List of United Kingdom by-elections (1979–2010)

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

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. 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		Cause
Glasgow North East [54 1]	12 November 2009	Michael Martin		Speaker	Willie Bain		Labour	Resignation
Norwich North [54 1]	23 July 2009	Ian Gibson		Labour	Chloe Smith		Conservative	Resignation
Glenrothes [54 2]	6 November 2008	John MacDougall		Labour	Lindsay Roy		Labour	Death (mesothelioma)
Glasgow East [54 3]	24 July 2008	David Marshall		Labour	John Mason		SNP	Resignation due to ill health
Haltemprice and Howden [54 2]	10 July 2008	David Davis		Conservative	David Davis		Conservative	Resigned to recontest
Henley [54 2]	26 June 2008	Boris Johnson		Conservative	John Howell		Conservative	Election as Mayor of London
Crewe and Nantwich [54 1]	22 May 2008	Gwyneth Dunwoody		Labour	Edward Timpson		Conservative	Death (heart attack)
Sedgefield [54 2]	19 July 2007	Tony Blair		Labour	Phil Wilson		Labour	Resignation on appointment as Middle East Envoy
Ealing Southall [54 2]	19 July 2007	Piara Khabra		Labour	Virendra Sharma		Labour	Death (liver problems)
Bromley and Chislehurst [54 2]	29 June 2006	Eric Forth		Conservative	Bob Neill		Conservative	Death (cancer)
Blaenau Gwent [54 4]	29 June 2006	Peter Law		Independent	Dai Davies		Independent	Death (cancer)
Dunfermline and West Fife [54 3]	9 February 2006	Rachel Squire		Labour	Willie Rennie		Liberal Democrats	Death (cancer/stroke)
Livingston [54 2]	29 September 2005	Robin Cook		Labour	Jim Devine [54 5]		Labour	Death (heart disease)
Cheadle [54 2]	14 July 2005	Patsy Calton		Liberal Democrats	Mark Hunter		Liberal Democrats	Death (cancer)

1. Gain retained at the 2010 general election.
2. Hold retained at the 2010 general election.
3. Gain not retained at the 2010 general election.
4. Hold not retained at the 2010 general election.
5. Jim Devine was not allowed to stand at the 2010 general election due to an expenses scandal. Graeme Morrice was elected instead.

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		Cause
Hartlepool [53 1]	30 September 2004	Peter Mandelson		Labour	Iain Wright		Labour	Resignation on appointment as European Commissioner
Birmingham Hodge Hill [53 1]	15 July 2004	Terry Davis		Labour	Liam Byrne		Labour	Resignation on appointment as Secretary-General of the Council of Europe
Leicester South [53 2]	15 July 2004	Jim Marshall		Labour	Parmjit Singh Gill		Liberal Democrats	Death (heart attack)
Brent East [53 3]	18 September 2003	Paul Daisley		Labour	Sarah Teather		Liberal Democrats	Death (cancer)
Ogmore [53 1]	14 February 2002	Sir Raymond Powell		Labour	Huw Irranca-Davies		Labour	Death (unknown; probable asthma attack)
Ipswich [53 1]	22 November 2001	Jamie Cann		Labour	Chris Mole		Labour	Death (liver disease)

1. Hold retained at the 2005 general election.
2. Gain not retained at the 2005 general election.
3. Gain retained at the 2005 general election.

