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 in a previous constituency. 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.
^ abGain 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.
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.
^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.
^Betty Boothroyd had originally been elected as a Labour MP.
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.
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.
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.
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).
^ abcGain not retained at the 1983 general election.
^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.
^ abFollowing 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.
F. W. S. Craig (1984). British parliamentary election results, 1974–1983. Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN0-900178-23-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. ISBN0-900178-31-0.
March 03, 2023
list, united, kingdom, elections, 1979, 2010, there, were, parliamentary, elections, united, kingdom, between, 1979, 2010, general, elections, list, below, names, incumbent, victor, their, respective, parties, given, where, seats, changed, political, party, el. 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 an SNP gain orange for a Liberal Social Democratic Party or Liberal Democrat gain and other colours for other gains Contents 1 Resignations 2 By elections 2 1 2005 2010 Parliament 2 2 2001 2005 Parliament 2 3 1997 2001 Parliament 2 4 1992 1997 Parliament 2 5 1987 1992 Parliament 2 6 1983 1987 Parliament 2 7 1979 1983 Parliament 3 See also 4 References 5 SourcesResignations EditMain article Resignation from the House of Commons of the United Kingdom 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 Edit2005 2010 Parliament Edit 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 in a previous constituency 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 CauseGlasgow North East 54 1 12 November 2009 Michael Martin Speaker Willie Bain Labour ResignationNorwich North 54 1 23 July 2009 Ian Gibson Labour Chloe Smith Conservative ResignationGlenrothes 6 November 2008 John MacDougall Labour Lindsay Roy Labour Death mesothelioma Glasgow East 54 2 24 July 2008 David Marshall Labour John Mason SNP Resignation due to ill healthHaltemprice and Howden 10 July 2008 David Davis Conservative David Davis Conservative Resigned to recontestHenley 26 June 2008 Boris Johnson Conservative John Howell Conservative Election as Mayor of LondonCrewe 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 EnvoyEaling 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 2 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 a b c Gain retained at the 2010 general election a b Gain not retained at the 2010 general election 2001 2005 Parliament Edit 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 CauseHartlepool 30 September 2004 Peter Mandelson Labour Iain Wright Labour Resignation on appointment as European CommissionerBirmingham Hodge Hill 15 July 2004 Terry Davis Labour Liam Byrne Labour Resignation on appointment as Secretary General of the Council of EuropeLeicester 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 Gain not retained at the 2005 general election Gain retained at the 2005 general election 1997 2001 Parliament Edit 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 election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party CauseFalkirk West 21 December 2000 Dennis Canavan Labour Independent 52 1 Eric Joyce Labour Resignation in order to concentrate on his role as a Member of the Scottish ParliamentWest Bromwich West 23 November 2000 Betty Boothroyd Speaker 52 2 Adrian Bailey Labour Life peeragePreston 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 Ulster Unionist 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 AssemblyKensington 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 NATOEddisbury 22 July 1999 Alastair Goodlad Conservative Stephen O Brien Conservative Appointment as High Commissioner to AustraliaLeeds 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 electionBeckenham 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 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 Betty Boothroyd had originally been elected as a Labour MP Gain not retained at the 2001 general election Gain retained at the 2001 general election 1992 1997 Parliament Edit 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 election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party CauseWirral 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 CommissionerDudley 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 DeathEastleigh 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 ZealandBradford 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 a b c d e f g Gain retained at the 1997 general election 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 Gain not retained at the 1997 general election 1987 1992 Parliament Edit 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 election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party CauseLangbaurgh 7 November 1991 50 1 Richard Holt Conservative Ashok Kumar Labour DeathKincardine and Deeside 7 November 1991 50 1 Alick Buchanan Smith Conservative Nicol Stephen Liberal Democrats DeathHemsworth 7 November 1991 George Buckley Labour Derek Enright Labour DeathLiverpool 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 DeathNeath 4 April 1991 Donald Coleman Labour Peter Hain Labour DeathRibble Valley 7 March 1991 50 1 David Waddington Conservative Michael Carr Liberal Democrats Life peerage on appointment as Leader of the House of LordsPaisley South 29 November 1990 Norman Buchan Labour Gordon McMaster Labour DeathPaisley 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 Ulster Unionist David Trimble Ulster Unionist 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 FlorenceGlasgow 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 DeathRichmond 23 February 1989 Leon Brittan Conservative William Hague Conservative Appointment as European CommissionerPontypridd 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 DeathGlasgow Govan 10 November 1988 50 1 Bruce Millan Labour Jim Sillars SNP Appointment as European CommissionerKensington 14 July 1988 Sir Brandon Rhys Williams Bt Conservative Dudley Fishburn Conservative Death leukaemia a b c d e f g h Gain not retained at the 1992 general election 1983 1987 Parliament Edit 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 election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party