 1938...
: After a campaign dominated by appeasementAppeasementThe term appeasement is commonly understood to refer to a diplomatic policy aimed at avoiding war by making concessions to another power. Historian Paul Kennedy defines it as "the policy of settling international quarrels by admitting and satisfying grievances through rational negotiation and...
and the Munich agreementMunich AgreementThe Munich Pact was an agreement permitting the Nazi German annexation of Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland. The Sudetenland were areas along Czech borders, mainly inhabited by ethnic Germans. The agreement was negotiated at a conference held in Munich, Germany, among the major powers of Europe without...
, the government candidate won. - Liverpool Wavertree by-election, 1935Liverpool Wavertree by-election, 1935The Liverpool Wavertree by-election, 1935 was a by-election held in England for the House of Commons constituency of Liverpool Wavertree on 6 February 1935. It was won by the Labour Party candidate Joseph Jackson Cleary.- Vacancy :...
: Intervention of Independent Conservative Randolph ChurchillRandolph ChurchillMajor Randolph Frederick Edward Spencer-Churchill, MBE was the son of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and his wife Clementine. He was a Conservative Member of Parliament for Preston from 1940 to 1945....
, on platform of rearmament and Anti-Indian Home Rule, hands safe seat to Labour on largest ever swing (30%). Indication of hostility to National GovernmentUK National GovernmentIn the United Kingdom the term National Government is an abstract concept referring to a coalition of some or all major political parties. In a historical sense it usually refers primarily to the governments of Ramsay MacDonald, Stanley Baldwin and Neville Chamberlain which held office from 1931...
, and Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonaldRamsay MacDonaldJames Ramsay MacDonald, PC, FRS was a British politician who was the first ever Labour Prime Minister, leading a minority government for two terms....
resigns within months. - Fulham East by-election, 1933Fulham East by-election, 1933The Fulham East by-election, in Fulham, on 25 October 1933 was held after Conservative Member of Parliament Kenyon Vaughan-Morgan died. In what had been a safe Conservative seat the election was surprisingly won by John Charles Wilmot of Labour....
: Unexpected Labour gain in a previously safe Conservative constituency, ascribed to pacifism. - Newport by-election, 1922Newport by-election, 1922The Newport by-election, 1922 was by-election held in the parliamentary constituency of Newport on 18 October 1922. The by-election attracted especial attention, both at the time and since, as it was seen as a crucial electoral test of the viability of the Lloyd George Coalition Government,...
: Election of an anti-Coalition Conservative in a tight three way contest spurred on Conservative MPs to end their coalition with David Lloyd GeorgeDavid Lloyd GeorgeDavid Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
. - Dartford by-election, 1920: massive swing to Labour prefigures the party's eclipse of the Liberals.
Firsts and lasts
- Last ConservativeConservative 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...
gain in a by-election: Norwich North by-election, 2009Norwich North by-election, 2009The 2009 Norwich North by-election was a by-election for the United Kingdom Parliament's House of Commons constituency of Norwich North. The by-election took place due to the resignation of Ian Gibson after being banned from standing as a Labour candidate for the next general election... - Last LabourLabour 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...
gain at a by-election: Wirral South by-election, 1997Wirral South by-election, 1997A by-election was held for the United Kingdom parliament constituency of Wirral South, in Merseyside, England, on 27 February 1997. The seat became vacant on the death of Conservative Party Member of Parliament Barry Porter, and was won by Labour's Ben Chapman.... - Last Liberal DemocratLiberal DemocratsThe Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
gain at a by-election: Dunfermline and West Fife by-election, 2006Dunfermline and West Fife by-election, 2006The Dunfermline and West Fife by-election, in Dunfermline and West Fife, Scotland, was held on 9 February 2006 following the death of sitting Labour MP Rachel Squire on 6 January. The by-election was the first seat to change hands in the 2005 Parliament when Willie Rennie won the seat for the... - First by-election victory by the Social Democratic PartySocial Democratic Party (UK)The Social Democratic Party was a political party in the United Kingdom that was created on 26 March 1981 and existed until 1988. It was founded by four senior Labour Party 'moderates', dubbed the 'Gang of Four': Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams...
(SDP): Crosby by-election, 1981Crosby by-election, 1981The Crosby by-election, 1981 was a by-election held in England on 26 November 1981 to elect a new Member of Parliament for the House of Commons constituency of Crosby on Merseyside... - Last by-election victory by the Social Democratic PartySocial Democratic Party (UK)The Social Democratic Party was a political party in the United Kingdom that was created on 26 March 1981 and existed until 1988. It was founded by four senior Labour Party 'moderates', dubbed the 'Gang of Four': Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams...
(SDP): Greenwich by-election, 1987Greenwich by-election, 1987The Greenwich by-election of 1987 was a closely fought by-election often credited with boosting the SDP-Liberal Alliance shortly before the 1987 general election... - First by-election victory by the Scottish National PartyScottish National PartyThe Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
: Motherwell by-election, 1945Motherwell by-election, 1945The Motherwell by-election was held on 12 April 1945, following the death of Labour Party Member of Parliament for Motherwell James Walker.The by-election took place during the Second World War during unusual political conditions... - Last by-election victory by the Scottish National PartyScottish National PartyThe Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
: Glasgow East by-election, 2008Glasgow East by-election, 2008The 2008 Glasgow East by-election was a by-election for the UK Parliamentary constituency of Glasgow East which was held on 24 July 2008. The election was triggered when, on 30 June 2008, the sitting MP David Marshall stood down due to ill health.... - Last unopposed by-election in England, Scotland or Wales: Hemsworth by-election, 1946Hemsworth by-election, 1946The Hemsworth by-election, 1946 was a parliamentary by-election held in England for the British House of Commons constituency of Hemsworth on 22 February 1946. The seat had become vacant on the death of the Labour Member of Parliament George Griffiths, who had held the seat since a 1934...
- Last by-election in a university constituency: Combined Scottish Universities by-election, 1946Combined Scottish Universities by-election, 1946The Combined Scottish Universities by-election, 1946 was a by-election held from 22 November to 27 November 1946 for the Combined Scottish Universities, a university constituency of the British House of Commons....
- Last by-election caused by appointment to ministerial office: East Renfrewshire by-election, 1926
- Last by-election from what was to become the Irish Free StateIrish Free StateThe Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
: Dublin University by-election, 1919 - Last double member by-election: Stockport by-election, 1920Stockport by-election, 1920The Stockport by-election, 1920 was a parliamentary by-election held on 27 March 1920 for the constituency of Stockport, in Cheshire.It followed the death of Spencer Leigh Hughes and resignation of George Wardle, the two Members of Parliament for Stockport. With the departure of both MPs, a...
See also
- List of United Kingdom by-elections
- swing (politics)Swing (politics)An electoral swing analysis shows the extent of change in voter support from one election to another. It is an indicator of voter support for individual candidates or political parties, or voter preference between two or more candidates or parties...
- Records of members of parliament of the United KingdomRecords of members of parliament of the United Kingdom-Youngest:Of those whose age can be verified, the youngest MP since the Reform Act of 1832 was James Dickson who was elected as a Liberal at a by-election for the Borough of Dungannon on 25 June 1880. He was born on 19 April 1859 and so was aged 21 years 67 days...
- UK general election records