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List of United Kingdom by-elections (2010–present)

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This is a list of parliamentary by-elections in the United Kingdom since 2010, with the names of the incumbent and victor and their respective parties. Where seats changed political party at the election, the result is highlighted: blue for a Conservative gain, red for a Labour gain, orange for a Liberal Democrat gain, turquoise for a Reform gain, green for a Green gain and other colours for any other gains.

As of June 2026, a total of 64 by-elections have been held in this period. The first was held in January 2011 and the most recent in June 2026.

Process of resignation from the House of Commons

Main article: Resignation from the House of Commons of the United Kingdom

Where the cause of by-election is given as "resignation" or "seeks re-election", this indicates that the incumbent was appointed on his or her own request to an "office of profit under the Crown", either the Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds or the Steward of the Manor of Northstead. Accepting an office of profit under the Crown vacates the member's seat.[1] This process is used because members of the House of Commons are not technically permitted to resign. A member who vacates their seat in this manner may stand for re-election.

Recall petition

Main article: Recall of MPs Act 2015

A recall petition is created by advice of the Speaker of the House of Commons if an MP is suspended from the House for at least 10 sitting days, usually a result of a criminal conviction or breaking Commons Select Committee on Standards conventions. A petition is successful if at least 10 per cent of the constituency's electorate sign the petition. Successful petitions result in the MP vacating the seat, triggering a by-election.

As of March 2024, six petitions have been held under the Act, four resulting in by-elections and one being terminated early due to the MP's resignation.

By-elections

2024–present Parliament

More information By-election, Date ...
By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause
Clacton 13 August 2026[2] Nigel Farage Reform Nigel Farage Reform Resigned to contest by-election after controversy over his finances.[3]
Makerfield 18 June 2026[4] Josh Simons Labour Andy Burnham Labour Co-op Resigned to allow Burnham to stand in the resulting by-election.[5]
Aberdeen South 18 June 2026[6] Stephen Flynn SNP Douglas Lumsden Conservative Resigned after being elected to the Scottish Parliament. Under regulations introduced by the Scottish Government in 2025,[7] individuals may not hold a seat in both the Scottish Parliament and the House of Commons.[8]
Arbroath and Broughty Ferry 18 June 2026[6] Stephen Gethins SNP Lara Bird SNP Resigned after being elected to the Scottish Parliament. Under regulations introduced by the Scottish Government in 2025,[7] individuals may not hold a seat in both the Scottish Parliament and the House of Commons.[9]
Gorton and Denton 26 February 2026 Andrew Gwynne Labour Co-op[a] Hannah Spencer Green Resigned due to ill health. He lost the Labour whip after a scandal involving offensive messages in a WhatsApp groupchat.[10]
Runcorn and Helsby 1 May 2025 Mike Amesbury Labour[b] Sarah Pochin Reform Resigned after suspension from Parliament and being liable to a recall petition after a conviction for assault.[11]
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2019–2024 Parliament

There were twenty-three by-elections in the 2019–2024 Parliament, the most by-elections in one parliament since the 1987–1992 Parliament, which had 24. Fourteen by-elections occurred in constituencies previously represented by the governing Conservatives, seven in constituencies represented by Labour, and two in constituencies represented by the SNP. The incumbent MP's party won nine by-elections, including one at Southend West, in which the other major parties did not field candidates. Labour won thirteen by-elections, gaining seven seats from the Conservatives and one from the SNP, but losing one each to the Conservatives and the Workers Party of Britain. The Liberal Democrats gained four seats from the Conservatives, while the Conservatives gained one from Labour. Five by-elections happened due to the deaths of the incumbent MPs, three of whom represented the Conservatives and two Labour.

