List of United Kingdom by-elections (1979–2010)

There were 130 parliamentary by-elections in the United Kingdom between the 1979 and 2010 general elections. In the list below, the names of the incumbent and victor and their respective parties are given. Where seats changed political party at the election, the result is highlighted: blue for a Conservative gain, red for a Labour gain, yellow for a Scottish National Party (SNP) gain, orange for a Liberal, Social Democratic Party (SDP) or Liberal Democrat gain and grey for any other gain.

Resignations
Main article: Resignation from the British House of Commons

Where the cause of by-election is given as "resignation" or "seeks re-election", this indicates that the incumbent was appointed on his or her own request to an "office of profit under the Crown", either the Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds or the Steward of the Manor of Northstead. Accepting an office of profit under the Crown vacates the member's seat. This process is used because members of the House of Commons are not technically permitted to resign. A member who resigns in this manner may stand for re-election.

By-elections

2005–2010 Parliament

There were 14 by-elections in the 2005–2010 Parliament. Eight were in seats held by the governing Labour party, three by the Conservatives, one by the Liberal Democrats, one by an independent and one by the speaker. Eight by-elections were won by the incumbent party, including in Haltemprice and Howden where Conservative David Davis resigned to recontest his seat. Meanwhile, Blaenau Gwent was won by a second independent candidate. Labour lost four seats; two to the Conservatives, one to the Liberal Democrats and one to the SNP. The speaker's seat was regained by Labour, the party speaker Michael Martin represented before he took up the position. Eight by-elections were a result of the death of the incumbent MP - five Labour MPs died, along with one Liberal Democrat, one Conservative and independent MP Peter Law.

At the dissolution of Parliament in 2010 there were three vacancies: North West Leicestershire and Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, caused by the death of their respective Labour members David Taylor and Ashok Kumar; and Strangford caused by the resignation of the DUP's Iris Robinson. With the close proximity of the 2010 general election, by-elections were not held in these seats. Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland and Strangford were held by Tom Blenkinsop and Jim Shannon respectively, but North West Leicestershire was won by Conservative Andrew Bridgen.

By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause
Glasgow North East[54 1] 12 November 2009 Michael Martin Speaker[54 2] Willie Bain Labour Resignation
Norwich North[54 1] 23 July 2009 Ian Gibson Labour Chloe Smith Conservative Resignation
Glenrothes 6 November 2008 John MacDougall Labour Lindsay Roy Labour Death (mesothelioma)
Glasgow East[54 3] 24 July 2008 David Marshall Labour John Mason SNP Resignation due to ill health
Haltemprice and Howden 10 July 2008 David Davis Conservative David Davis Conservative Resigned to recontest
Henley 26 June 2008 Boris Johnson Conservative John Howell Conservative Election as Mayor of London
Crewe and Nantwich[54 1] 22 May 2008 Gwyneth Dunwoody Labour Edward Timpson Conservative Death (heart attack)
Sedgefield 19 July 2007 Tony Blair Labour Phil Wilson Labour Resignation on appointment as Middle East Envoy
Ealing Southall 19 July 2007 Piara Khabra Labour Virendra Sharma Labour Death (liver problems)
Bromley and Chislehurst 29 June 2006 Eric Forth Conservative Bob Neill Conservative Death (cancer)
Blaenau Gwent 29 June 2006 Peter Law Independent Dai Davies Independent Death (cancer)
Dunfermline and West Fife[54 3] 9 February 2006 Rachel Squire Labour Willie Rennie Liberal Democrats Death (cancer/stroke)
Livingston 29 September 2005 Robin Cook Labour Jim Devine Labour Death (heart disease)
Cheadle 14 July 2005 Patsy Calton Liberal Democrats Mark Hunter Liberal Democrats Death (cancer)
  1. Gain retained at the 2010 general election.
  2. Michael Martin had originally been elected as a Labour MP.
  3. Gain not retained at the 2010 general election.

