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This is a '''list of UK [[by-election]]s''', with the names of the incumbent and victor and their respective parties. Where seats changed [[political party]] at the election, the result is highlighted: red for a [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] gain, blue for a [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] gain, yellow for a [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]], [[Social Democratic Party (UK)|SDP]] or [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] gain, orange for a [[Scottish National Party|SNP]] gain, green for a [[Plaid Cymru]] gain and grey for any other gain.
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2013}}
There were 131 [[UK parliamentary by-elections|parliamentary by-elections in the United Kingdom]] between the [[1979 United Kingdom general election|1979]] and [[2010 United Kingdom general election|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 Party (UK)|Conservative]] gain, red for a [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] gain, yellow for an [[Scottish National Party|SNP]] gain, orange for a [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]], [[Social Democratic Party (UK)|Social Democratic Party]] or [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] gain and other colours for other gains.
 
==Resignations==
{{main|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 [[List of stewards of the Chiltern Hundreds|Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds]] or the [[List of stewards of the Manor of Northstead|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==
 
{| class="wikitable"
===2005–2010 Parliament===
There were 14 by-elections in the [[List of MPs elected in the 2005 United Kingdom general election|2005–2010 Parliament]]. Eight were in seats held by the governing [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour party]], three by the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]], one by the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]], one by an [[Independent politician|independent]] and one by the [[Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)|speaker]]. Eight by-elections were won by the incumbent party, including in [[Haltemprice and Howden (UK Parliament constituency)|Haltemprice and Howden]] where Conservative [[David Davis (British politician)|David Davis]] resigned to recontest his seat. Meanwhile, [[Blaenau Gwent (UK Parliament constituency)|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 [[Scottish National Party|SNP]]. The speaker's seat was regained by Labour, the party speaker [[Michael Martin, Baron Martin of Springburn|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 (UK Parliament constituency)|North West Leicestershire]] and [[Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland (UK Parliament constituency)|Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland]], caused by the death of their respective Labour members [[David Taylor (North West Leicestershire MP)|David Taylor]] and [[Ashok Kumar (British politician)|Ashok Kumar]]; and [[Strangford (UK Parliament constituency)|Strangford]] caused by the resignation of the [[Democratic Unionist Party|DUP's]] [[Iris Robinson]]. With the close proximity of the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|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]].
 
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!! scope="col" style="width: 150px;" | By-election
|colspan=9 |
!! scope="col" style="width: 150px;" | Date
===[[MPs elected in the UK general election, 2005|54th Parliament]] (2005 - )===
!! scope="col" style="width: 120px;" | Incumbent
!! scope="col" style="width: 50px;" colspan=2 | Party
!! scope="col" style="width: 120px;" | Winner
!! scope="col" style="width: 50px;" colspan=2 | Party
!! scope="col" style="width: 500px;" | Cause
|-
|- bgcolor=pink
!By-election !! Date !! Incumbent !! colspan=2 | Party !! Winner !! colspan=2 | Party !! Cause
|[[2009 Glasgow North East by-election|Glasgow North East]]<ref group=54 name=yes>Gain retained at the 2010 general election.</ref>
|12 November 2009
|[[Michael Martin, Baron Martin of Springburn|Michael Martin]]
| {{Party name with colour|Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)}}
|[[Willie Bain]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Resignation
|- bgcolor=lightblue
|[[2009 Norwich North by-election|Norwich North]]<ref group=54 name=yes />
|23 July 2009
|[[Ian Gibson (politician)|Ian Gibson]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Chloe Smith]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|Resignation
|-
|[[2008 Glenrothes by-election|Glenrothes]]<ref group=54 name=yes2>Hold retained at the 2010 general election.</ref>
|[[Bromley and Chislehurst by-election, 2006|Bromley and Chislehurst]]
|6 November 2008
|[[29 June]] [[2006]]
|[[John MacDougall (British politician)|John MacDougall]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Lindsay Roy]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death ([[mesothelioma]])
|- bgcolor=FFFF66
|[[2008 Glasgow East by-election|Glasgow East]]<ref group=54 name=no>Gain not retained at the 2010 general election.</ref>
|24 July 2008
|[[David Marshall (British politician)|David Marshall]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[John Mason (Scottish politician)|John Mason]]
| {{Party name with colour|Scottish National Party}}
| Resignation due to ill health
|-
|[[2008 Haltemprice and Howden by-election|Haltemprice and Howden]]<ref group=54 name=yes2 />
|10 July 2008
|[[David Davis (British politician)|David Davis]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[David Davis (British politician)|David Davis]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[David Davis 2008 by-election campaign|Resigned to recontest]]
|-
|[[2008 Henley by-election|Henley]]<ref group=54 name=yes2 />
|26 June 2008
|[[Boris Johnson]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[John Howell (politician)|John Howell]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|Election as [[Mayor of London]]
|-
|- bgcolor=lightblue
|[[2008 Crewe and Nantwich by-election|Crewe and Nantwich]]<ref group=54 name=yes />
|22 May 2008
|[[Gwyneth Dunwoody]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Edward Timpson]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|Death (heart attack)
|-
|[[2007 Sedgefield by-election|Sedgefield]]<ref group=54 name=yes2 />
|19 July 2007
|[[Tony Blair]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Phil Wilson, Baron Wilson of Sedgefield|Phil Wilson]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Resignation on appointment as Middle East Envoy
|-
|[[2007 Ealing Southall by-election|Ealing Southall]]<ref group=54 name=yes2 />
|19 July 2007
|[[Piara Khabra]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Virendra Sharma]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death (liver problems)
|-
|[[2006 Bromley and Chislehurst by-election|Bromley and Chislehurst]]<ref group=54 name=yes2 />
|29 June 2006
|[[Eric Forth]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Bob Neill]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|Death (cancer)
|-
|[[2006 Blaenau Gwent by-elections, 2006|Blaenau Gwent]]<ref group=54 name=no2>Hold not retained at the 2010 general election.</ref>
|29 June 2006
|[[Peter Law]]
| {{Party name with colour|Independent (politician)}}
|[[Dai Davies (politician)|Dai Davies]]
| {{Party name with colour|Independent (politician)}}
|Death (cancer)
|-
|- bgcolor=yellowffcc66
|[[2006 Dunfermline and West Fife by-election, 2006|Dunfermline and West Fife]]<ref group=54 name=no />
|[[February 9]] February 2006
|[[Rachel Squire]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Willie Rennie]]
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}
|Death (cancer/stroke)
|-
|[[2005 Livingston by-election, 2005|Livingston]]<ref group=54 name=yes2 />
|[[29 September]] [[2005]]
|[[Robin Cook]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Jim Devine]]<ref group=54>Jim Devine was not allowed to stand at the 2010 general election due to an expenses scandal. [[Graeme Morrice]] was elected instead.</ref>
|[[Jim Devine]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death (heart disease)
|-
|[[2005 Cheadle by-election, 2005|Cheadle]]<ref group=54 name=yes2 />
|[[14 July]] 2005
|[[Patsy Calton]]
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}
|[[Mark Hunter (politician)|Mark Hunter]]
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}
|Death (cancer)
|}
{{reflist|group=54}}
 
