Barnsley East by-election, 1996

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The Barnsley East by-election was held on 12 December 1996, following the death of the Labour Party Member of Parliament Terry Patchett for Barnsley East, in South Yorkshire, England, on 11 October.

Jeff Ennis held the seat for Labour on an increased majority of 68%, despite a low voter turnout. Despite a slight reduction in the vote for the Liberal Democrats, they overtook the Conservative Party for second place. The Socialist Labour Party, on their leader Arthur Scargill's home territory, was able to save its deposit.

With the election of a new Labour MP, the Conservatives lost their Parliamentary majority.

Barnsley East by-election, 1996
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jeff Ennis 13,683 76.4 −0.8
Liberal Democrat David Willis 1,502 8.4 −0.2
Conservative Jane Ellison 1,299 7.3 −6.9
Socialist Labour Ken Capstick 949 5.3 N/A
UK Independence Count Nikolai Tolstoy 378 2.1 N/A
Socialist Equality Julie Hyland 89 0.5 N/A
Majority 12,181 68.0 +5.0
Turnout 33.7 -39.0
Labour hold Swing
General Election 1992: Barnsley East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Terry Patchett 30,346 77.2 +2.7
Conservative John Proctor 5,569 14.2 +0.2
Liberal Democrat Sylvia Anginotti 3,399 8.6 −2.9
Majority 24,777 63.0 +2.5
Turnout 72.7 +0.1
Labour hold Swing