2001–2005 Parliament

There were six by-elections in the 2001–2005 Parliament. Each were in seats held by the governing Labour party, four of which were held and two won by the Liberal Democrats. Four by-elections were a result of the death of the incumbent MP.

By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause
Hartlepool 30 September 2004 Peter Mandelson Labour Iain Wright Labour Resignation on appointment as European Commissioner
Birmingham Hodge Hill 15 July 2004 Terry Davis Labour Liam Byrne Labour Resignation on appointment as Secretary-General of the Council of Europe
Leicester South[53 1] 15 July 2004 Jim Marshall Labour Parmjit Singh Gill Liberal Democrats Death (heart attack)
Brent East[53 2] 18 September 2003 Paul Daisley Labour Sarah Teather Liberal Democrats Death (cancer)
Ogmore 14 February 2002 Sir Raymond Powell Labour Huw Irranca-Davies Labour Death (unknown; probable asthma attack)
Ipswich 22 November 2001 Jamie Cann Labour Chris Mole Labour Death (liver disease)
  1. Gain not retained at the 2005 general election.
  2. Gain retained at the 2005 general election.

1997–2001 Parliament

There were 17 by-elections in the 1997–2001 Parliament. Eight were in seats held by the governing Labour party, five by the Conservatives, one by the Liberal Democrats, one by Plaid Cymru, one by the Ulster Unionist Party and one by the speaker. 14 by-elections were won by the incumbent party. The Conservatives lost one seat to the Liberal Democrats, and the Democratic Unionist Party gained South Antrim from the Ulster Unionists. The speaker's seat was regained by Labour, the party speaker Betty Boothroyd represented before she took up the position. Ten by-elections were a result of the death of the incumbent MP; six were Labour, three Conservative and one was the Ulster Unionist MP Clifford Forsythe.

By-electionDateIncumbentPartyWinnerPartyCause
Falkirk West 21 December 2000 Dennis Canavan Labour/ Independent[52 1] Eric Joyce Labour Resignation following election to the Scottish Parliament
West Bromwich West 23 November 2000 Betty Boothroyd Speaker[52 2] Adrian Bailey Labour Life peerage
Preston 23 November 2000 Audrey Wise Labour Mark Hendrick Labour Death (cancer)
Glasgow Anniesland 23 November 2000 Donald Dewar Labour John Robertson Labour Death (Brain haemorrhage after heart surgery)
South Antrim 21 September 2000[52 3] Clifford Forsythe UUP William McCrea DUP Death (sudden illness)
Tottenham 22 June 2000 Bernie Grant Labour David Lammy Labour Death (heart attack)
Romsey 4 May 2000[52 4] Michael Colvin Conservative Sandra Gidley Liberal Democrats Death (accidental fire)
Ceredigion 3 February 2000 Cynog Dafis Plaid Cymru Simon Thomas Plaid Cymru Resignation following election to the Welsh Assembly
Kensington and Chelsea 25 November 1999 Alan Clark Conservative Michael Portillo Conservative Death (cancer)
Wigan 23 September 1999 Roger Stott Labour Neil Turner Labour Death (long illness)
Hamilton South 23 September 1999 George Robertson Labour Bill Tynan Labour Life peerage upon appointment as Secretary-General of NATO
Eddisbury 22 July 1999 Alastair Goodlad Conservative Stephen O'Brien Conservative Appointment as High Commissioner to Australia
Leeds Central 10 June 1999 Derek Fatchett Labour Hilary Benn Labour Death (heart attack)
Winchester 20 November 1997 Mark Oaten Liberal Democrats Mark Oaten Liberal Democrats Void election
Beckenham 20 November 1997 Piers Merchant Conservative Jacqui Lait Conservative Resignation (scandal)
Paisley South 6 November 1997 Gordon McMaster Labour Douglas Alexander Labour Death (suicide)
Uxbridge 31 July 1997 Sir Michael Shersby Conservative John Randall Conservative Death (heart attack)
  1. Dennis Canavan was elected as a Labour MP from Feb 1974 onwards but in 1999 left the party when he was not selected as a Labour candidate for the Scottish Parliament and instead successfully stood as an independent.
  2. Betty Boothroyd had originally been elected as a Labour MP.
  3. Gain not retained at the 2001 general election.
  4. Gain retained at the 2001 general election.