===2001–2005 Parliament===
{| class="wikitable"
There were six by-elections in the [[List of MPs elected in the 2001 United Kingdom general election|2001–2005 Parliament]]. Each were in seats held by the governing [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour party]], four of which were held and two won by the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]]. Four by-elections were a result of the death of the incumbent MP.
 
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!! scope="col" style="width: 150px;" | By-election
|colspan=9 |
!! scope="col" style="width: 150px;" | Date
===[[MPs elected in the UK general election, 2001|53rd Parliament]] (2001 - 2005)===
!! scope="col" style="width: 120px;" | Incumbent
!! scope="col" style="width: 50px;" colspan=2 | Party
!! scope="col" style="width: 120px;" | Winner
!! scope="col" style="width: 50px;" colspan=2 | Party
!! scope="col" style="width: 500px;" | Cause
|-
|[[2004 Hartlepool by-election|Hartlepool]]<ref group=53 name=yes2>Hold retained at the 2005 general election.</ref>
!By-election !! Date !! Incumbent !! colspan=2 | Party !! Winner !! colspan=2 | Party !! Cause
|30 September 2004
|-
|[[Hartlepool by-election, 2004|Hartlepool]]
|[[30 September]] [[2004]]
|[[Peter Mandelson]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Iain Wright]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|AppointmentResignation on appointment as European Commissioner
|-
|[[2004 Birmingham Hodge Hill by-election, 2004|Birmingham Hodge Hill]]<ref group=53 name=yes2/>
|[[15 July]] 2004
|[[Terry Davis (MP)|Terry Davis]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Liam Byrne]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|AppointmentResignation on appointment as Secretary-General of the [[Council of Europe]]
|- bgcolor=yellowffcc66
|[[2004 Leicester South by-election, 2004|Leicester South]] <supref group=53 name=no>1Gain not retained at the 2005 general election.</supref>
|[[15 July]] 2004
|[[Jim Marshall (UKBritish politician)|Jim Marshall]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Parmjit Singh Gill]]
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}
|Death (heart attack)
|- bgcolor=yellowffcc66
|[[2003 Brent East by-election, 2003|Brent East]] <supref group=53 name=yes>2Gain retained at the 2005 general election.</supref>
|[[18 June]]September [[2003]]
|[[Paul Daisley]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Sarah Teather]]
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}
|Death (cancer)
|-
|[[2002 Ogmore by-election, 2002|Ogmore]]<ref group=53 name=yes2/>
|[[14 February]] [[2002]]
|Sir [[Ray Powell (British politician)|Raymond Powell]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Huw Irranca-Davies]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death (unknown; probable asthma attack?)
|-
|[[2001 Ipswich by-election, 2001|Ipswich]]<ref group=53 name=yes2/>
|[[1522 October]]November [[2001]]
|[[Jamie Cann]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Chris Mole]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death ("seriousliver illness"disease)
|-}
{{reflist|group=53}}
|colspan=9 |
 
===1997–2001 Parliament===
* <sup>1</sup> Gain not retained at the [[2005 UK general election]].
There were 17 by-elections in the [[List of MPs elected in the 1997 United Kingdom general election|1997–2001 Parliament]]. Eight were in seats held by the governing [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour party]], five by the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]], one by the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]], one by [[Plaid Cymru]], one by the [[Ulster Unionist Party]] and one by the [[Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)|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 (UK Parliament constituency)|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]].
* <sup>2</sup> Gain retained at the 2005 UK general election.
 
