1997 Wirral South by-election (original) (raw)

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1997 Wirral South by-election
← 1992 27 February 1997 May 1997 →
Turnout 71.5%
First party Second party Third party Candidate Ben Chapman Leslie Byrom Flo Clucas Party Labour Conservative Liberal Democrats Popular vote 22,767 14,879 4,357 Percentage 52.6% 34.4% 10.1% Swing Increase18.0pp Decrease16.5pp Decrease3.0pp
MP before election Barry Porter Conservative Elected MP Ben Chapman Labour

A by-election was held for the United Kingdom parliament constituency of Wirral South, in Merseyside, England, on 27 February 1997. The seat became vacant on the death of Conservative Party Member of Parliament Barry Porter, and was won by Labour's Ben Chapman.

The Conservative loss in this seat, which came close to the last possible date for a general election, meant that they no longer had a majority in the House of Commons.[1] Wirral South was the last in a run of significant Conservative losses, following a period of dissatisfaction with the Major years. This was the last Conservative loss to Labour in a by-election until the 2012 Corby by-election. Labour has held this seat since the by-election.

  1. ^ "How the Government's Majority Disappeared". Retrieved 26 September 2007.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.