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		Cause
Falkirk West [52 1]	21 December 2000	Dennis Canavan		Labour/ Independent [52 2]	Eric Joyce		Labour	Resignation in order to concentrate on his role as a Member of the Scottish Parliament
West Bromwich West [52 1]	23 November 2000	Betty Boothroyd		Speaker [52 3]	Adrian Bailey		Labour	Life peerage
Preston [52 1]	23 November 2000	Audrey Wise		Labour	Mark Hendrick		Labour	Death (cancer)
Glasgow Anniesland [52 1]	23 November 2000	Donald Dewar		Labour	John Robertson		Labour	Death (Brain haemorrhage after heart surgery)
South Antrim [52 4]	21 September 2000	Clifford Forsythe		UUP	William McCrea		DUP	Death (sudden illness)
Tottenham [52 1]	22 June 2000	Bernie Grant		Labour	David Lammy		Labour	Death (heart attack)
Romsey [52 5]	4 May 2000	Michael Colvin		Conservative	Sandra Gidley		Liberal Democrats	Death (accidental fire)
Ceredigion [52 1]	3 February 2000	Cynog Dafis		Plaid Cymru	Simon Thomas		Plaid Cymru	Resignation following election to the Welsh Assembly
Kensington and Chelsea [52 1]	25 November 1999	Alan Clark		Conservative	Michael Portillo		Conservative	Death (cancer)
Wigan [52 1]	23 September 1999	Roger Stott		Labour	Neil Turner		Labour	Death (long illness)
Hamilton South [52 1]	23 September 1999	George Robertson		Labour	Bill Tynan		Labour	Life peerage upon appointment as Secretary-General of NATO
Eddisbury [52 1]	22 July 1999	Alastair Goodlad		Conservative	Stephen O'Brien		Conservative	Appointment as High Commissioner to Australia
Leeds Central [52 1]	10 June 1999	Derek Fatchett		Labour	Hilary Benn		Labour	Death (heart attack)
Winchester [52 1]	20 November 1997	Mark Oaten		Liberal Democrats	Mark Oaten		Liberal Democrats	Void election
Beckenham [52 1]	20 November 1997	Piers Merchant		Conservative	Jacqui Lait		Conservative	Resignation (scandal)
Paisley South [52 1]	6 November 1997	Gordon McMaster		Labour	Douglas Alexander		Labour	Death (suicide)
Uxbridge [52 1]	31 July 1997	Sir Michael Shersby		Conservative	John Randall		Conservative	Death (heart attack)
Hold retained at the 2001 general election. Dennis Canavan was elected as a Labour MP from Feb 1974 onwards but in 1999 left the party when he was not selected as a Labour candidate for the Scottish Parliament and instead successfully stood as an independent. Betty Boothroyd had originally been elected as a Labour MP. Gain not retained at the 2001 general election. Gain retained at the 2001 general election.

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		Cause
Wirral South	27 February 1997 [51 1]	Barry Porter		Conservative	Ben Chapman		Labour	Death (cancer)
Barnsley East	12 December 1996	Terry Patchett		Labour	Jeff Ennis		Labour	Death (cancer)
South East Staffordshire	11 April 1996 [51 1]	Sir David Lightbown		Conservative	Brian Jenkins		Labour	Death (heart attack)
Hemsworth	1 February 1996	Derek Enright		Labour	Jon Trickett		Labour	Death (cancer)
Littleborough and Saddleworth	27 July 1995 [51 2]	Geoffrey Dickens		Conservative	Chris Davies		Liberal Democrats	Death (long illness)
North Down	15 June 1995 [51 1]	Sir James Kilfedder		UPUP	Robert McCartney		UK Unionist	Death (heart attack)
Perth and Kinross	25 May 1995 [51 1]	Sir Nicholas Fairbairn		Conservative	Roseanna Cunningham		SNP	Death (liver cirrhosis)
Islwyn	16 February 1995	Neil Kinnock		Labour	Don Touhig		Labour	Appointment as European Commissioner
Dudley West	15 December 1994 [51 1]	John Blackburn		Conservative	Ian Pearson		Labour	Death (heart attack)
Monklands East	30 June 1994	John Smith		Labour	Helen Liddell		Labour	Death (heart attack)
Newham North East	9 June 1994	Ron Leighton		Labour	Stephen Timms		Labour	Death
Eastleigh	9 June 1994 [51 1]	Stephen Milligan		Conservative	David Chidgey		Liberal Democrats	Death (auto-erotic asphyxiation)
Dagenham	9 June 1994	Bryan Gould		Labour	Judith Church		Labour	Appointment as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Waikato, New Zealand
Bradford South	9 June 1994	Bob Cryer		Labour	Gerry Sutcliffe		Labour	Death (road accident)
Barking	9 June 1994	Jo Richardson		Labour	Margaret Hodge		Labour	Death (long illness)
Rotherham	5 May 1994	Jimmy Boyce		Labour	Denis MacShane		Labour	Death (heart attack)
Christchurch	29 July 1993 [51 3]	Robert Adley		Conservative	Diana Maddock		Liberal Democrats	Death (heart attack)
Newbury	6 May 1993 [51 1]	Judith Chaplin		Conservative	David Rendel		Liberal Democrats	Death (complications following surgery)
Gain retained at the 1997 general election. Littleborough and Saddleworth was abolished in boundary changes taking effect from 1997. Davies contested the successor seat of Oldham East and Saddleworth for the Liberal Democrats but lost to Labour. Gain not retained at the 1997 general election.

