2000 Falkirk West by-election

Last updated

2000 Falkirk West by-election
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
  1997 21 December 2000 2001  
 First partySecond party
  EricJoyce cropped.jpg
Candidate Eric Joyce David Kerr
Party Labour SNP
Popular vote8,4927,787
Percentage43.5%39.9%
SwingDecrease2.svg15.9%Increase2.svg16.5%

 Third partyFourth party
 
CandidateCraig StevensonIain Hunter
Party Conservative Scottish Socialist
Popular vote1,621989
Percentage8.3%5.1%
SwingDecrease2.svg3.8%New

MP before election

Dennis Canavan
Labour

Elected MP

Eric Joyce
Labour

The 2000 Falkirk West by-election was a parliamentary by-election held on 21 December 2000 for the Scottish constituency of Falkirk West. It was the last by-election to be held before the 2001 general election.

Contents

The vacancy was caused by the resignation from the UK House of Commons of Dennis Canavan, the member of parliament (MP) for Falkirk West. Canavan had first been elected for West Stirlingshire in the October 1974 election as a Labour Party candidate, and had held that seat until its abolition in 1983. He had then won the new Falkirk West seat, and held that seat as a Labour MP until he was expelled from Labour in 1999. He then sat as an Independent until he resigned on 21 November 2000 by accepting the office of Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead.

A by-election to fill the seat was held on 21 December. The Scottish National Party mounted a strong challenge, but fell 705 votes short of winning.

Result

Falkirk West by-election, 2000 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Eric Joyce 8,492 43.5 15.9
SNP David Kerr7,78739.9+16.5
Conservative Craig Stevenson1,6218.33.8
Scottish Socialist Iain Hunter9895.1New
Liberal Democrats Hugh O'Donnell 6153.21.9
Majority 7053.6−32.3
Turnout 19,50436.1−36.5
Labour hold Swing -16.2

General Election result, 1997

General Election 1997: Falkirk West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Dennis Canavan 22,772 59.3 +9.6
SNP David Alexander8,98923.4−0.9
Conservative Carol Buchanan4,63912.1−7.6
Liberal Democrats Derek Houston1,9705.1−1.1
Majority 13,78335.9+10.4
Turnout 38,37072.6
Labour hold Swing

See also

References

  1. Boothroyd, David. "Results of Byelections in the 1997-2002 Parliament". United Kingdom Election Results. Retrieved 5 October 2015.