1995 Littleborough and Saddleworth by-election

A by-election was called in the constituency of Littleborough and Saddleworth in Greater Manchester, England, on 27 July 1995 following the death of Conservative Party MP Geoffrey Dickens on 17 May of that year.

1996 Hemsworth by-election
27 July 1995
  First party Second party Third party
 
Candidate Chris Davies Phil Woolas John Hudson
Party Liberal Democrats Labour Conservative
Popular vote 16,231 14,238 9,934
Percentage 38.5% 33.8% 23.6%
Swing 2.7pp 14.9pp 20.7pp
MP before election

Geoffrey Dickens
Conservative

 Elected MP

Chris Davies
Liberal Democrats

The contest was a win for the Liberal Democrat candidate Chris Davies. The result was notable as the defending Conservative Party dropped from first to third place, coming behind both the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats. Davies' conduct during the by-election was controversial owing to him openly campaigning while the sitting MP Geoffrey Dickens was dying from liver cancer.[1]

The second-placed Labour candidate, Phil Woolas, defeated Davies at the 1997 general election in the successor seat of Oldham East and Saddleworth. He held the seat until 2010. Davies went on to represent the North West England region in the European Parliament from 1999 to 2014.

Littleborough and Saddleworth by-election 1995[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Chris Davies 16,231 38.5 +2.7
Labour Phil Woolas 14,238 33.8 +14.9
Conservative John Hudson 9,934 23.6 -20.7
Monster Raving Loony Screaming Lord Sutch 782 1.9 New
UKIP John Whittaker 549 1.3 New
Independent Peter Douglas 193 0.5 New
Independent Mr Blobby 105 0.2 New
Socialist (GB) Andrew Pitts 46 0.1 New
Independent Lawson McLaren 33 0.1 New
Independent Colin Palmer 25 0.1 New
Majority 1,993 4.7 N/A
Turnout 42,136 64.5 -17.2
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing -6.0

Notes on candidates
  • Mr Blobby was a character on the British television show Noel's House Party. The candidate had changed his name from John McLagan for the purposes of the election.[3] The candidate was not officially endorsed by the BBC, nor was McLagan the actual actor of Mr Blobby.
  • The candidate L. McLaren used the party description "Probity for Imposed Candidates"

See also

References
  1. "The Economist". Charles Reynell. 18 March 1995 – via Google Books.
  2. Boothroyd, David. "Results of Byelections in the 1992-97 Parliament". United Kingdom Election Results. Retrieved 2015-10-01.
  3. (Source)
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