List_of_United_Kingdom_by-elections_(2010–present)

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

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

List of most recent by-elections to the British House of Commons

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 UKIP gain and other colours for any other gains.

As of February 2024, a total of 58 by-elections have been held in this period. The first was held in January 2011 and the most recent (three elections) in February 2024.

Process of resignation from the House of Commons

Main 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.[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.

Recall petition

Main article: Recall of MPs Act 2015

A recall petition is created by advice of the Speaker of the House of Commons if an MP is suspended from the House for at least 10 sitting days, usually a result of a criminal conviction or breaking Commons Select Committee on Standards conventions. A petition is successful if at least 10 per cent of the constituency's electorate sign the petition. Successful petitions result in the MP vacating the seat, triggering a by-election.

As of March 2024, six petitions have been held under the Act, four resulting in by-elections and one being terminated early due to the MP's resignation.

By-elections

2019–present Parliament

As of March 2024, 22 by-elections have occurred in the 2019–present Parliament, the most by-elections in one parliament since the 1987–1992 Parliament, which had 24. Thirteen by-elections occurred in constituencies previously represented by the governing Conservatives, seven in constituencies represented by Labour, and two in constituencies represented by the SNP. The incumbent MP's party won nine by-elections, including one at Southend West, in which the other major parties did not field candidates. Labour won twelve by-elections, gaining six seats from the Conservatives and one from the SNP, but losing one to the Conservatives and one to the Workers Party of Britain. The Liberal Democrats gained four seats from the Conservatives, while the Conservatives gained one from Labour. Five by-elections happened due to the deaths of the incumbent MPs, three of whom represented the Conservatives and two Labour.

More information By-election, Date ...

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 February and October 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 the 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, caused by the resignations of Labour member John Mann, and Buckingham, caused by the resignation of Speaker John Bercow. With the proximity of the 2019 general election, by-elections were not called for these seats. The Conservatives, the party Bercow had represented before he took up the speakership, regained Buckingham and won Bassetlaw from Labour as well.

More information By-election, Date ...

2015–2017 Parliament

There were ten 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 happened due to the deaths of the incumbent MPs, all of whom represented Labour.

At the dissolution of Parliament in 2017, one seat was vacant: that for Manchester Gorton, caused by the death of its Labour member Gerald Kaufman.[47] 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.[48] All but two of the candidates nominated for the by-election then stood at the general election, and Labour held the seat.

More information By-election, Date ...

2010–2015 Parliament

There were 21 by-elections in the 2010–2015 Parliament. Fourteen were in constituencies 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. Seventeen 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 happened due to the deaths of the incumbent MPs, all of whom represented Labour. In all six of those by-elections, Labour retained the seat.

More information By-election, Date ...

Notes

  1. Benton was an independent at the time he resigned from Parliament. He was elected as a Conservative in 2019 and sat as one until he was suspended from the party in April 2023.
  2. Skidmore was an independent at the time he resigned from Parliament. He was first elected as a Conservative in 2010 but resigned from the party in January 2024.
  3. Bone was an independent at the time he was removed from his seat in Parliament. He was elected as a Conservative in 2005 and served as a Conservative MP until he was suspended from the party in October 2023.
  4. Pincher was elected as a Conservative in 2010 but was an independent at the time he resigned. He served as a Conservative MP until he was suspended from the party in July 2022.
  5. Ferrier was an independent at the time she was removed from her seat in Parliament. She was suspended from the SNP in October 2020.
  6. Warburton was elected as a Conservative in 2015 but was an independent at the time he resigned.
  7. Parish was elected as a Conservative in 2010 but was an independent at the time he resigned.
  8. Ahmad Khan was elected as a Conservative in 2019 but was an independent at the time he resigned. He was suspended from the party in June 2021 and expelled in April 2022.[19][20]
  9. As a mark of respect for the murdered MP, Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Greens, and Reform UK all declined to contest the by-election.
  10. Gain not retained at the subsequent general election.
  11. Onasanya was an independent at the time of the by-election, originally elected as a Labour candidate in 2017, and expelled from the party in December 2018.[38]
  12. Gain was retained at the subsequent general election.
  13. As a mark of respect for the murdered MP, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, UKIP, and the Greens all declined to contest the by-election.
  14. Eric Illsley was elected as a Labour MP from 1987 and was re-elected at every subsequent general election as a Labour candidate, but was suspended by the Labour Party shortly afterwards after being charged with fraud arising from the United Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandal.

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See also
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