More information By-election, Date ...
By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause
Blackpool South[c] 2 May 2024[12] Scott Benton Conservative[d] Chris Webb Labour Resigned after being suspended from Parliament for five weeks and being subject to a recall petition for breaching lobbying rules[13]
Rochdale[e] 29 February 2024 Tony Lloyd Labour George Galloway Workers Party Death (leukaemia).[14]
Kingswood[c] 15 February 2024 Chris Skidmore Conservative[f] Damien Egan Labour Resignation in protest of the Conservative government's bill to grant new oil and gas licences.[15]
Wellingborough[c] 15 February 2024 Peter Bone Conservative[g] Gen Kitchen Labour Successful recall petition after allegations of bullying and sexual misconduct.[16]
Tamworth[c] 19 October 2023[17] Chris Pincher Conservative[h] Sarah Edwards Labour Resigned after losing his appeal to his suspension due to groping allegations.[18]
Mid Bedfordshire[e] 19 October 2023 Nadine Dorries Conservative Alistair Strathern Labour Resigned after being omitted from Boris Johnson's resignation honours list.
Rutherglen and Hamilton West[c] 5 October 2023 Margaret Ferrier SNP[i] Michael Shanks Labour Recall petition after breaking COVID-19 rules in 2020.[19]
Somerton and Frome[c] 20 July 2023 David Warburton Conservative[j] Sarah Dyke Liberal Democrats Resigned 14 months after suspension from the Conservative Party pending an investigation.
Selby and Ainsty[c] 20 July 2023 Nigel Adams Conservative Keir Mather Labour Resigned after being omitted from Boris Johnson's resignation honours list.[20][21]
Uxbridge and South Ruislip[k] 20 July 2023 Boris Johnson Conservative Steve Tuckwell Conservative Resigned after a parliamentary investigation found evidence he misled Parliament over Partygate and he failed to act on warnings about Chris Pincher. This led a parliamentary committee to recommend suspending him from the House for 20 days.[22][23]
West Lancashire[l] 9 February 2023 Rosie Cooper Labour Ashley Dalton Labour Resigned to be chair of Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust.[24][25]
Stretford and Urmston[l] 15 December 2022 Kate Green Labour Andrew Western Labour Resigned to be deputy mayor of Greater Manchester.[26]
City of Chester[l] 1 December 2022 Chris Matheson Labour Samantha Dixon Labour Resigned after suspension for serious sexual misconduct.[27]
Tiverton and Honiton[c] 23 June 2022 Neil Parish Conservative[m] Richard Foord Liberal Democrats Resigned after admitting to watching pornography twice in the House of Commons.[28]
Wakefield[c] 23 June 2022 Imran Ahmad Khan Conservative[n] Simon Lightwood Labour Co-op Resigned after conviction of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy.[31]
Birmingham Erdington[l] 3 March 2022[32] Jack Dromey Labour Paulette Hamilton Labour Death (heart failure).[33]
Southend West[k] 3 February 2022 David Amess Conservative Anna Firth Conservative[o] Death (murder).[34]
North Shropshire[c] 16 December 2021 Owen Paterson Conservative Helen Morgan Liberal Democrats Resigned after being found to have broken lobbying rules.[35][36]
Old Bexley and Sidcup[l] 2 December 2021[37] James Brokenshire Conservative Louie French Conservative Death (cancer).[38]
Batley and Spen[l] 1 July 2021[39] Tracy Brabin Labour Co-op Kim Leadbeater Labour Resigned after election as Mayor of West Yorkshire.
Chesham and Amersham[c] 17 June 2021[40] Cheryl Gillan Conservative Sarah Green Liberal Democrats Death (cancer).[41]
Airdrie and Shotts[k] 13 May 2021[42] Neil Gray SNP Anum Qaisar SNP Resigned to contest Airdrie and Shotts in the Scottish Parliament.
Hartlepool[e] 6 May 2021[43] Mike Hill Labour Jill Mortimer Conservative Resigned following allegations of sexual harassment and victimisation.[44][45]
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2017–2019 Parliament

There were five by-elections in the 2017–2019 Parliament, which was the smallest number since the six-month parliament that sat between the two general elections in February and October 1974. Three were in seats held by Labour, one by the governing Conservatives and one by Sinn Féin, who do not take up their seats in the House of Commons. Four by-elections were won by the incumbent party and the Liberal Democrats won a seat from Conservatives. One by-election was a result of the death of the incumbent MP, who represented Labour. Two by-elections were the result of recall petitions via the provisions of the Recall of MPs Act 2015, the first such in the country.

At the dissolution of Parliament in 2019 there were two vacancies: Bassetlaw, caused by the resignation of Labour member John Mann, and Buckingham, caused by the resignation of Speaker John Bercow. With the proximity of the 2019 general election, by-elections were not called for these seats. The Conservatives, the party Bercow had represented before he took up the speakership, regained Buckingham and won Bassetlaw from Labour as well.