1992–1997 Parliament

There were 18 by-elections in the 1992–1997 Parliament. Eight were in seats held by the governing Conservative party, nine by Labour and one by the Ulster Popular Unionist Party. Nine by-elections were won by the incumbent party, all of which happened to be Labour. The Conservatives lost all eight seats in the by-elections - four to the Liberal Democrats, three to Labour and one to the SNP. The UK Unionist Party gained North Down from the Ulster Popular Unionists. 16 by-elections were a result of the death of the incumbent MP - eight Conservatives died, along with seven Labour MPs and the Ulster Popular Unionist MP Sir James Kilfedder.

At the dissolution of Parliament in 1997 there were two vacancies: Meriden, caused by the death of its Conservative member Iain Mills, and Don Valley, caused by the death of its Labour member Martin Redmond. With the close proximity of the 1997 general election, by-elections were not held in these seats. They were held by Caroline Spelman and Caroline Flint respectively.

By-electionDateIncumbentPartyWinnerPartyCause
Wirral South 27 February 1997[51 1] Barry Porter Conservative Ben Chapman Labour Death (cancer)
Barnsley East 12 December 1996 Terry Patchett Labour Jeff Ennis Labour Death (cancer)
South East Staffordshire 11 April 1996[51 1] Sir David Lightbown Conservative Brian Jenkins Labour Death (heart attack)
Hemsworth 1 February 1996 Derek Enright Labour Jon Trickett Labour Death (cancer)
Littleborough and Saddleworth 27 July 1995[51 2] Geoffrey Dickens Conservative Chris Davies Liberal Democrats Death (long illness)
North Down 15 June 1995[51 1] Sir James Kilfedder UPUP Robert McCartney UK Unionist Death (heart attack)
Perth and Kinross 25 May 1995[51 1] Sir Nicholas Fairbairn Conservative Roseanna Cunningham SNP Death (liver cirrhosis)
Islwyn 16 February 1995 Neil Kinnock Labour Don Touhig Labour Appointment as European Commissioner
Dudley West 15 December 1994[51 1] John Blackburn Conservative Ian Pearson Labour Death (heart attack)
Monklands East 30 June 1994 John Smith Labour Helen Liddell Labour Death (heart attack)
Newham North East 9 June 1994 Ron Leighton Labour Stephen Timms Labour Death
Eastleigh 9 June 1994[51 1] Stephen Milligan Conservative David Chidgey Liberal Democrats Death (auto-erotic asphyxiation)
Dagenham 9 June 1994 Bryan Gould Labour Judith Church Labour Appointment as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Waikato, New Zealand
Bradford South 9 June 1994 Bob Cryer Labour Gerry Sutcliffe Labour Death (road accident)
Barking 9 June 1994 Jo Richardson Labour Margaret Hodge Labour Death (long illness)
Rotherham 5 May 1994 Jimmy Boyce Labour Denis MacShane Labour Death (heart attack)
Christchurch 29 July 1993[51 3] Robert Adley Conservative Diana Maddock Liberal Democrats Death (heart attack)
Newbury 6 May 1993[51 1] Judith Chaplin Conservative David Rendel Liberal Democrats Death (complications following surgery)
  1. Gain retained at the 1997 general election.
  2. Littleborough and Saddleworth was abolished in boundary changes taking effect from 1997. Davies contested the successor seat of Oldham East and Saddleworth for the Liberal Democrats but lost to Labour.
  3. Gain not retained at the 1997 general election.

