Woolwich West by-election, 1975

The Woolwich West by-election, 1975 was a parliamentary by-election held on 26 June 1975 for the British House of Commons constituency of Woolwich West in South East London.

The seat had become vacant when the constituency's Labour Member of Parliament (MP), William Hamling had died on 20 March 1975. He had held the seat since winning it from the Conservatives at the 1964 general election.

Contents

Results

The result of the contest was a victory for the Conservative candidate, Peter Bottomley, who held the seat until its abolition for the 1983 general election; he had contested the seat in both 1974 general elections. He then sat for Eltham, the successor seat and since 1997 has represented Worthing West, a safe Tory seat in Sussex.

As the result of the by-election was a Conservative gain from Labour, the result reduced the Labour majority in the House of Commons from 3 seats to 1 seat as their number of seats fell from 319 to 318 in a House of 635 members.

Votes

Woolwich West by-election, 1975
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Bottomley 17,280
Labour Joseph Stanyer 14,898
Liberal Mrs Sheilagh Hobday 1,884
National Front Mrs Ruth Robinson 856 N/A
Fellowship Ronald Mallone 218 N/A
English National Frank Hansford-Miller 140 N/A
C'tive, Anti-Common Market Reginald Simmerson 104 N/A
Independent Peter Bishop 41 N/A
Majority 2,382
Turnout
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

See also

References