CauseTruro 12 March 1987 David Penhaligon Liberal Matthew Taylor Liberal Death road accident Greenwich 26 February 1987 49 1 Guy Barnett Labour Rosie Barnes SDP DeathKnowsley North 13 November 1986 Robert Kilroy Silk Labour George Howarth Labour New BBC TV presenter careerNewcastle under Lyme 17 July 1986 John Golding Labour Llin Golding Labour Appointment as General Secretary of the National Communications UnionRyedale 8 May 1986 49 2 John Spence Conservative Elizabeth Shields Liberal DeathWest Derbyshire 8 May 1986 Matthew Parris Conservative Patrick McLoughlin Conservative Appointment as presenter of LWT programme Weekend WorldFulham 10 April 1986 49 2 Martin Stevens Conservative Nick Raynsford Labour DeathUpper Bann 23 January 1986 Harold McCusker Ulster Unionist Harold McCusker Ulster Unionist Sought re election in opposition to the Anglo Irish AgreementStrangford 23 January 1986 John Taylor Ulster Unionist John Taylor Ulster Unionist Sought re election in opposition to the Anglo Irish AgreementNewry amp Armagh 23 January 1986 49 1 James Nicholson Ulster Unionist Seamus Mallon SDLP Sought re election in opposition to the Anglo Irish AgreementNorth Antrim 23 January 1986 Ian Paisley DUP Ian Paisley DUP Sought re election in opposition to the Anglo Irish AgreementEast Antrim 23 January 1986 Roy Beggs Ulster Unionist Roy Beggs Ulster Unionist Sought re election in opposition to the Anglo Irish AgreementSouth Antrim 23 January 1986 Clifford Forsythe Ulster Unionist Clifford Forsythe Ulster Unionist Sought re election in opposition to the Anglo Irish AgreementBelfast North 23 January 1986 Cecil Walker Ulster Unionist Cecil Walker Ulster Unionist Sought re election in opposition to the Anglo Irish AgreementBelfast East 23 January 1986 Peter Robinson DUP Peter Robinson DUP Sought re election in opposition to the Anglo Irish AgreementBelfast South 23 January 1986 Martin Smyth Ulster Unionist Martin Smyth Ulster Unionist Sought re election in opposition to the Anglo Irish AgreementNorth Down 23 January 1986 James Kilfedder UPUP James Kilfedder UPUP Sought re election in opposition to the Anglo Irish AgreementSouth Down 23 January 1986 49 3 Enoch Powell Ulster Unionist Enoch Powell Ulster Unionist Sought re election in opposition to the Anglo Irish AgreementFermanagh amp South Tyrone 23 January 1986 Ken Maginnis Ulster Unionist Ken Maginnis Ulster Unionist Sought re election in opposition to the Anglo Irish AgreementLagan Valley 23 January 1986 James Molyneaux Ulster Unionist James Molyneaux Ulster Unionist Sought re election in opposition to the Anglo Irish AgreementEast Londonderry 23 January 1986 William Ross Ulster Unionist William Ross Ulster Unionist Sought re election in opposition to the Anglo Irish AgreementMid Ulster 23 January 1986 William McCrea DUP William McCrea DUP Sought re election in opposition to the Anglo Irish AgreementTyne Bridge 5 December 1985 Harry Cowans Labour David Clelland Labour DeathBrecon and Radnor 4 July 1985 49 1 Tom Hooson Conservative Richard Livsey Liberal Death heart attack 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 DeathSouth West Surrey 3 May 1984 Viscount Macmillan of Ovenden Conservative Virginia Bottomley Conservative Death heart failure Stafford 3 May 1984 Sir Hugh Fraser Conservative Bill Cash Conservative Death lung cancer Cynon Valley 3 May 1984 Ioan Evans Labour Ann Clwyd Labour DeathChesterfield 1 March 1984 Eric Varley Labour Tony Benn Labour Appointment as Chairman of Coalite PLCPenrith and the Border 28 July 1983 William Whitelaw Conservative David Maclean Conservative Hereditary peerage on appointment as Leader of the House of Lords a b c Gain retained at the 1987 general election a b c Gain not retained at the 1987 general election 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 Edit 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 Fein 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 election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party CauseDarlington 24 March 1983 48 1 Edward Fletcher Labour Oswald O Brien Labour DeathBermondsey 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 DeathPeckham 28 October 1982 Harry Lamborn Labour Harriet Harman Labour DeathBirmingham Northfield 28 October 1982 48 3 Jocelyn Cadbury Conservative John Spellar Labour Death suicide Gower 16 September 1982 Ifor Davies Labour Gareth Wardell Labour DeathCoatbridge and Airdrie 24 June 1982 James Dempsey Labour Thomas Clarke Labour DeathMitcham and Morden 3 June 1982 48 4 Bruce Douglas Mann Labour Ind SDP Angela Rumbold Conservative Sought re election upon change of party allegianceBeaconsfield 27 May 1982 Sir Ronald Bell Conservative Tim Smith Conservative DeathGlasgow Hillhead 25 March 1982 48 2 Sir Thomas Galbraith Conservative Roy Jenkins SDP DeathBelfast South 4 March 1982 Robert Bradford Ulster Unionist Martin Smyth Ulster Unionist Death killed by IRA Crosby 26 November 1981 48 3 Sir Graham Page Conservative Shirley Williams SDP DeathCroydon North West 22 October 1981 48 3 Robert Taylor Conservative Bill Pitt Liberal DeathFermanagh amp 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 judgeFermanagh amp South Tyrone 9 April 1981 48 5 Frank Maguire Independent Republican Bobby Sands Anti H Block DeathGlasgow Central 26 June 1980 Thomas McMillan Labour Bob McTaggart Labour DeathSouthend East 13 March 1980 48 2 Sir Stephen McAdden Conservative Teddy Taylor Conservative DeathSouth West Hertfordshire 13 December 1979 Geoffrey Dodsworth Conservative Richard Page Conservative Resignation on medical adviceManchester Central 27 September 1979 Harold Lever Labour Robert Litherland Labour Life peerage 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 a b c Gain retained at the 1983 general election a b c Gain not retained at the 1983 general election 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 a b Following Sands death Owen Carron retained the seat for Anti H Block in the second by election and defended it as Sinn Fein in the 1983 general election but lost to the Ulster Unionists See also EditList of United Kingdom by elections 2010 present List of United Kingdom by elections 1950 1979 United Kingdom by election recordsReferences EditSources EditUnited Kingdom Election Results David Boothroyd United Kingdom Elections Keele University British Parliamentary By Elections since 1945 List of MPs since 1660 Usurped 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 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title List of United Kingdom by elections 1979 2010 amp oldid 1136305430, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
