1993 Christchurch by-election

1993 Christchurch by-election

29 July 1993
Constituency of Christchurch
Turnout	74.2%
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 38.6% 32.2%
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^[update], 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

• Lists of United Kingdom by-elections
• Christchurch (UK Parliament constituency)

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.

External links

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