More information By-election, Date ...
By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause
Brecon and Radnorshire[e] 1 August 2019 Chris Davies Conservative Jane Dodds Liberal Democrats Recall petition after conviction for false expenses claims.[46][47]
Peterborough[k] 6 June 2019 Fiona Onasanya Labour[p] Lisa Forbes Labour Recall petition after conviction for perverting the course of justice, in relation to a motoring offence.[49][50]
Newport West[l] 4 April 2019 Paul Flynn Labour Ruth Jones Labour Death (long illness).[51][52]
Lewisham East[l] 14 June 2018 Heidi Alexander Labour Janet Daby Labour Resignation on appointment as Deputy Mayor of London.[53][54]
West Tyrone[l] 3 May 2018 Barry McElduff Sinn Féin Órfhlaith Begley Sinn Féin Resignation after a joke about the Kingsmill massacre on social media.[55][56]
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2015–2017 Parliament

There were ten by-elections in the 2015–2017 Parliament (with a planned by-election in Manchester Gorton cancelled when the 2017 general election was called). Seven were in seats held by Labour, and three by the governing Conservatives. Eight by-elections were won by the incumbent party: the Conservatives won a seat from Labour and lost one to the Liberal Democrats. Three by-elections happened due to the deaths of the incumbent MPs, all of whom represented Labour.

At the dissolution of Parliament in 2017, one seat was vacant: that for Manchester Gorton, caused by the death of its Labour member Gerald Kaufman.[57] With the close proximity of the 2017 general election on 8 June, the by-election previously called for 4 May had its writ cancelled by the House of Commons.[58] All but two of the candidates nominated for the by-election then stood at the general election, and Labour held the seat.

More information By-election, Date ...
By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause
Stoke-on-Trent Central[l] 23 February 2017[59] Tristram Hunt Labour Gareth Snell Labour Co-op Resignation to take up his new role as head of the Victoria and Albert Museum.[60]
Copeland[c] 23 February 2017[59] Jamie Reed Labour Trudy Harrison Conservative Resignation to take up his new role in the nuclear power industry.[61]
Sleaford and North Hykeham[l] 8 December 2016[62] Stephen Phillips Conservative Caroline Johnson Conservative Resignation citing irreconcilable differences with the government.[63]
Richmond Park[e] 1 December 2016[64] Zac Goldsmith Conservative Sarah Olney Liberal Democrats Sought reelection as an independent in opposition to the government's policy on Heathrow Airport expansion.[65]
Witney[l] 20 October 2016 David Cameron Conservative Robert Courts Conservative Resignation as MP two months after resigning as Prime Minister and Leader of Conservative Party.[66]
Batley and Spen[l] 20 October 2016 Jo Cox Labour Tracy Brabin Labour Co-op[q] Death (murder).[67]
Tooting[l] 16 June 2016 Sadiq Khan Labour Rosena Allin-Khan Labour Resignation upon election as Mayor of London.[68]
Ogmore[l] 5 May 2016 Huw Irranca-Davies Labour Christopher Elmore[69] Labour Resignation to contest the Welsh Assembly election.[70]
Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough[l] 5 May 2016 Harry Harpham Labour Gill Furniss[71] Labour Death (cancer).[72]
Oldham West and Royton[l] 3 December 2015 Michael Meacher Labour Jim McMahon Labour Co-op Death (short illness).[73]
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2010–2015 Parliament

There were 21 by-elections in the 2010–2015 Parliament. Fourteen were in constituencies held by Labour, four by the governing Conservatives, one by their coalition partners the Liberal Democrats and two by Sinn Féin, who do not take up their seats in the House of Commons. Seventeen by-elections were won by the incumbent party: Labour won a seat from the Conservatives and lost one to Respect, while UKIP gained two seats from the Conservatives after the incumbent MPs defected to the party and were re-elected. Six by-elections happened due to the deaths of the incumbent MPs, all of whom represented Labour. In all six of those by-elections, Labour retained the seat.

