1997 Wirral South by-election
27 February 1997
Turnout71.5%
  First party Second party Third party
 
Candidate Ben Chapman Leslie Byrom Flo Clucas
Party Labour Conservative Liberal Democrats
Popular vote 22,767 14,879 4,357
Percentage 52.6% 34.4% 10.1%
Swing Increase18.0pp Decrease16.5pp Decrease3.0pp
MP before election

Barry Porter
Conservative

 Elected MP

Ben Chapman
Labour

A by-election was held for the United Kingdom parliament constituency of Wirral South, in Merseyside, England, on 27 February 1997. The seat became vacant on the death of Conservative Party Member of Parliament Barry Porter, and was won by Labour's Ben Chapman.

The Conservative loss in this seat, which came close to the last possible date for a general election, meant that they no longer had a majority in the House of Commons.[1] Wirral South was the last in a run of significant Conservative losses, following a period of dissatisfaction with the Major years. This was the last Conservative loss to Labour in a by-election until the 2012 Corby by-election. Labour has held this seat since the by-election.

Result

Wirral South by-election, 1997[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ben Chapman 22,767 52.6 +18.0
Conservative Leslie Byrom 14,879 34.4 −16.5
Liberal Democrats Flo Clucas 4,357 10.1 −3.0
UKIP Richard North 410 0.9 New
Independent Harold Bence 184 0.4 New
Socialist Labour Michael Cullen 156 0.4 New
Disillusioned Conservative Phillip Gott 148 0.3 New
Independent Roger Taylor 132 0.3 New
Independent - anti tobacco donation Anthony Samuelson 124 0.3 New
Natural Law Geoffery Mead 52 0.1 −0.2
21st Century Foresters Colin Palmer 44 0.1 New
Independent - Thalidomide Action Group Frederick Astbury 40 0.1 New
Majority 7,888 18.2 N/A
Turnout 43,293 71.5 −10.8
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +17.25

Previous result

General election 1992: Wirral South[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Barry Porter 25,590 50.8 +0.6
Labour Helen Southworth 17,407 34.6 +6.6
Liberal Democrats Edward T. Cunniffe 6,581 13.1 −8.7
Green Nigel Birchenough 584 1.2 New
Natural Law George Griffiths 182 0.4 New
Majority 8,183 16.2 −5.8
Turnout 50,344 82.3 +2.9
Conservative hold Swing −3.0

Notes

  1. ↑ "How the Government's Majority Disappeared". Retrieved 26 September 2007.
  2. ↑ Boothroyd, David. "Results of Byelections in the 1992-97 Parliament". United Kingdom Election Results. Archived from the original on 20 July 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  3. ↑ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.

See also

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