{| class="wikitable"
===[[MPs elected in the UK general election, 1997|52nd Parliament]] (1997 - 2001)===
|-
!By-election !! Date !! Incumbent !! colspan=2 | Party !! Winner !! colspan=2 | Party !! Cause
|-
|[[2000 Falkirk West by-election, 2000|Falkirk West]]<ref group=52 name=yes2>Hold retained at the 2001 general election.</ref>
|[[21 November]]December [[2000]]
|[[Dennis Canavan]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}/ [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]<ref group=52>[[Dennis Canavan]] was elected as a [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] MP from [[February 1974 United Kingdom general election|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.</ref>
{{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}/Independent <sup>1</sup>
|[[Eric Joyce]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|ResignedResignation followingin electionorder to theconcentrate on his role as a [[Member of the Scottish Parliament]]
|-bgcolor=pink
|-
|[[2000 West Bromwich West by-election, 2000|West Bromwich West]]<ref group=52 name=yes2/>
|23 November 2000
|[[23 November]] [[Betty Boothroyd]]
| {{Party name with colour|Speaker of the British House of Commons (United Kingdom)}}<ref group=52>Betty Boothroyd had originally been elected as a Labour MP.</ref>
|[[Adrian Bailey]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Life Peeragepeerage]]
|-
|[[2000 Preston by-election, 2000|Preston]]<ref group=52 name=yes2/>
|[[23 November]] 2000
|[[Audrey Wise]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Mark Hendrick]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death (cancer)
|-
|[[2000 Glasgow Anniesland by-election, 2000|Glasgow Anniesland]]<ref group=52 name=yes2/>
|[[23 November]] 2000
|[[Donald Dewar]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[John Robertson (UKGlasgow politician)|John Robertson]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death (brainBrain hemorrhagehaemorrhage after heart surgery)
|- bgcolor="#c0c0c0F5977E"
|[[2000 South Antrim by-election, 2000|South Antrim]]<ref group=52 name=no>Gain not retained at the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 general election]].</ref>
|[[21 September]] 2000<sup>2</sup>
|[[Clifford Forsythe]]
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|[[William McCrea, (politician)Baron McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown|William McCrea]]
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|Death (sudden illness)
|-
|[[2000 Tottenham by-election, 2000|Tottenham]]<ref group=52 name=yes2/>
|[[22 June]] 2000
|[[Bernie Grant]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[David Lammy]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death (heart attack)
|- bgcolor=yellowffcc66
|[[2000 Romsey by-election, 2000|Romsey]]<ref group=52 name=yes>Gain retained at the 2001 general election.</ref>
|[[4 May]] 2000<sup>3</sup>
|[[Michael Colvin]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Sandra Gidley]]
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}
|Death (accidental fire)
|-
|[[2000 Ceredigion by-election, 2000|Ceredigion]]<ref group=52 name=yes2/>
|[[3 February]] 2000
|[[Cynog Dafis]]
| {{Party name with colour|Plaid Cymru}}
|[[Simon Thomas (politician)|Simon Thomas]]
| {{Party name with colour|Plaid Cymru}}
|ResignedResignation following election to the [[Welsh Assembly]]
|-
|[[1999 Kensington and Chelsea by-election, 1999|Kensington and Chelsea]]<ref group=52 name=yes2/>
|[[25 November]] [[1999]]
|[[Alan Clark]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Michael Portillo]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|Death (cancer)
|-
|[[1999 Wigan by-election, 1999|Wigan]]<ref group=52 name=yes2/>
|[[23 September]] 1999
|[[Roger Stott]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Neil Turner (British politician)|Neil Turner]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death (long illness)
|-
|[[1999 Hamilton South by-election, 1999|Hamilton South]]<ref group=52 name=yes2/>
|[[2423 August]]September 1999
|[[George Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen | George Robertson]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Bill Tynan]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Life Peeragepeerage]] upon appointment as Secretary-General of NATO
|-
|[[1999 Eddisbury by-election, 1999|Eddisbury]]<ref group=52 name=yes2/>
|[[22 July]] 1999
|[[Alastair Goodlad]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Stephen O'Brien]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|Appointment as High Commissioner to Australia
|-
|[[1999 Leeds Central by-election, 1999|Leeds Central]]<ref group=52 name=yes2/>
|[[10 June]] 1999
|[[Derek Fatchett]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Hilary Benn]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death (heart attack)
|-
|[[1997 Winchester by-election, 1997|Winchester]]<ref group=52 name=yes2/>
|[[20 November]] [[1997]]
|[[Mark Oaten]]
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}
|[[Mark Oaten]]
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}
|Void election
|-
|[[1997 Beckenham by-election, 1997|Beckenham]]<ref group=52 name=yes2/>
|[[20 November]] 1997
|[[Piers Merchant]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Jacqui Lait]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|Resignation (Scandalscandal)
|-
|[[1997 Paisley South by-election, 1997|Paisley South]]<ref group=52 name=yes2/>
|[[6 November]] 1997
|[[Gordon McMaster]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Douglas Alexander]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death (suicide)
|-
|[[1997 Uxbridge by-election, 1997|Uxbridge]]<ref group=52 name=yes2/>
|[[31 July]] 1997
|Sir [[Michael Shersby]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[John Randall (UK politician)|John Randall]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|Death (heart attack)
|-
|colspan=109|
{{reflist|group=52}}
|}
 
===1992–1997 Parliament===
* <sup>1</sup> [[Dennis Canavan]] was elected as a [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] MP from [[United Kingdom general election, 1974 (February)|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.
There were 18 by-elections in the [[List of MPs elected in the 1992 United Kingdom general election|1992–1997 Parliament]]. Eight were in seats held by the governing [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative party]], nine by [[Labour Party (UK)|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 (UK)|Liberal Democrats]], three to Labour and one to the [[Scottish National Party|SNP]]. The [[UK Unionist Party]] gained [[North Down (UK Parliament constituency)|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 (UK Parliament constituency)|Meriden]], caused by the death of its Conservative member [[Iain Mills]], and [[Don Valley (UK Parliament constituency)|Don Valley]], caused by the death of its Labour member [[Martin Redmond]]. With the close proximity of the [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997 general election]], by-elections were not held in these seats. They were held by [[Caroline Spelman]] and [[Caroline Flint]] respectively.
*<sup>2</sup> Gain not retained at the [[2001 UK general election]].
 
{| class="wikitable"
*<sup>3</sup> Gain retained at the 2001 UK general election.
 