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		Cause
Langbaurgh	7 November 1991 [50 1]	Richard Holt		Conservative	Ashok Kumar		Labour	Death
Kincardine and Deeside	7 November 1991 [50 1]	Alick Buchanan-Smith		Conservative	Nicol Stephen		Liberal Democrats	Death
Hemsworth	7 November 1991	George Buckley		Labour	Derek Enright		Labour	Death
Liverpool Walton	4 July 1991	Eric Heffer		Labour	Peter Kilfoyle		Labour	Death (cancer)
Monmouth	16 May 1991 [50 1]	Sir John Stradling Thomas		Conservative	Huw Edwards		Labour	Death
Neath	4 April 1991	Donald Coleman		Labour	Peter Hain		Labour	Death
Ribble Valley	7 March 1991 [50 1]	David Waddington		Conservative	Michael Carr		Liberal Democrats	Life peerage on appointment as Leader of the House of Lords
Paisley South	29 November 1990	Norman Buchan		Labour	Gordon McMaster		Labour	Death
Paisley North	29 November 1990	Allen Adams		Labour	Irene Adams		Labour	Death (brain haemorrhage)
Bradford North	8 November 1990	Pat Wall		Labour	Terry Rooney		Labour	Death (long illness)
Bootle	8 November 1990	Michael Carr		Labour	Joseph Benton		Labour	Death (heart attack)
Eastbourne	18 October 1990 [50 1]	Ian Gow		Conservative	David Bellotti		Liberal Democrats	Death (terrorism)
Knowsley South	27 September 1990	Sean Hughes		Labour	Edward O'Hara		Labour	Death (cancer)
Bootle	24 May 1990	Allan Roberts		Labour	Michael Carr		Labour	Death (cancer)
Upper Bann	17 May 1990	Harold McCusker		UUP	David Trimble		UUP	Death (cancer)
Mid Staffordshire	22 March 1990 [50 1]	John Heddle		Conservative	Sylvia Heal		Labour	Death (suicide)
Vauxhall	15 June 1989	Stuart Holland		Labour	Kate Hoey		Labour	Appointment to the European University Institute, Florence
Glasgow Central	15 June 1989	Bob McTaggart		Labour	Mike Watson		Labour	Death (heart attack)
Vale of Glamorgan	4 May 1989 [50 1]	Sir Raymond Gower		Conservative	John Smith		Labour	Death
Richmond	23 February 1989	Leon Brittan		Conservative	William Hague		Conservative	Appointment as European Commissioner
Pontypridd	23 February 1989	Brynmor John		Labour	Kim Howells		Labour	Death (chronic fatigue syndrome)
Epping Forest	15 December 1988	Sir John Biggs-Davison		Conservative	Steven Norris		Conservative	Death
Glasgow Govan	10 November 1988 [50 1]	Bruce Millan		Labour	Jim Sillars		SNP	Appointment as European Commissioner
Kensington	14 July 1988	Sir Brandon Rhys Williams, Bt.		Conservative	Dudley Fishburn		Conservative	Death (leukaemia)
Gain not retained at the 1992 general election.

1983–1987 Parliament

There were 31 by-elections in the 1983–1987 Parliament. Nine were in seats held by the governing Conservative party, six by Labour and one by the Liberals. The remaining 15 were in Northern Ireland, involving the province's own political parties. 25 by-elections were won by the incumbent party, including all in Northern Ireland except one. The Conservatives lost five seats; one to Labour, two to the Liberals, and two to the Social Democrats. The Ulster Unionists lost one seat to the Social Democratic and Labour Party. 11 by-elections were the result of the death of the incumbent MP; seven were Conservatives, three Labour and one Liberal.