1987–1992 Parliament

There were 24 by-elections in the 1987–1992 Parliament. Ten were in seats held by the governing Conservative party, 13 by Labour and one by the Ulster Unionist Party. 16 by-elections were won by the incumbent party. Labour lost one seat to the SNP, and the Conservatives lost seven seats; four to Labour and three to the Liberal Democrats. 20 by-elections were a result of the death of the incumbent MP - 11 Labour MPs died, along with eight Conservatives and Ulster Unionist Harold McCusker.

By-electionDateIncumbentPartyWinnerPartyCause
Langbaurgh 7 November 1991[50 1] Richard Holt Conservative Ashok Kumar Labour Death
Kincardine and Deeside 7 November 1991[50 1] Alick Buchanan-Smith Conservative Nicol Stephen Liberal Democrats Death
Hemsworth 7 November 1991 George Buckley Labour Derek Enright Labour Death
Liverpool Walton 4 July 1991 Eric Heffer Labour Peter Kilfoyle Labour Death (cancer)
Monmouth 16 May 1991[50 1] Sir John Stradling Thomas Conservative Huw Edwards Labour Death
Neath 4 April 1991 Donald Coleman Labour Peter Hain Labour Death
Ribble Valley 7 March 1991[50 1] David Waddington Conservative Michael Carr Liberal Democrats Life peerage on appointment as Leader of the House of Lords
Paisley South 29 November 1990 Norman Buchan Labour Gordon McMaster Labour Death
Paisley North 29 November 1990 Allen Adams Labour Irene Adams Labour Death (brain haemorrhage)
Bradford North 8 November 1990 Pat Wall Labour Terry Rooney Labour Death (long illness)
Bootle 8 November 1990 Michael Carr Labour Joseph Benton Labour Death (heart attack)
Eastbourne 18 October 1990[50 1] Ian Gow Conservative David Bellotti Liberal Democrats Death (terrorism)
Knowsley South 27 September 1990 Sean Hughes Labour Edward O'Hara Labour Death (cancer)
Bootle 24 May 1990 Allan Roberts Labour Michael Carr Labour Death (cancer)
Upper Bann 17 May 1990 Harold McCusker UUP David Trimble UUP Death (cancer)
Mid Staffordshire 22 March 1990[50 1] John Heddle Conservative Sylvia Heal Labour Death (suicide)
Vauxhall 15 June 1989 Stuart Holland Labour Kate Hoey Labour Appointment to the European University Institute, Florence
Glasgow Central 15 June 1989 Bob McTaggart Labour Mike Watson Labour Death (heart attack)
Vale of Glamorgan 4 May 1989[50 1] Sir Raymond Gower Conservative John Smith Labour Death
Richmond 23 February 1989 Leon Brittan Conservative William Hague Conservative Appointment as European Commissioner
Pontypridd 23 February 1989 Brynmor John Labour Kim Howells Labour Death (chronic fatigue syndrome)
Epping Forest 15 December 1988 Sir John Biggs-Davison Conservative Steven Norris Conservative Death
Glasgow Govan 10 November 1988[50 1] Bruce Millan Labour Jim Sillars SNP Appointment as European Commissioner
Kensington 14 July 1988 Sir Brandon Rhys Williams, Bt. Conservative Dudley Fishburn Conservative Death (leukaemia)
  1. Gain not retained at the 1992 general election.

1983–1987 Parliament

There were 31 by-elections in the 1983–1987 Parliament. Nine were in seats held by the governing Conservative party, six by Labour and one by the Liberals. The remaining 15 were in Northern Ireland, involving the province's own political parties. 25 by-elections were won by the incumbent party, including all in Northern Ireland except one. The Conservatives lost five seats; one to Labour, two to the Liberals, and two to the Social Democrats. The Ulster Unionists lost one seat to the Social Democratic and Labour Party. 11 by-elections were the result of the death of the incumbent MP; seven were Conservatives, three Labour and one Liberal.