===[[MPs elected in the UK general election, 1992|51st Parliament]] (1992 - 1997)===
|-
!By-election !! YearDate !! Incumbent !! colspan=2 | Party !! Winner !! colspan=2 | Party !! Cause !! Retained
|- bgcolor=pink
|[[1997 Wirral South by-election, 1997|Wirral South]]
|27 February 1997<ref group=51 name=yes>Gain retained at the [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997 general election]].</ref>
|[[1997]]
|[[Barry Porter]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Ben Chapman (politician)|Ben Chapman]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death (cancer)
|Yes
|-
|[[1996 Barnsley East by-election, 1996|Barnsley East]]
|[[12 December 1996]]
|[[Terry Patchett]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Jeff Ennis]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death (cancer)
|- bgcolor=pink
|[[1996 South East Staffordshire by-election, 1996|South East Staffordshire]]
|11 April 1996<ref group=51 name=yes />
|1996
|Sir [[David Lightbown]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Brian Jenkins (politician)|Brian Jenkins]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death (heart attack)
|Yes
|-
|[[1996 Hemsworth by-election, 1996|Hemsworth]]
|1 February 1996
|[[Derek Enright]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Jon Trickett]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death (cancer)
|- bgcolor=yellowffcc66
|[[1995 Littleborough and Saddleworth by-election, 1995|Littleborough and Saddleworth]]
|27 July 1995<ref group=51>[[Littleborough and Saddleworth (UK Parliament constituency)|Littleborough and Saddleworth]] was abolished in boundary changes taking effect from 1997. Davies contested the successor seat of [[Oldham East and Saddleworth (UK Parliament constituency)|Oldham East and Saddleworth]] for the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] but lost to [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]].</ref>
|[[1995]]
|[[Geoffrey Dickens]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Chris Davies (Liberal Democrat politician)|Chris Davies]]
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}
|Death (long illness)
|- bgcolor="plum"
|Seat abolished <sup>1</sup>
|[[1995 North Down by-election|North Down]]
|- bgcolor="#c0c0c0"
|15 June 1995<ref group=51 name=yes />
|[[North Down by-election, 1995|North Down]]
|1995
|Sir [[James Kilfedder]]
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Popular Unionist Party}}
|[[Robert McCartney (Northern Irish politician)|Robert McCartney]]
| {{Party name with colour|UK Unionist Party}}
|Death (heart attack)
|- bgcolor=FFFF66
|Yes
|[[1995 Perth and Kinross by-election|Perth and Kinross]]
|- bgcolor=orange
|25 May 1995<ref group=51 name=yes />
|[[Perth and Kinross by-election, 1995|Perth and Kinross]]
|1995
|Sir [[Nicholas Fairbairn]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Roseanna Cunningham]]
| {{Party name with colour|Scottish National Party}}
|Death (liver cirrhosis)
|Yes
|-
|[[1995 Islwyn by-election, 1995|Islwyn]]
|16 February 1995
|[[Neil Kinnock]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Don Touhig]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Appointment as European Commissioner
|- bgcolor=pink
|[[1994 Dudley West by-election, 1994|Dudley West]]
|15 December 1994<ref group=51 name=yes />
|[[1994]]
|[[John Blackburn (politician)|John Blackburn]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Ian Pearson]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death (heart attack)
|Yes
|-
|[[1994 Monklands East by-election, 1994|Monklands East]]
|30 June 1994
|[[John Smith (UKLabour politicianParty leader)|John Smith]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Helen Liddell]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death (heart attack)
|-
|[[1994 Newham North East by-election, 1994|Newham North East]]
|9 June 1994
|[[Ron Leighton]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Stephen Timms]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death
|- bgcolor=yellow ffcc66
|[[1994 Eastleigh by-election, 1994|Eastleigh]]
|9 June 1994<ref group=51 name=yes />
|1994
|[[Stephen Milligan]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[David Chidgey, Baron Chidgey|David Chidgey]]
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}
|Death (misadventureauto-erotic asphyxiation)
|Yes
|-
|[[1994 Dagenham by-election, 1994|Dagenham]]
|9 June 1994
|[[Bryan Gould]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Judith Church]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Appointment as Vice-Chancellor of the [[University of Waikato]], [[New Zealand]]
|-
|[[1994 Bradford South by-election, 1994|Bradford South]]
|9 June 1994
|[[Bob Cryer]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Gerry Sutcliffe]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death (road accident)
|-
|[[1994 Barking by-election, 1994|Barking]]
|9 June 1994
|[[Jo Richardson]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Margaret Hodge]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death (long illness)
|-
|[[1994 Rotherham by-election, 1994|Rotherham]]
|5 May 1994
|[[Jimmy Boyce]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Denis MacShane]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death (heart attack)
|- bgcolor=yellow ffcc66
|[[1993 Christchurch by-election, 1993|Christchurch]]
|29 July 1993<ref group=51 name=no>Gain not retained at the 1997 general election.</ref>
|[[1993]]
|Sir [[Robert Adley]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Diana Maddock]]
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}
|Death (heart attack)
|- bgcolor=ffcc66
|No
|[[1993 Newbury by-election|Newbury]]
|- bgcolor=yellow
|6 May 1993<ref group=51 name=yes />
|[[Newbury by-election, 1993|Newbury]]
|1993
|[[Judith Chaplin]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[David Rendel]]
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}
|Death (complications following surgery)
|Death
|Yes
|-
|colspan=109|
{{reflist|group=51}}
|}
 
===1987–1992 Parliament===
* &sup1; - [[Littleborough and Saddleworth (UK Parliament constituency)|Littleborough and Saddleworth]] was abolished in boundary changes taking effect from 1997. Davies contested the successor seat of [[Oldham East and Saddleworth (UK Parliament constituency)|Oldham East and Saddleworth]] for the [[Liberal Democrats]] but lost to [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]].
There were 24 by-elections in the [[List of MPs elected in the 1987 United Kingdom general election|1987–1992 Parliament]]. Ten were in seats held by the governing [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative party]], 13 by [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] and one by the [[Ulster Unionist Party]]. 16 by-elections were won by the incumbent party. Labour lost one seat to the [[Scottish National Party|SNP]], and the Conservatives lost seven seats; four to Labour and three to the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|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]].
 
