2001 Ipswich by-election

2001 Ipswich by-election

←  June 2001 22 November 2001 2005  →

First party Second party Third party   Candidate Chris Mole Paul West Tessa Munt Party Labour Conservative Liberal Democrats Popular vote 11,881 7,794 6,146 Percentage 43.4% 28.4% 22.4% Swing 8.0 pp 2.1pp 7.2pp

MP before election Jamie Cann Labour Elected MP Chris Mole Labour

The Member of Parliament for Ipswich in Suffolk, Jamie Cann, of the Labour Party died on 15 October 2001.

The by-election was held on 22 November that year, and was the first of six by-elections which took place during the 53rd Parliament (2001–05). It was also the only British parliamentary by-election to take place in 2001.

With Labour still basking in the glow of their landslide general election victory just five months earlier, no opposition party was able to mount an effective challenge. The Liberal Democrats improved their position somewhat but remained in third place, and the Labour candidate Chris Mole was returned with a majority of over 4,000 votes.

The declaration broke with tradition by using live computer images, club music and lasers after the result was announced. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

By-election 22 November 2001: Ipswich ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Chris Mole	11,881	43.4	−8.0
	Conservative	Paul West	7,794	28.4	−2.1
	Liberal Democrats	Tessa Munt	6,146	22.4	+7.2
	CPA	David Coope	581	2.1	New
	UKIP	Jonathan Wright	276	1.0	−0.6
	Green	Tony Slade	255	0.9	New
	Legalise Cannabis	John Ramirez	236	0.9	New
	Socialist Alliance	Peter Leach	152	0.6	−0.2
	English Independence	Nicolas Winskill	84	0.3	New
Majority			4,087	14.9	−5.8
Turnout			27,405	40.2	−16.8
	Labour hold		Swing	-5.9

Previous result

General election 2001: Ipswich

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Jamie Cann	19,952	51.3	−1.4
	Conservative	Edward Wild	11,871	30.5	−0.6
	Liberal Democrats	Terence Gilbert	5,904	15.2	+3.0
	UKIP	William Vinyard	624	1.6	+1.2
	Socialist Alliance	Peter Leach	305	0.8	New
	Socialist Labour	Shaun Gratton	217	0.6	New
Majority			8,081	20.8	−0.8
Turnout			38,873	57.0	−15.2
	Labour hold		Swing	-0.8

See also

• Lists of United Kingdom by-elections

References

1. "Labour victory in Ipswich by-election". BBC News . 23 November 2001. Archived from the original on 15 June 2024. The poll saw election officials break new ground for a parliamentary election count by using live computer images, club music and lasers to make the evening more lively.
2. Donnelly, Rachel (22 November 2001). "Ipswich poll may be eclipsed by soccer fixture". The Irish Times . Archived from the original on 15 June 2024. In total, nine candidates will contest the seat. For the first time at a parliamentary election, count election officials will use live computer images, club music and lasers to enliven the evening.
3. Uploaded by David Boothroyd. Carrie Gracie presents with featured reporters and guests including Laura Trevelyan of BBC News, Andrew Neil of BBC News, Angela Smith (Labour MP for Basildon), Andrew Rosindell (Conservative MP for Romford) and Lord Razzall of the Liberal Democrats. Ipswich byelection result (Video). Event occurs at 28:14. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021 – via www.youtube.com.
4. Boothroyd, David. "Results of Byelections in the 2001-2005 Parliament". United Kingdom Election Results. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2015.

External links

• British Parliamentary By Elections: Campaign literature from the by-election