Glasgow Govan by-election, 1988


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The Glasgow Govan by-election, in the British House of Commons constituency of Glasgow Govan, Scotland, was held on November 10, 1988. It was caused by the resignation of Bruce Millan as Member of Parliament for the constituency.

The result was a major upset for the Labour Party, with former Labour MP Jim Sillars winning the seat for the Scottish National Party with a majority of 3,554.

[edit] Results

Glasgow Govan by-election, 1988
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Scottish National Party	Jim Sillars	14,677	48.8	+38.4
	Labour	Bob Gillespie	11,123	36.9	-27.8
	Conservative	Graeme Hamilton	2,207	7.3	-4.6
	Social and Liberal Democrats	Bernard Ponsonby	1,246	4.1	-8.2
	Green	George Campbell	345	1.1
	Communist	Douglas Chalmers	281	0.9	+0.3
	Monster Raving Loony	Lord Sutch	174	0.6
	Independent	Fraser Clark	51	0.2
Majority			3,554	11.8
Turnout			30,104	60.2
	Scottish National Party gain from Labour		Swing	+33.1

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1988	July: Kensington • November: Glasgow Govan • December: Epping Forest

1989	February: Pontypridd • Richmond • May: Vale of Glamorgan • June: Glasgow Central • Vauxhall

1990	March: Mid Staffordshire • May: Bootle • Upper Bann • September: Knowsley South • October: Eastbourne • November: Bootle • Bradford North • Paisley North • Paisley South

1991	March: Ribble Valley • April: Neath • May: Monmouth • July: Liverpool Walton • November: Hemsworth • Kincardine and Deeside • Langbaurgh

Lists of UK by-elections: 1885–1900 • 1900–1918 • 1918–1931 • 1931–1950 • 1950–1979 • 1979–present