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

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UK by-elections held since 2006, with the number of days between seat vacancy and by-election highlighted.

This is a list of parliamentary by-elections in the United Kingdom since 2010, with the names of the incumbent and victor and their respective parties. Where seats changed political party at the election, the result is highlighted: blue for a Conservative gain, red for a Labour gain, orange for a Liberal Democrat gain, purple for a UK Independence Party gain and grey for any other gain.

As of July 2021, a total of 40 by-elections has been held in this period. The first was held in January 2011 and the most recent in July 2021.

Process of resignation from the House of Commons[]

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.[1] This process is used because members of the House of Commons are not technically permitted to resign. A member who vacates their seat in this manner may stand for re-election.

By-elections[]

2019–present Parliament[]

By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause
Batley and Spen 1 July 2021[2] Tracy Brabin Labour Kim Leadbeater Labour Resignation after being elected as Mayor of West Yorkshire.
Chesham and Amersham 17 June 2021[3] Cheryl Gillan Conservative Sarah Green Liberal Democrats Death (long illness).[4]
Airdrie and Shotts 13 May 2021[5] Neil Gray SNP Anum Qaisar-Javed SNP Resignation to contest the seat of Airdrie and Shotts in the Scottish Parliament.
Hartlepool 6 May 2021[6] Mike Hill Labour Jill Mortimer Conservative Resignation following allegations of sexual harassment and victimisation.[7][8]

2017–2019 Parliament[]

There were five by-elections in the 2017–2019 Parliament, which was the smallest number since the six month parliament that sat between the two general elections in 1974. Three were in seats held by Labour, one by the governing Conservatives and one by Sinn Féin, who do not take up their seats in the House of Commons. Four by-elections were won by the incumbent party and Liberal Democrats won a seat from Conservatives. One by-election was a result of the death of the incumbent MP, who represented Labour. Two by-elections were the result of recall petitions via the provisions of the Recall of MPs Act 2015, the first such in the country.

At the dissolution of Parliament in 2019 there were two vacancies: Bassetlaw and Buckingham, caused by the resignations of Labour member John Mann and the Speaker John Bercow. With the close proximity of the 2019 general election, by-elections were not called for these seats. Buckingham was regained by the Conservatives, the party Bercow had represented before he took up the position, and the Conservatives also won Bassetlaw from Labour.

By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause
Brecon and Radnorshire 1 August 2019[9] Chris Davies Conservative Jane Dodds Liberal Democrats Successful recall petition via the provisions of the Recall of MPs Act 2015, after Davies' conviction for false expenses claims, pursuant to the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009.[10][11]
Peterborough 6 June 2019 Fiona Onasanya Labour Lisa Forbes Labour Successful recall petition via the provisions of the Recall of MPs Act 2015, after Onasanya's conviction for perverting the course of justice, in relation to a motoring offence.[12][13]
Newport West 4 April 2019 Paul Flynn Labour Ruth Jones Labour Death (long illness).[14][15]
Lewisham East 14 June 2018 Heidi Alexander Labour Janet Daby Labour Resignation on appointment as Deputy Mayor of London.[16][17]
West Tyrone 3 May 2018 Barry McElduff Sinn Féin Órfhlaith Begley Sinn Féin Resignation after a social media post he made caused controversy.[18][19]

2015–2017 Parliament[]

There were 10 by-elections in the 2015–2017 Parliament (with a planned by-election in Manchester Gorton cancelled when the 2017 general election was called). Seven were in seats held by Labour, and three by the governing Conservatives. Eight by-elections were won by the incumbent party, the Conservatives won a seat from Labour and lost one to the Liberal Democrats. Three by-elections were a result of the death of the incumbent MPs, all of whom represented Labour.

At the dissolution of Parliament in 2017 there was one vacancy: Manchester Gorton, caused by the death of its Labour member Gerald Kaufman.[20] With the close proximity of the 2017 general election on 8 June, the by-election previously called for 4 May had its writ cancelled by the House of Commons.[21] All but two of the candidates nominated for the by-election then stood at the General Election, and the seat was held by Labour.

