Uxbridge by-election, 1997

Uxbridge by-election

31 July 1997

Candidate John Randall Andy Slaughter Keith Kerr Party Conservative Labour Liberal Democrat Popular vote 16,288 12,522 1,792 Percentage 51.1% 39.3% 5.6%

MP before election Michael Shersby Conservative Subsequent MP John Randall Conservative

The Uxbridge by-election, 1997 was a parliamentary by-election held in July 1997 to elect a new Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency of Uxbridge in London, England.

The vacancy was caused by the death of the Conservative MP Sir Michael Shersby, who died unexpectedly on 8 May 1997, just seven days after his being returned to the House of Commons at the 1997 general election, although that election saw the end of 18 years of Conservative rule as Labour won by a landslide. It was the first by-election of the 1997-2001 parliament.

The by-election was held on 31 July 1997. The seat previously had seen Shersby win a narrow victory over Labour Party candidate David Williams in May, but Williams was not selected for the by-election candidate shortlist, as he was seen as too left-wing, and therefore unelectable, even though his supporters argued for the selection for this locally based politician. The Conservative Party selected John Randall, the Managing Director of the century-old Randall's Furniture Store in Uxbridge. The Labour Party eventually chose Andy Slaughter, the Leader of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham Council, over the Barrister Willie Bach from Nottinghamshire. Keith Kerr, a senior executive with British Airways, represented the Liberal Democrats.

Labour's concentrated campaign included an unusual visit by Prime Minister Tony Blair. This was unusual in that a sitting Prime Minister does not normally campaign personally in by-elections for fear that a defeat may harm his own political standing. In the end, the Conservative candidate was elected by a large majority, gaining over 50% of all votes cast, while the Labour and Liberal Democrat vote fell sharply.

It was the first time the Conservatives held onto a seat at a by-election since the Richmond (Yorks) by-election, 1989.

Results

See also

• List of United Kingdom by-elections

External links

• British Parliamentary By Elections: Campaign literature from the by-election