There were 131 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.
Resignations
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.
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 East12 November 2009Michael Martin Willie Bain Resignation Norwich North23 July 2009Ian Gibson Chloe Smith ResignationGlenrothes6 November 2008John MacDougall Lindsay Roy Death (mesothelioma)Glasgow East24 July 2008David Marshall John Mason Resignation due to ill healthHaltemprice and Howden10 July 2008David Davis David Davis Resigned to recontestHenley26 June 2008Boris Johnson John Howell Resignation on election as Mayor of LondonCrewe and Nantwich22 May 2008Gwyneth Dunwoody Edward Timpson Death (heart attack)Sedgefield19 July 2007Tony Blair Phil Wilson Resignation on appointment as Middle East EnvoyEaling Southall19 July 2007Piara Khabra Virendra Sharma Death (liver problems)Bromley and Chislehurst29 June 2006Eric Forth Bob Neill Death (cancer)Blaenau Gwent29 June 2006Peter Law Dai Davies Death (cancer)Dunfermline and West Fife9 February 2006Rachel Squire Willie Rennie Death (cancer/stroke)Livingston29 September 2005Robin Cook Jim Devine Death (heart disease)Cheadle14 July 2005Patsy Calton Mark Hunter Death (cancer)
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 CauseHartlepool30 September 2004Peter Mandelson Iain Wright Resignation on appointment as European CommissionerBirmingham Hodge Hill15 July 2004Terry Davis Liam Byrne Resignation on appointment as Secretary-General of the Council of EuropeLeicester South15 July 2004Jim Marshall Parmjit Singh Gill Death (heart attack)Brent East18 September 2003Paul Daisley Sarah Teather Death (cancer)Ogmore14 February 2002Sir Raymond Powell Huw Irranca-Davies Death (unknown; probable asthma attack)Ipswich22 November 2001Jamie Cann Chris Mole Death (liver disease)
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-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party CauseFalkirk West21 December 2000Dennis Canavan / IndependentEric Joyce Resignation in order to concentrate on his role as a Member of the Scottish ParliamentWest Bromwich West23 November 2000Betty Boothroyd Adrian Bailey Resignation on retirement as Speaker of the House of CommonsPreston23 November 2000Audrey Wise Mark Hendrick Death (cancer)Glasgow Anniesland23 November 2000Donald Dewar John Robertson Death (Brain haemorrhage after heart surgery)South Antrim21 September 2000Clifford Forsythe William McCrea Death (sudden illness)Tottenham22 June 2000Bernie Grant David Lammy Death (heart attack)Romsey4 May 2000Michael Colvin Sandra Gidley Death (accidental fire)Ceredigion3 February 2000Cynog Dafis Simon Thomas Resignation following election to the Welsh AssemblyKensington and Chelsea25 November 1999Alan Clark Michael Portillo Death (cancer)Wigan23 September 1999Roger Stott Neil Turner Death (long illness)Hamilton South23 September 1999George Robertson Bill Tynan Life peerage upon appointment as Secretary-General of NATOEddisbury22 July 1999Alastair Goodlad Stephen O'Brien Resignation on appointment as High Commissioner to AustraliaLeeds Central10 June 1999Derek Fatchett Hilary Benn Death (heart attack)Winchester20 November 1997Mark Oaten Mark Oaten Void electionBeckenham20 November 1997Piers Merchant Jacqui Lait Resignation (scandal)Paisley South6 November 1997Gordon McMaster Douglas Alexander Death (suicide)Uxbridge31 July 1997Sir Michael Shersby John Randall Death (heart attack)
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-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party CauseWirral South27 February 1997Barry Porter Ben Chapman Death (cancer)Barnsley East12 December 1996Terry Patchett Jeff Ennis Death (cancer)South East Staffordshire11 April 1996Sir David Lightbown Brian Jenkins Death (heart attack)Hemsworth1 February 1996Derek Enright Jon Trickett Death (cancer)Littleborough and Saddleworth27 July 1995Geoffrey Dickens Chris Davies Death (long illness)North Down15 June 1995Sir James Kilfedder Robert McCartney Death (heart attack)Perth and Kinross25 May 1995Sir Nicholas Fairbairn Roseanna Cunningham Death (liver cirrhosis)Islwyn16 February 1995Neil Kinnock Don Touhig Appointment as European CommissionerDudley West15 December 1994John Blackburn Ian Pearson Death (heart attack)Monklands East30 June 1994John Smith Helen Liddell Death (heart attack)Newham North East9 June 1994Ron Leighton Stephen Timms DeathEastleigh9 June 1994Stephen Milligan David Chidgey Death (auto-erotic asphyxiation)Dagenham9 June 1994Bryan Gould Judith Church Appointment as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Waikato, New ZealandBradford South9 June 1994Bob Cryer Gerry Sutcliffe Death (road accident)Barking9 June 1994Jo Richardson Margaret Hodge Death (long illness)Rotherham5 May 1994Jimmy Boyce Denis MacShane Death (heart attack)Christchurch29 July 1993Robert Adley Diana Maddock Death (heart attack)Newbury6 May 1993Judith Chaplin David Rendel Death (complications following surgery)
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-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party CauseLangbaurgh7 November 1991Richard Holt Ashok Kumar DeathKincardine and Deeside7 November 1991Alick Buchanan-Smith Nicol Stephen DeathHemsworth7 November 1991George Buckley Derek Enright DeathLiverpool Walton4 July 1991Eric Heffer Peter Kilfoyle Death (cancer)Monmouth16 May 1991Sir John Stradling Thomas Huw Edwards DeathNeath4 April 1991Donald Coleman Peter Hain DeathRibble Valley7 March 1991David Waddington Michael Carr Life peerage on appointment as Leader of the House of LordsPaisley South29 November 1990Norman Buchan Gordon McMaster DeathPaisley North29 November 1990Allen Adams Irene Adams Death (brain haemorrhage)Bradford North8 November 1990Pat Wall Terry Rooney Death (long illness)Bootle8 November 1990Michael Carr Joseph Benton Death (heart attack)Eastbourne18 October 1990Ian Gow David Bellotti Death (terrorism)Knowsley South27 September 1990Sean Hughes Edward O'Hara Death (cancer)Bootle24 May 1990Allan Roberts Michael Carr Death (cancer)Upper Bann17 May 1990Harold McCusker David Trimble Death (cancer)Mid Staffordshire22 March 1990John Heddle Sylvia Heal Death (suicide)Vauxhall15 June 1989Stuart Holland Kate Hoey Appointment to the European University Institute, FlorenceGlasgow Central15 June 1989Bob McTaggart Mike Watson Death (heart attack)Vale of Glamorgan4 May 1989Sir Raymond Gower John Smith DeathRichmond23 February 1989Leon Brittan William Hague Appointment as European CommissionerPontypridd23 February 1989Brynmor John Kim Howells Death (chronic fatigue syndrome)Epping Forest15 December 1988Sir John Biggs-Davison Steven Norris DeathGlasgow Govan10 November 1988Bruce Millan Jim Sillars Appointment as European CommissionerKensington14 July 1988Sir Brandon Rhys-Williams, Bt. Dudley Fishburn Death (leukaemia)
1983–1987 Parliament