{| class="wikitable"
===[[MPs elected in the UK general election, 1987|50th Parliament]] (1987 - 1992)===
|-
!By-election !! YearDate !! Incumbent !! colspan=2 | Party !! Winner !! colspan=2 | Party !! Cause !! Retained
|- bgcolor=pink
|[[1991 Langbaurgh by-election, 1991|Langbaurgh]]
|7 November 1991<ref group=50 name="no">Gain not retained at the [[1992 United Kingdom general election|1992 general election]].</ref>
|[[1991]]
|[[Richard Holt (MP for Langbaurgh)|Richard Holt]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Ashok Kumar (UK politician)|Ashok Kumar]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death
|- bgcolor=ffcc66
|No
|[[1991 Kincardine and Deeside by-election|Kincardine and Deeside]]
|- bgcolor=yellow
|7 November 1991<ref group=50 name="no" />
|[[Kincardine and Deeside by-election, 1991|Kincardine and Deeside]]
|[[Alick Buchanan-Smith (politician)|Alick Buchanan-Smith]]
|1991
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|Sir [[Alick Buchanan-Smith]]
{{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Nicol Stephen]]
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}
|Death
|No
|-
|[[1991 Hemsworth by-election, 1991|Hemsworth]]
|7 November 1991
|[[George Buckley (British politician)|George Buckley]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Derek Enright]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death
|-
|[[1991 Liverpool Walton by-election, 1991|Liverpool Walton]]
|4 July 1991
|[[Eric Heffer]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Peter Kilfoyle]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death (cancer)
|- bgcolor=pink
|[[1991 Monmouth by-election, 1991|Monmouth]]
|16 May 1991<ref group=50 name="no" />
|1991
|Sir [[John Stradling Thomas]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Huw Edwards (politician)|Huw Edwards]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death
|No
|-
|[[1991 Neath by-election, 1991|Neath]]
|4 April 1991
|[[Donald Coleman]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Peter Hain]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death
|- bgcolor=yellowffcc66
|[[1991 Ribble Valley by-election, 1991|Ribble Valley]]
|7 March 1991<ref group=50 name="no" />
|1991
|[[David Waddington, Baron Waddington|David Waddington]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Michael Carr (Lib Dem politician)|Michael Carr]]
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}
|[[Life Peeragepeerage]] on appointment as [[Leader of the House of Lords]]
|No
|-
|[[1990 Paisley South by-election, 1990|Paisley South]]
|[[29 November 1990]]
|[[Norman Buchan]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Gordon McMaster]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death
|-
|[[1990 Paisley North by-election, 1990|Paisley North]]
|29 November 1990
|[[Allen Adams]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Irene Adams, Baroness Adams of Craigielea|Irene Adams]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death (brain haemorrhage)
|-
|[[1990 Bradford North by-election, 1990|Bradford North]]
|8 November 1990
|[[Pat Wall]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Terry Rooney (politician)|Terry Rooney]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death (long illness)
|-
|[[1990 Bootle by-election, November 1990elections|Bootle]] (Nov)
|8 November 1990
|[[Michael Carr (Labour politician)|MikeMichael Carr]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Joseph Benton]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death (heart attack)
|- bgcolor=yellowffcc66
|[[1990 Eastbourne by-election, 1990|Eastbourne]]
|18 October 1990<ref group=50 name="no" />
|1990
|[[Ian Gow]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[David Bellotti]]
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}
|Death (killed by IRAterrorism)
|No
|-
|[[1990 Knowsley South by-election, 1990|Knowsley South]]
|27 September 1990
|[[Sean Hughes (politician)|Sean Hughes]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Eddie O'Hara (politician)|Edward O'Hara]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death (cancer)
|-
|[[1990 Bootle by-election, May 1990elections|Bootle]] (May)
|24 May 1990
|[[Allan Roberts (politician)|Allan Roberts]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Michael Carr (Labour politician)|Michael Carr]]
|[[Mike Carr]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death (cancer)
|-
|[[1990 Upper Bann by-election, 1990|Upper Bann]]
|17 May 1990
|[[Harold McCusker]]
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|[[David Trimble]]
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|Death (cancer)
|Yes
|- bgcolor=pink
|[[1990 Mid Staffordshire by-election, 1990|Mid Staffordshire]]
|22 March 1990<ref group=50 name="no" />
|1990
|[[John Heddle]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Sylvia Heal]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death (suicide)
|No
|-
|[[1989 Vauxhall by-election, 1989|Vauxhall]]
|[[15 June 1989]]
|[[Stuart Holland]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Kate Hoey]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Appointment to the European University Institute, Florence
|-
|[[1989 Glasgow Central by-election, 1989|Glasgow Central]]
|15 June 1989
|[[RobertBob McTaggart]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[MichaelMike Watson, Baron Watson of Invergowrie|Mike Watson]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death (heart attack)
|- bgcolor=pink
|[[1989 Vale of Glamorgan by-election, 1989|Vale of Glamorgan]]
|4 May 1989<ref group=50 name="no" />
|1989
|Sir [[Raymond Gower]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[John Smith (Welsh politician)|John Smith]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death
|No
|-
|[[1989 Richmond (Yorks) by-election, 1989|Richmond]]
|23 February 1989
|[[Leon Brittan]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[William Hague]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|Appointment as European Commissioner
|-
|[[1989 Pontypridd by-election, 1989|Pontypridd]]
|23 February 1989
|[[Brynmor John]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Kim Howells]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death (chronic fatigue syndrome)
|Death
|-
|[[1988 Epping Forest by-election, 1988|Epping Forest]]
|15 December 1988
|Sir [[John Biggs-Davison]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Steven Norris]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|Death
|- bgcolor=orangeFFFF66
|[[1988 Glasgow Govan by-election, 1988|Glasgow Govan]]
|10 November 1988<ref group=50 name="no" />
|[[1988]]
|[[Bruce Millan]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Jim Sillars]]
| {{Party name with colour|Scottish National Party}}
|Appointment toas European CommissionCommissioner
|No
|-
|[[1988 Kensington by-election, 1988|Kensington]]
|14 July 1988
|Sir [[Brandon Rhys -Williams]], Bt.
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Dudley Fishburn]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|Death (leukaemia)
|-
| colspan=109 |
{{reflist|group=50}}
|}
 
