1993 Christchurch by-election
29 July 1993
Constituency of Christchurch
Turnout74.2%
  First party Second party
 
Candidate Diana Maddock Robert Hayward
Party Liberal Democrats Conservative
Popular vote 33,164 16,737
Percentage 62.2% 31.4%
Swing Increase38.6% Decrease32.2%
MP before election

Robert Adley
Conservative

 Elected MP

Diana Maddock
Liberal Democrats

A by-election was held in the British House of Commons constituency of Christchurch on 29 July 1993 following the death of sitting Conservative MP Robert Adley.

The result was a gain for the Liberal Democrats, notable for the swing necessary to take such a strong Conservative seat, gaining more than 60% of the votes cast and winning practically twice as many votes as the Conservatives. As of December 2021, the swing of 35.4% remains the sixth-largest by-election swing in British political history (the Bermondsey by-election in 1983 having the largest). It was also the largest swing (35%) against any British government since 1918.[1]

At the time, it was not necessary for candidates in British elections to register party names or ballot paper descriptions. Details on candidates at this election are taken from the official count[2] and David Boothroyd's election results site.[3]

Results

Christchurch by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Diana Maddock 33,164 62.2 +38.6
Conservative Robert Hayward 16,737 31.4 –32.2
Labour Nigel Lickley 1,453 2.7 –9.4
Anti-Federalist League Alan Sked 878 1.6 New
Monster Raving Loony David Sutch 404 0.8 New
Ind. Conservative Andrew Bannon 357 0.7 New
Sack Graham Taylor Peter Newman 80 0.2 New
Buy the Daily Sport Tara Bardot-Jackson 67 0.1 New
Save the National Health Service Peter A. Hollyman 60 0.1 New
Highlander IV Wednesday Promotion John Crockard 48 0.1 New
Natural Law Mark Griffiths 45 0.1 –0.3
Ian For King Mark Belcher 23 0.0 New
Alfred The Chicken Karl Fitzhugh 18 0.0 New
Rainbow Alliance John Walley 16 0.0 New
Majority 16,427 30.8 N/A
Turnout 53,350 74.2 -6.5
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing +35.4

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Top Ten Lib Dem 'breakthrough moments'". Epolitix.com. 24 April 2010. Archived from the original on 12 May 2010. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  2. ↑ YouTube video
  3. ↑ Boothroyd, David. "Results of Byelections in the 1992-97 Parliament". United Kingdom Election Results. Archived from the original on 20 July 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
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