By-electionDateIncumbentPartyWinnerPartyCause
Truro 12 March 1987 David Penhaligon Liberal Matthew Taylor Liberal Death (road accident)
Greenwich 26 February 1987[49 1] Guy Barnett Labour Rosie Barnes SDP Death
Knowsley North 13 November 1986 Robert Kilroy-Silk Labour George Howarth Labour New BBC TV presenter career
Newcastle-under-Lyme 17 July 1986 John Golding Labour Llin Golding Labour Appointment as General Secretary of the National Communications Union
Ryedale 8 May 1986[49 2] John Spence Conservative Elizabeth Shields Liberal Death
West Derbyshire 8 May 1986 Matthew Parris Conservative Patrick McLoughlin Conservative Appointment as presenter of LWT program Weekend World
Fulham 10 April 1986[49 2] Martin Stevens Conservative Nick Raynsford Labour Death
Upper Bann 23 January 1986 Harold McCusker UUP Harold McCusker UUP Sought re-election in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
Strangford 23 January 1986 John Taylor UUP John Taylor UUP Sought re-election in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
Newry & Armagh 23 January 1986[49 1] James Nicholson UUP Seamus Mallon SDLP Sought re-election in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
North Antrim 23 January 1986 Ian Paisley DUP Ian Paisley DUP Sought re-election in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
East Antrim 23 January 1986 Roy Beggs UUP Roy Beggs UUP Sought re-election in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
South Antrim 23 January 1986 Clifford Forsythe UUP Clifford Forsythe UUP Sought re-election in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
Belfast North 23 January 1986 Cecil Walker UUP Cecil Walker UUP Sought re-election in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
Belfast East 23 January 1986 Peter Robinson DUP Peter Robinson DUP Sought re-election in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
Belfast South 23 January 1986 Martin Smyth UUP Martin Smyth UUP Sought re-election in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
North Down 23 January 1986 James Kilfedder UPUP James Kilfedder UPUP Sought re-election in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
South Down 23 January 1986[49 3] Enoch Powell UUP Enoch Powell UUP Sought re-election in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
Fermanagh & South Tyrone 23 January 1986 Ken Maginnis UUP Ken Maginnis UUP Sought re-election in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
Lagan Valley 23 January 1986 James Molyneaux UUP James Molyneaux UUP Sought re-election in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
East Londonderry 23 January 1986 William Ross UUP William Ross UUP Sought re-election in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
Mid Ulster 23 January 1986 William McCrea DUP William McCrea DUP Sought re-election in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
Tyne Bridge 5 December 1985 Harry Cowans Labour David Clelland Labour Death
Brecon and Radnor 4 July 1985[49 1] Tom Hooson Conservative Richard Livsey Liberal Death
Enfield Southgate 13 December 1984 Sir Anthony Berry Conservative Michael Portillo Conservative Death (terrorism)
Portsmouth South 14 June 1984[49 2] Bonner Pink Conservative Mike Hancock SDP Death
South West Surrey 3 May 1984 Viscount Macmillan of Ovenden Conservative Virginia Bottomley Conservative Death
Stafford 3 May 1984 Sir Hugh Fraser Conservative Bill Cash Conservative Death
Cynon Valley 3 May 1984 Ioan Evans Labour Ann Clwyd Labour Death
Chesterfield 1 March 1984 Eric Varley Labour Tony Benn Labour Appointment as Chairman of Coalite PLC
Penrith and the Border 28 July 1983 William Whitelaw Conservative David Maclean Conservative Hereditary peerage on appointment as Leader of the House of Lords
  1. Gain retained at the 1987 general election.
  2. Gain not retained at the 1987 general election.
  3. Enoch Powell retained the seat for the Ulster Unionists in the by-election but lost it to the Social Democratic and Labour Party at the 1987 general election.