===[[MPs elected in the UK general election, 1983|49th1983–1987 Parliament]] (1983 - 1987)===
There were 31 by-elections in the [[List of MPs elected in the 1983 United Kingdom general election|1983–1987 Parliament]]. Nine were in seats held by the governing [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative party]], six by [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] and one by the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberals]]. The remaining 15 were in [[1986 Northern Ireland by-elections|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 Democratic Party (UK)|Social Democrats]]. The [[Ulster Unionist Party|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.
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!By-election !! YearDate !! Incumbent !! colspan=2 | Party !! Winner !! colspan=2 | Party !! Cause !! Retained
|-
|[[1987 Truro by-election, 1987|Truro]]
|[[12 March 1987]]
|[[David Penhaligon]]
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Party (UK)}}
|[[Matthew Taylor, (politician)Baron Taylor of Goss Moor|Matthew Taylor]]
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Party (UK)}}
|Death (road accident)
|- bgcolor=yellowffcc66
|[[1987 Greenwich by-election, 1987|Greenwich]]
|26 February 1987<ref group=49 name=yes>Gain retained at the [[1987 United Kingdom general election|1987 general election]].</ref>
|1987
|[[Guy Barnett (UKBritish politician)|Guy Barnett]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Rosie Barnes]]
| {{Party name with colour|Social Democratic Party (UK)}}
|Death
|Yes
|-
|[[1986 Knowsley North by-election, 1986|Knowsley North]]
|[[13 November 1986]]
|[[Robert Kilroy-Silk]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[George Howarth]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|New BBC TV presenter career
|-
|[[1986 Newcastle-under-Lyme by-election, 1986|Newcastle-under-Lyme]]
|17 July 1986
|[[John Golding (British politician)|John Golding]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[LlinosLlin Golding, Baroness Golding|Llin Golding]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Appointment as General Secretary of the [[National Communications Union]]
|- bgcolor=yellowffcc66
|[[1986 Ryedale by-election, 1986|Ryedale]]
|8 May 1986<ref group=49 name=no>Gain not retained at the 1987 general election.</ref>
|1986
|[[John Spence (politician)|John Spence]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Elizabeth Shields]]
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Party (UK)}}
|Death
|No-
|[[1986 West Derbyshire by-election|West Derbyshire]]
|-
|8 May 1986
|[[West Derbyshire by-election, 1986|West Derbyshire]]
|1986
|[[Matthew Parris]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Patrick McLoughlin]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|Appointment as presenter of LWT programprogramme ''[[Weekend World]]''
|- bgcolor=pink
|[[1986 Fulham by-election, 1986|Fulham]]
|10 April 1986<ref group=49 name=no />
|1986
|[[Martin Stevens (politician)|Martin Stevens]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Nick Raynsford]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death
|No
|-
|[[1986 Upper Bann by-election, 1986|Upper Bann]]
|23 January 1986
|[[Harold McCusker]]
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|[[Harold McCusker]]
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|SeeksSought re-election in opposition to the [[Anglo-Irish Agreement]]
|Yes
|-
|[[1986 Strangford by-election, 1986|Strangford]]
|23 January 1986
|[[John Taylor, Baron Kilclooney|John Taylor]]
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|[[John Taylor, Baron Kilclooney|John Taylor]]
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|SeeksSought re-election in opposition to the [[Anglo-Irish Agreement]]
|Yes
|-
|- bgcolor="#c0c0c0CEF2E0"
|[[1986 Newry & Armagh by-election, 1986|Newry & Armagh]]
|23 January 1986<ref group=49 name=yes />
|1986
|[[Jim Nicholson (Northern Ireland politician)|James Nicholson]]
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|[[Seamus Mallon]]
| {{Party name with colour|Social Democratic and Labour Party}}
|SeeksSought re-election in opposition to the [[Anglo-Irish Agreement]]
|Yes
|-
|[[1986 North Antrim by-election, 1986|North Antrim]]
|23 January 1986
|[[Ian Paisley]]
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|[[Ian Paisley]]
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|SeeksSought re-election in opposition to the [[Anglo-Irish Agreement]]
|Yes
|-
|[[1986 East Antrim by-election, 1986|East Antrim]]
|23 January 1986
|[[Roy Beggs]]
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|[[Roy Beggs]]
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|SeeksSought re-election in opposition to the [[Anglo-Irish Agreement]]
|Yes
|-
|[[1986 South Antrim by-election, 1986|South Antrim]]
|23 January 1986
|[[Clifford Forsythe]]
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|[[Clifford Forsythe]]
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|SeeksSought re-election in opposition to the [[Anglo-Irish Agreement]]
|Yes
|-
|[[1986 Belfast North by-election, 1986|Belfast North]]
|23 January 1986
|[[Cecil Walker]]
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|[[Cecil Walker]]
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|SeeksSought re-election in opposition to the [[Anglo-Irish Agreement]]
|Yes
|-
|[[1986 Belfast East by-election, 1986|Belfast East]]
|23 January 1986
|[[Peter Robinson (Northern Ireland politician)|Peter Robinson]]
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|[[Peter Robinson (Northern Ireland politician)|Peter Robinson]]
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|SeeksSought re-election in opposition to the [[Anglo-Irish Agreement]]
|Yes
|-
|[[1986 Belfast South by-election, 1986|Belfast South]]
|23 January 1986
|[[Martin Smyth]]
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|[[Martin Smyth]]
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|SeeksSought re-election in opposition to the [[Anglo-Irish Agreement]]
|Yes
|-
|[[1986 North Down by-election, 1986|North Down]]
|23 January 1986
|[[James Kilfedder]]
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Popular Unionist Party}}
|[[James Kilfedder]]
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Popular Unionist Party}}
|SeeksSought re-election in opposition to the [[Anglo-Irish Agreement]]
|Yes
|-
|[[1986 South Down by-election, 1986|South Down]]
|23 January 1986<ref group=49>[[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.</ref>
|1986
|[[Enoch Powell]]
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|[[Enoch Powell]]
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|SeeksSought re-election in opposition to the [[Anglo-Irish Agreement]]
|No &sup1;
|-
|[[1986 Fermanagh & South Tyrone by-election, 1986|Fermanagh & South Tyrone]]
|23 January 1986
|[[Ken Maginnis]]
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|[[Ken Maginnis]]
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|SeeksSought re-election in opposition to the [[Anglo-Irish Agreement]]
|Yes
|-
|[[1986 Lagan Valley by-election, 1986|Lagan Valley]]
|23 January 1986
|[[James Molyneaux]]
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|[[James Molyneaux]]
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|SeeksSought re-election in opposition to the [[Anglo-Irish Agreement]]
|Yes
|-
|[[1986 East LondonderyyLondonderry by-election, 1986|East Londonderry]]
|23 January 1986
|[[William Ross (Northern Irish politician)|William Ross]]
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|[[William Ross (Northern Irish politician)|William Ross]]
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|SeeksSought re-election in opposition to the [[Anglo-Irish Agreement]]
|Yes
|-
|[[1986 Mid Ulster by-election, 1986|Mid Ulster]]
|23 January 1986
|[[William McCrea, (politician)Baron McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown|William McCrea]]
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|[[William McCrea, (politician)Baron McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown|William McCrea]]
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|SeeksSought re-election in opposition to the [[Anglo-Irish Agreement]]
|Yes
|-
|[[1985 Tyne Bridge by-election, 1985|Tyne Bridge]]
|[[5 December 1985]]
|[[Harry Cowans]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[David Clelland]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death
|- bgcolor=yellowffcc66
|[[1985 Brecon and Radnor by-election, 1985|Brecon and Radnor]]
|4 July 1985<ref group=49 name=yes />
|1985
|[[Tom Hooson]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Richard Livsey]]
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Party (UK)}}
|Death (heart attack)
|Yes-
|[[1984 Enfield Southgate by-election|Enfield Southgate]]
|-
|13 December 1984
|[[Enfield Southgate by-election, 1984|Enfield Southgate]]
|[[1984]]
|Sir [[Anthony Berry]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Michael Portillo]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|Death (killed[[Brighton byhotel IRAbombing|terrorism]])
|- bgcolor=yellowffcc66
|[[1984 Portsmouth South by-election, 1984|Portsmouth South]]
|14 June 1984<ref group=49 name=no />
|1984
|[[Bonner Pink]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[MichaelMike Hancock (British politician)|Mike Hancock]]
| {{Party name with colour|Social Democratic Party (UK)}}
|Death
|No
|-
|[[1984 South West Surrey by-election, 1984|South West Surrey]]
|3 May 1984
|[[Maurice Macmillan|Viscount Macmillan of Ovenden]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Virginia Bottomley]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|Death (heart failure)
|-
|[[1984 Stafford by-election, 1984|Stafford]]
|3 May 1984
|Sir [[Hugh Fraser (British politician)|Hugh Fraser]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Bill Cash]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|Death (lung cancer)
|-
|[[1984 Cynon Valley by-election, 1984|Cynon Valley]]
|3 May 1984
|[[Ioan Evans (politician)|Ioan Evans]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Ann Clwyd]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death
|-
|[[1984 Chesterfield by-election, 1984|Chesterfield]]
|1 March 1984
|[[Eric Varley]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Tony Benn]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Appointment as Chairman of [[Coalite]] PLC
|-
|[[1983 Penrith and theThe Border by-election, 1983|Penrith and the Border]]
|[[28 July 1983]]
|[[William Whitelaw, 1st Viscount Whitelaw|William Whitelaw]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[David Maclean, Baron Blencathra|David Maclean]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Hereditary Peeragepeerage]] on appointment as [[Leader of the House of Lords]]
|-
|colspan=109|
{{reflist|group=49}}
|}
 