More information By-election, Date ...
By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause
Rochester and Strood[e] 20 November 2014 Mark Reckless Conservative Mark Reckless UKIP Sought re-election upon change of party allegiance.[74]
Heywood and Middleton[l] 9 October 2014[75] Jim Dobbin Labour Co-op Liz McInnes Labour Death (acute alcohol toxicity with food aspiration).[76]
Clacton[c] 9 October 2014[77] Douglas Carswell Conservative Douglas Carswell UKIP Sought re-election upon change of party allegiance.[78]
Newark[l] 5 June 2014[79] Patrick Mercer Conservative Robert Jenrick Conservative Resignation after Standards Committee recommended suspension for six months for breaching paid advocacy rules.[80]
Wythenshawe and Sale East[l] 13 February 2014[81] Paul Goggins Labour Mike Kane Labour Death (stroke/haemorrhage).[82]
South Shields[l] 2 May 2013 David Miliband Labour Emma Lewell-Buck Labour Resignation to join International Rescue Committee.[83]
Mid Ulster[l] 7 March 2013 Martin McGuinness Sinn Féin Francie Molloy Sinn Féin Resignation to end 'double-jobbing' as MP and Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly.[84]
Eastleigh[k] 28 February 2013 Chris Huhne Liberal Democrats Mike Thornton Liberal Democrats Resignation following pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice.[85]
Croydon North[l] 29 November 2012 Malcolm Wicks Labour Steve Reed Labour Co-op Death (cancer).[86][87]
Middlesbrough[l] 29 November 2012 Stuart Bell Labour Andy McDonald Labour Death (cancer).[88]
Rotherham[l] 29 November 2012 Denis MacShane Labour Sarah Champion[89] Labour Resignation after Standards and Privileges Committee recommended suspension for 12 months for claiming false expenses (United Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal).[90]
Cardiff South and Penarth[l] 15 November 2012 Alun Michael Labour Co-op Stephen Doughty Labour Co-op Resignation to contest South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner election.[91][92]
Corby[e] 15 November 2012[93] Louise Mensch Conservative Andy Sawford Labour Co-op Resignation for family reasons.[94]
Manchester Central[l] 15 November 2012 Tony Lloyd Labour Lucy Powell Labour Co-op Resignation to contest Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner election.[95]
Bradford West[96][e] 29 March 2012 Marsha Singh Labour George Galloway Respect Resignation (serious health problems).[97]
Feltham and Heston[l] 15 December 2011 Alan Keen Labour Co-op Seema Malhotra Labour Co-op Death (cancer).[98]
Inverclyde[k] 30 June 2011[99] David Cairns Labour Iain McKenzie Labour Death (pancreatitis).
Belfast West[l] 9 June 2011[100] Gerry Adams Sinn Féin Paul Maskey Sinn Féin Resignation (to contest Louth in the Irish general election).[101]
Leicester South[l] 5 May 2011 Peter Soulsby Labour Jonathan Ashworth Labour Co-op Resignation (to contest the mayoralty of Leicester).[102]
Barnsley Central[l] 3 March 2011[103] Eric Illsley Labour[r] Dan Jarvis Labour Resignation after pleading guilty to false accounting (United Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandal).[104]
Oldham East and Saddleworth[l] 13 January 2011 Phil Woolas Labour Debbie Abrahams Labour Void election under the Representation of the People Act 1983; found to personally have made false statements of fact concerning a candidate.[105]
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See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    Gwynne was an independent at the time he resigned from Parliament. He was elected for Labour in 2005 until he was suspended from the party in February 2025.
  2. [b]
    Amesbury was an independent at the time he resigned from Parliament. He was elected for Labour in 2017 until he was suspended from the party in October 2024.
  3. [c]
    Gain was retained at the subsequent general election.
  4. [d]
    Benton was elected as a Conservative in 2019 until he was suspended from the party in April 2023.
  5. [e]
    Gain not retained at the subsequent general election.
  6. [f]
    Skidmore was an independent at the time he resigned from Parliament. He was first elected as a Conservative in 2010 but resigned from the party in January 2024.
  7. [g]
    Bone was an independent at the time he was removed from his seat in Parliament. He was elected as a Conservative in 2005 and served as a Conservative MP until he was suspended from the party in October 2023.
  8. [h]
    Pincher was elected as a Conservative in 2010 but was an independent at the time he resigned. He served as a Conservative MP until he was suspended from the party in July 2022.
  9. [i]
    Ferrier was an independent at the time she was removed from her seat in Parliament. She was suspended from the SNP in October 2020.
  10. [j]
    Warburton was elected as a Conservative in 2015 but was an independent at the time he resigned.
  11. [k]
    Hold not retained at the subsequent general election.
  12. [l]
    Hold retained at the subsequent general election.
  13. [m]
    Parish was elected as a Conservative in 2010 but was an independent at the time he resigned.
  14. [n]
    Ahmad Khan was elected as a Conservative in 2019 but was an independent at the time he resigned. He was suspended from the party in June 2021 and expelled in April 2022.[29][30]
  15. [o]
    As a mark of respect for the murdered MP, Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Greens, and Reform UK all declined to contest the by-election.
  16. [p]
    Onasanya was an independent at the time of the by-election, originally elected as a Labour candidate in 2017, and expelled from the party in December 2018.[48]
  17. [q]
    As a mark of respect for the murdered MP, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, UKIP, and the Greens all declined to contest the by-election.
  18. [r]
    Eric Illsley was elected as a Labour MP from 1987 and was re-elected at every subsequent general election as a Labour candidate, but was suspended by the Labour Party shortly afterwards after being charged with fraud arising from the United Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandal.

References

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