By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause
Stoke-on-Trent Central 23 February 2017[22] Tristram Hunt Labour Gareth Snell Labour Resignation to take up his new role as head of the Victoria and Albert Museum.[23]
Copeland[24] 23 February 2017[22] Jamie Reed Labour Trudy Harrison Conservative Resignation to take up his new role in the nuclear power industry.[25]
Sleaford and North Hykeham 8 December 2016[26] Stephen Phillips Conservative Caroline Johnson Conservative Resignation citing irreconcilable differences with the government.[27]
Richmond Park[9] 1 December 2016[28] Zac Goldsmith Conservative Sarah Olney Liberal Democrats Sought reelection as an Independent in opposition to the government's decision on the expansion of Heathrow Airport.[29]
Witney 20 October 2016 David Cameron Conservative Robert Courts Conservative Resignation as an MP two months after resigning as Prime Minister and Leader of Conservative Party.[30]
Batley and Spen 20 October 2016 Jo Cox Labour Tracy Brabin Labour Death (murder).[31]
Tooting 16 June 2016 Sadiq Khan Labour Rosena Allin-Khan Labour Resignation upon his election as Mayor of London.[32]
Ogmore 5 May 2016 Huw Irranca-Davies Labour Christopher Elmore[33] Labour Resignation to contest the Welsh Assembly election.[34]
Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough 5 May 2016 Harry Harpham Labour Gill Furniss[35] Labour Death (cancer).[36]
Oldham West and Royton 3 December 2015 Michael Meacher Labour Jim McMahon Labour Death (short illness).[37]

2010–2015 Parliament[]

There were 21 by-elections in the 2010–2015 Parliament. 14 were in seats held by Labour, four by the governing Conservatives, one by their coalition partners the Liberal Democrats and two by Sinn Féin, who do not take up their seats in the House of Commons. 17 by-elections were won by the incumbent party, Labour won a seat from the Conservatives and lost one to Respect, while UKIP gained two seats from the Conservatives after the incumbent MPs defected to the party and were re-elected. Six by-elections were a result of the death of the incumbent MPs, all of whom represented Labour.

By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause
Rochester and Strood[9] 20 November 2014 Mark Reckless Conservative Mark Reckless UKIP Sought re-election upon change of party allegiance[38]
Heywood and Middleton 9 October 2014[39] Jim Dobbin Labour Liz McInnes Labour Death (acute alcohol toxicity with food aspiration)[40]
Clacton[24] 9 October 2014[41] Douglas Carswell Conservative Douglas Carswell UKIP Sought re-election upon change of party allegiance[42]
Newark 5 June 2014[43] Patrick Mercer Conservative Robert Jenrick Conservative Resignation (following recommendation from the Standards Committee that he be suspended for six months for breach of the paid advocacy rule)[44]
Wythenshawe and Sale East 13 February 2014[45] Paul Goggins Labour Mike Kane Labour Death (stroke/haemorrhage)[46]
South Shields 2 May 2013 David Miliband Labour Emma Lewell-Buck Labour Resignation to join International Rescue Committee[47]
Mid Ulster 7 March 2013 Martin McGuinness Sinn Féin Francie Molloy Sinn Féin Resignation to end 'double-jobbing' as Member of Parliament and Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly[48]
Eastleigh 28 February 2013 Chris Huhne Liberal Democrats Mike Thornton Liberal Democrats Resignation following pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice[49]
Croydon North 29 November 2012 Malcolm Wicks Labour Steve Reed Labour Death (cancer)[50][51]
Middlesbrough 29 November 2012 Sir Stuart Bell Labour Andy McDonald Labour Death (cancer)[52]
Rotherham 29 November 2012 Denis MacShane Labour Sarah Champion[53] Labour Resignation (following recommendation from the Standards and Privileges Committee that he be suspended for 12 months for submitting false expenses invoices stemming from the United Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandal)[54]
Cardiff South and Penarth 15 November 2012 Alun Michael Labour Stephen Doughty Labour Resignation to contest South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner election[55][56]
Corby[9] 15 November 2012[57] Louise Mensch Conservative Andy Sawford Labour Resignation for family reasons[58]
Manchester Central 15 November 2012 Tony Lloyd Labour Lucy Powell Labour Resignation to contest Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner election[59]
Bradford West[9] 29 March 2012 Marsha Singh Labour George Galloway Respect Resignation (serious health problems)[60]
Feltham and Heston 15 December 2011 Alan Keen Labour Seema Malhotra Labour Death (cancer)[61]
Inverclyde 30 June 2011[62] David Cairns Labour Iain McKenzie Labour Death (pancreatitis)
Belfast West 9 June 2011[63] Gerry Adams Sinn Féin Paul Maskey Sinn Féin Resignation (to contest the Louth constituency in the Irish general election)[64]
Leicester South 5 May 2011 Sir Peter Soulsby Labour Jon Ashworth Labour Resignation (to contest the mayoralty of Leicester)[65]
Barnsley Central 3 March 2011[66] Eric Illsley Labour[67] Dan Jarvis Labour Resignation (pleaded guilty to charges of false accounting stemming from the United Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandal)[68]
Oldham East and Saddleworth 13 January 2011 Phil Woolas Labour Debbie Abrahams Labour Void election; reported personally guilty of false statements of fact concerning a candidate.[69]

References[]

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See also[]

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