===1979–1983 Parliament===
* &sup1; - [[Enoch Powell]] retained the seat for the Ulster Unionists in the by-election but lost it to the [[Social Democratic and Labour Party]] in the [[United Kingdom general election, 1987|1987 General Election]].
There were 20 by-elections in the [[List of MPs elected in the 1979 United Kingdom general election|1979–1983 Parliament]]. Seven were in seats held by the governing [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative party]], ten by [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]], one by the [[Ulster Unionist Party|Ulster Unionists]] and two (in the same seat) by Irish republican parties, who do not take up their seats in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]]. 13 by-elections were won by the incumbent party. The Conservatives lost four seats: one to Labour, one to the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberals]] and two to the [[Social Democratic Party (UK)|Social Democrats]], and Labour lost two seats: one to the Liberals and one to the Conservatives. Meanwhile, the seat of [[Fermanagh and South Tyrone (UK Parliament constituency)|Fermanagh and South Tyrone]] was won from the [[Independent Republican (Ireland)|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 (NI politician)|Robert Bradford]], the Independent Republican [[Frank Maguire (politician)|Frank Maguire]] and the Anti H-Block member [[Bobby Sands]] (who was in prison).
 
{| class="wikitable"
===[[MPs elected in the UK general election, 1979|48th Parliament]] (1979 - 1983)===
|-
!By-election !! YearDate !! Incumbent !! colspan=2 | Party !! Winner !! colspan=2 | Party !! Cause !! Retained
|-
|[[1983 Darlington by-election, 1983|Darlington]]
|24 March 1983<ref group=48>[[Oswald O'Brien]] retained the seat for Labour in the by-election but lost it to the Conservatives in the [[1983 United Kingdom general election|1983 general election]] only 11 weeks later.</ref>
|[[1983]]
|[[Edward Fletcher (politician)|Edward Fletcher]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Oswald O'Brien]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death
|- bgcolor=ffcc66
|No &sup1;
|[[1983 Bermondsey by-election|Bermondsey]]
|- bgcolor=yellow
|24 February 1983<ref group=48 name=yes>Gain retained at the 1983 general election.</ref>
|[[Bermondsey by-election, 1983|Bermondsey]]
|[[Bob Mellish|Robert Mellish]]
|1983
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}/Ind Labour
|[[Robert Mellish, Baron Mellish|Robert Mellish]]
{{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}/Ind Labour
|[[Simon Hughes]]
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Party (UK)}}
|Resignation (dispute with party)
|Yes
|-
|[[1982 Glasgow QueensQueen's Park by-election, 1982|Glasgow QueensQueen's Park]]
|[[2 December 1982]]
|[[Frank McElhone]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Helen McElhone]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death
|Seat Abolished
|-
|[[Southwark1982 Peckham by-election, 1982|Southwark Peckham]]
|28 October 1982
|[[Harry Lamborn]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Harriet Harman]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death
|Yes
|- bgcolor=pink
|[[1982 Birmingham Northfield by-election, 1982|Birmingham Northfield]]
|28 October 1982<ref group=48 name=no>Gain not retained at the 1983 general election.</ref>
|1982
|[[Jocelyn Cadbury]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[John Spellar]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death (suicide)
|No
|-
|[[1982 Gower by-election, 1982|Gower]]
|16 September 1982
|[[Ifor Davies]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Gareth Wardell]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death
|-
|[[1982 Coatbridge and Airdrie by-election, 1982|Coatbridge and Airdrie]]
|24 June 1982
|[[James Dempsey (Scottish politician)|James Dempsey]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Tom Clarke (politician)|Thomas Clarke]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death
|- bgcolor=lightblue
|[[Merton,1982 Mitcham and Morden by-election, 1982|Merton, Mitcham and Morden]]
|3 June 1982<ref group=48>Mitcham and Morden was the last time an incumbent government gained a seat from the opposition in a by-election until the [[2017 Copeland by-election|Copeland by-election]] on 23 February 2017.</ref>
|1982
|[[Bruce Douglas-Mann]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}/Ind [[Social Democratic Party (UK)|SDP]]
|[[Angela Rumbold]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|SeeksSought re-election upon change of party allegiance
|Yes &sup2;
|-
|[[1982 Beaconsfield by-election, 1982|Beaconsfield]]
|27 May 1982
|Sir [[Ronald Bell (UK politician)|Ronald Bell]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Tim Smith (UKBritish politician)|Tim Smith]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|Death
|- bgcolor=ffcc66
|Yes
|[[1982 Glasgow Hillhead by-election|Glasgow Hillhead]]
|- bgcolor=yellow
|25 March 1982<ref group=48 name=yes />
|[[Glasgow Hillhead by-election, 1982|Glasgow Hillhead]]
|1982
|Sir [[Tam Galbraith|Thomas Galbraith]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Roy Jenkins]]
| {{Party name with colour|Social Democratic Party (UK)}}