1979–1983 Parliament

There were 20 by-elections in the 1979–1983 Parliament. Seven were in seats held by the governing Conservative party, ten by Labour, one by the Ulster Unionists and two (in the same seat) by Irish republican parties, who do not take up their seats in the House of Commons. 13 by-elections were won by the incumbent party. The Conservatives lost four seats: one to Labour, one to the Liberals and two to the Social Democrats, and Labour lost two seats: one to the Liberals and one to the Conservatives. Meanwhile, the seat of Fermanagh and South Tyrone was won from the Independent Republican Party by Anti H-Block, a branch of Sinn Féin. 15 by-elections were a result of the death of the incumbent MP; six were Conservatives, six Labour, and the others were the Ulster Unionist Robert Bradford, the Independent Republican Frank Maguire and the Anti H-Block member Bobby Sands (who was in prison).

By-electionDateIncumbentPartyWinnerPartyCause
Darlington 24 March 1983[48 1] Edward Fletcher Labour Oswald O'Brien Labour Death
Bermondsey 24 February 1983[48 2] Robert Mellish Labour/Ind Labour Simon Hughes Liberal Resignation (dispute with party)
Glasgow Queen's Park 2 December 1982 Frank McElhone Labour Helen McElhone Labour Death
Peckham 28 October 1982 Harry Lamborn Labour Harriet Harman Labour Death
Birmingham Northfield 28 October 1982[48 3] Jocelyn Cadbury Conservative John Spellar Labour Death (suicide)
Gower 16 September 1982 Ifor Davies Labour Gareth Wardell Labour Death
Coatbridge and Airdrie 24 June 1982 James Dempsey Labour Thomas Clarke Labour Death
Mitcham and Morden 3 June 1982[48 4] Bruce Douglas-Mann Labour/Ind SDP Angela Rumbold Conservative Sought re-election upon change of party allegiance
Beaconsfield 27 May 1982 Sir Ronald Bell Conservative Tim Smith Conservative Death
Glasgow Hillhead 25 March 1982[48 2] Sir Thomas Galbraith Conservative Roy Jenkins SDP Death
Belfast South 4 March 1982 Robert Bradford UUP Martin Smyth UUP Death (killed by IRA)
Crosby 26 November 1981[48 3] Sir Graham Page Conservative Shirley Williams SDP Death
Croydon North West 22 October 1981[48 3] Robert Taylor Conservative Bill Pitt Liberal Death
Fermanagh & South Tyrone 20 August 1981[48 5] Bobby Sands Anti H-Block Owen Carron Anti H-Block Death (hunger strike)
Warrington 16 July 1981 Sir Thomas Williams Labour Douglas Hoyle Labour Appointment as High Court judge
Fermanagh & South Tyrone 9 April 1981[48 5] Frank Maguire Independent Republican Bobby Sands Anti H-Block Death
Glasgow Central 26 June 1980 Thomas McMillan Labour Bob McTaggart Labour Death
Southend East 13 March 1980[48 2] Sir Stephen McAdden Conservative Teddy Taylor Conservative Death
South West Hertfordshire 13 December 1979 Geoffrey Dodsworth Conservative Richard Page Conservative Resignation on medical advice
Manchester Central 27 September 1979 Harold Lever Labour Robert Litherland Labour Life peerage
  1. Oswald O'Brien retained the seat for Labour in the by-election but lost it to the Conservatives in the 1983 general election only 11 weeks later.
  2. Gain retained at the 1983 general election.
  3. Gain not retained at the 1983 general election.
  4. Mitcham and Morden was the last time an incumbent government gained a seat from the opposition in a by-election until the Copeland by-election on 23 February 2017.
  5. Following Sands' death, Owen Carron retained the seat for Anti H-Block in the second by-election and defended it as Sinn Féin in the 1983 general election but lost to the Ulster Unionists.

See also

References

    Sources
    • United Kingdom Election Results (David Boothroyd)
    • United Kingdom Elections (Keele University)
    • British Parliamentary By-Elections since 1945
    • List of MPs since 1660
    • F. W. S. Craig (1984). British parliamentary election results, 1974–1983. Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-23-X.
    • F. W. S. Craig, British Parliamentary Election Statistics 1832–1987
    • F. W. S. Craig (1987). Chronology of British by-elections, 1832–1987. Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-31-0.
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