By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Cause
Truro	12 March 1987	David Penhaligon		Liberal	Matthew Taylor		Liberal	Death (road accident)
Greenwich	26 February 1987 [49 1]	Guy Barnett		Labour	Rosie Barnes		SDP	Death
Knowsley North	13 November 1986	Robert Kilroy-Silk		Labour	George Howarth		Labour	New BBC TV presenter career
Newcastle-under-Lyme	17 July 1986	John Golding		Labour	Llin Golding		Labour	Appointment as General Secretary of the National Communications Union
Ryedale	8 May 1986 [49 2]	John Spence		Conservative	Elizabeth Shields		Liberal	Death
West Derbyshire	8 May 1986	Matthew Parris		Conservative	Patrick McLoughlin		Conservative	Appointment as presenter of LWT programme Weekend World
Fulham	10 April 1986 [49 2]	Martin Stevens		Conservative	Nick Raynsford		Labour	Death
Upper Bann	23 January 1986	Harold McCusker		UUP	Harold McCusker		UUP	Sought re-election in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
Strangford	23 January 1986	John Taylor		UUP	John Taylor		UUP	Sought re-election in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
Newry & Armagh	23 January 1986 [49 1]	James Nicholson		UUP	Seamus Mallon		SDLP	Sought re-election in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
North Antrim	23 January 1986	Ian Paisley		DUP	Ian Paisley		DUP	Sought re-election in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
East Antrim	23 January 1986	Roy Beggs		UUP	Roy Beggs		UUP	Sought re-election in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
South Antrim	23 January 1986	Clifford Forsythe		UUP	Clifford Forsythe		UUP	Sought re-election in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
Belfast North	23 January 1986	Cecil Walker		UUP	Cecil Walker		UUP	Sought re-election in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
Belfast East	23 January 1986	Peter Robinson		DUP	Peter Robinson		DUP	Sought re-election in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
Belfast South	23 January 1986	Martin Smyth		UUP	Martin Smyth		UUP	Sought re-election in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
North Down	23 January 1986	James Kilfedder		UPUP	James Kilfedder		UPUP	Sought re-election in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
South Down	23 January 1986 [49 3]	Enoch Powell		UUP	Enoch Powell		UUP	Sought re-election in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
Fermanagh & South Tyrone	23 January 1986	Ken Maginnis		UUP	Ken Maginnis		UUP	Sought re-election in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
Lagan Valley	23 January 1986	James Molyneaux		UUP	James Molyneaux		UUP	Sought re-election in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
East Londonderry	23 January 1986	William Ross		UUP	William Ross		UUP	Sought re-election in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
Mid Ulster	23 January 1986	William McCrea		DUP	William McCrea		DUP	Sought re-election in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement
Tyne Bridge	5 December 1985	Harry Cowans		Labour	David Clelland		Labour	Death
Brecon and Radnor	4 July 1985 [49 1]	Tom Hooson		Conservative	Richard Livsey		Liberal	Death (heart attack)
Enfield Southgate	13 December 1984	Sir Anthony Berry		Conservative	Michael Portillo		Conservative	Death (terrorism)
Portsmouth South	14 June 1984 [49 2]	Bonner Pink		Conservative	Mike Hancock		SDP	Death
South West Surrey	3 May 1984	Viscount Macmillan of Ovenden		Conservative	Virginia Bottomley		Conservative	Death (heart failure)
Stafford	3 May 1984	Sir Hugh Fraser		Conservative	Bill Cash		Conservative	Death (lung cancer)
Cynon Valley	3 May 1984	Ioan Evans		Labour	Ann Clwyd		Labour	Death
Chesterfield	1 March 1984	Eric Varley		Labour	Tony Benn		Labour	Appointment as Chairman of Coalite PLC
Penrith and the Border	28 July 1983	William Whitelaw		Conservative	David Maclean		Conservative	Hereditary peerage on appointment as Leader of the House of Lords
Gain retained at the 1987 general election. Gain not retained at the 1987 general election. Enoch Powell retained the seat for the Ulster Unionists in the by-election but lost it to the Social Democratic and Labour Party at the 1987 general election.