|Death
|Yes
|-
|[[1982 Belfast South by-election, 1982|Belfast South]]
|4 March 1982
|[[Robert Bradford (NI politician)|Robert Bradford]]
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|[[Martin Smyth]]
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|Death (killed by IRA)
|- bgcolor=ffcc66
|Yes
|[[1981 Crosby by-election|Crosby]]
|- bgcolor=yellow
|26 November 1981<ref group=48 name=no />
|[[Crosby by-election, 1981|Crosby]]
|[[1981]]
|Sir [[Graham Page]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Shirley Williams]]
| {{Party name with colour|Social Democratic Party (UK)}}
|Death
|- bgcolor=ffcc66
|No
|[[1981 Croydon North West by-election|Croydon North West]]
|- bgcolor=yellow
|22 October 1981<ref group=48 name=no />
|[[Croydon North West by-election, 1981|Croydon North West]]
|[[Robert Taylor (Conservative politician)|Robert Taylor]]
|1981
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Robert Taylor (UK politician)|Robert Taylor]]
|[[Bill Pitt (politician)|Bill Pitt]]
{{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Party (UK)}}
|[[Bill Pitt]]
{{Party name with colour|Liberal Party (UK)}}
|Death
|No
|-
|[[August 1981 Fermanagh &and South Tyrone by-election, 1981 (August)|Fermanagh & South Tyrone]]
|20 August 1981<ref group=48 name=fst>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.</ref>
|1981
|[[Bobby Sands]]
| {{Party name with colour|Anti H-Block}}
|[[Owen Carron]]
| {{Party name with colour|Anti H-Block}}
|Death (Hungerhunger Strikestrike)
|No &sup3;
|-
|[[1981 Warrington by-election, 1981|Warrington]]
|16 July 1981
|Sir [[Thomas Williams (Warrington MP)|Thomas Williams]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[DouglasDoug Hoyle]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Appointment as High Court Judgejudge
|- bgcolor="#c0c0c0CEF2E0"
|[[April 1981 Fermanagh &and South Tyrone by-election, 1981 (April)|Fermanagh & South Tyrone]]
|9 April 1981<ref group=48 name=fst />
|1981
|[[Frank Maguire (politician)|Frank Maguire]]
| {{Party name with colour|Independent Republican (Ireland)}}
|[[Bobby Sands]]
| {{Party name with colour|Anti H-Block}}
|Death
|No &sup3;
|-
|[[1980 Glasgow Central by-election, 1980|Glasgow Central]]
|[[26 June 1980]]
|[[Thomas McMillan (British MP)|Thomas McMillan]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[RobertBob McTaggart]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Death (fall)
|-
|[[1980 Southend East by-election, 1980|Southend East]]
|13 March 1980<ref group=48 name=yes />
|1980
|Sir [[Stephen McAdden]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Teddy Taylor]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|Death (fall)
|Yes
|-
|[[1979 South West Hertfordshire by-election, 1979|South West Hertfordshire]]
|[[13 December 1979]]
|[[Geoffrey Dodsworth]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Richard Page]]
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|Resignation on medical advice
|-
|[[1979 Manchester Central by-election, 1979|Manchester Central]]
|27 September 1979
|[[Harold Lever, Baron Lever of Manchester|Harold Lever]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[RobertBob Litherland]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Life Peeragepeerage]]
|-
|colspan=109|
{{reflist|group=48}}
 
* &sup1; - [[Oswald O'Brien]] retained the seat for Labour in the by-election but lost it to the Conservatives in the [[United Kingdom general election, 1983|1983 General Election]] only 11 weeks later.
 
* &sup2; - Mitcham and Morden was the last time an incumbent government gained a seat from the opposition in a by-election.
 
* &sup3; - 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==
==Other notable by-elections==
A* selection[[List of notableUnited Kingdom by-elections are listed:(2010–present)]]
* [[List of United Kingdom by-elections (1950–1979)]]
*[[Oldham by-election, 1899]]: [[Winston Churchill]]'s first candidacy (he lost).
* [[United Kingdom by-election records]]
 
{{UK by-elections}}
 
==References==
<references/>
 
==Sources==
*[http://www.election.demon.co.uk/election.html United Kingdom Election Results (David Boothroyd)]
*[http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/election.htm#british United Kingdom Elections (Keele University)]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110911125725/http://www.geocitiesby-elections.com/by_electionsco.uk/byelections.html British Parliamentary By-Elections since 1945]
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20080607022521/http://www.angeltownsleighrayment.com/town/peerage/commons.htm List of MPs since 1660]}}
*[[F. W. S. Craig]], (1984). ''British Parliamentaryparliamentary Electionelection Statisticsresults, 1832-19871974–1983''. 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}}.
 
{{United Kingdom by-elections}}
 
[[Category{{DEFAULTSORT:List of United Kingdom-related lists|Byby-elections in the UK 1979]](1979–present)}}
[[Category:ByLists of by-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom| 1979]]
[[Category:20th century in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:21st century in the United Kingdom]]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_Kingdom_by-elections_(1979–2010)"