1979–1983 Parliament

There were 20 by-elections in the 1979–1983 Parliament. Seven were in seats held by the governing Conservative party, ten by Labour, one by the Ulster Unionists and two (in the same seat) by Irish republican parties, who do not take up their seats in the House of Commons. 13 by-elections were won by the incumbent party. The Conservatives lost four seats: one to Labour, one to the Liberals and two to the Social Democrats, and Labour lost two seats: one to the Liberals and one to the Conservatives. Meanwhile, the seat of Fermanagh and South Tyrone was won from the Independent Republican Party by Anti H-Block, a branch of Sinn Féin. 15 by-elections were a result of the death of the incumbent MP; six were Conservatives, six Labour, and the others were the Ulster Unionist Robert Bradford, the Independent Republican Frank Maguire and the Anti H-Block member Bobby Sands (who was in prison).

By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Cause
Darlington	24 March 1983 [48 1]	Edward Fletcher		Labour	Oswald O'Brien		Labour	Death
Bermondsey	24 February 1983 [48 2]	Robert Mellish		Labour/Ind Labour	Simon Hughes		Liberal	Resignation (dispute with party)
Glasgow Queen's Park	2 December 1982	Frank McElhone		Labour	Helen McElhone		Labour	Death
Peckham	28 October 1982	Harry Lamborn		Labour	Harriet Harman		Labour	Death
Birmingham Northfield	28 October 1982 [48 3]	Jocelyn Cadbury		Conservative	John Spellar		Labour	Death (suicide)
Gower	16 September 1982	Ifor Davies		Labour	Gareth Wardell		Labour	Death
Coatbridge and Airdrie	24 June 1982	James Dempsey		Labour	Thomas Clarke		Labour	Death
Mitcham and Morden	3 June 1982 [48 4]	Bruce Douglas-Mann		Labour/Ind SDP	Angela Rumbold		Conservative	Sought re-election upon change of party allegiance
Beaconsfield	27 May 1982	Sir Ronald Bell		Conservative	Tim Smith		Conservative	Death
Glasgow Hillhead	25 March 1982 [48 2]	Sir Thomas Galbraith		Conservative	Roy Jenkins		SDP	Death
Belfast South	4 March 1982	Robert Bradford		UUP	Martin Smyth		UUP	Death (killed by IRA)
Crosby	26 November 1981 [48 3]	Sir Graham Page		Conservative	Shirley Williams		SDP	Death
Croydon North West	22 October 1981 [48 3]	Robert Taylor		Conservative	Bill Pitt		Liberal	Death
Fermanagh & South Tyrone	20 August 1981 [48 5]	Bobby Sands		Anti H-Block	Owen Carron		Anti H-Block	Death (hunger strike)
Warrington	16 July 1981	Sir Thomas Williams		Labour	Douglas Hoyle		Labour	Appointment as High Court judge
Fermanagh & South Tyrone	9 April 1981 [48 5]	Frank Maguire		Ind. Republican	Bobby Sands		Anti H-Block	Death
Glasgow Central	26 June 1980	Thomas McMillan		Labour	Bob McTaggart		Labour	Death (fall)
Southend East	13 March 1980 [48 2]	Sir Stephen McAdden		Conservative	Teddy Taylor		Conservative	Death (fall)
South West Hertfordshire	13 December 1979	Geoffrey Dodsworth		Conservative	Richard Page		Conservative	Resignation on medical advice
Manchester Central	27 September 1979	Harold Lever		Labour	Robert Litherland		Labour	Life peerage
Oswald O'Brien retained the seat for Labour in the by-election but lost it to the Conservatives in the 1983 general election only 11 weeks later. Gain retained at the 1983 general election. Gain not retained at the 1983 general election. Mitcham and Morden was the last time an incumbent government gained a seat from the opposition in a by-election until the Copeland by-election on 23 February 2017. Following Sands' death, Owen Carron retained the seat for Anti H-Block in the second by-election and defended it as Sinn Féin in the 1983 general election but lost to the Ulster Unionists.

See also

• List of United Kingdom by-elections (2010–present)
• List of United Kingdom by-elections (1950–1979)
• United Kingdom by-election records

Sources

• United Kingdom Election Results (David Boothroyd)
• United Kingdom Elections (Keele University)
• British Parliamentary By-Elections since 1945
• List of MPs since 1660 ^[usurped]
• F. W. S. Craig (1984). British parliamentary election results, 1974–1983. Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN   0-900178-23-X.
• F. W. S. Craig, British Parliamentary Election Statistics 1832–1987
• F. W. S. Craig (1987). Chronology of British by-elections, 1832–1987. Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN   0-900178-31-0.