2000 Falkirk West by-election

The 2000 Falkirk West by-election was a parliamentary by-election held on 21 December 2000 for the Scottish constituency of Falkirk West.

The vacancy was caused by the resignation from the House of Commons of Dennis Canavan, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Falkirk West. Canavan had first been elected for West Stirlingshire in the October 1974 election as a Labour Party candidate, and had held that seat until its abolition in 1983. He had then won the new Falkirk West seat, and held that seat as a Labour MP until he was expelled from Labour in 1999. He then sat as an Independent until he resigned on 21 November 2000 by accepting the office of Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead.

A by-election to fill the seat was held on 21 December. The Scottish National Party mounted a strong challenge, but fell 705 votes short of winning.

Results

Falkirk West by-election, 2000^[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Eric Joyce	8,492	43.5	−15.9
	SNP	David Kerr	7,787	39.9	+16.5
	Conservative	Craig Stevenson	1,621	8.3	−3.8
	Scottish Socialist	Iain Hunter	989	5.1	New
	Liberal Democrats	Hugh O'Donnell	615	3.2	−1.9
Majority			705	3.6	−32.3
Turnout			19,504	36.1	−36.5
	Labour hold		Swing	-16.2

General Election 1997: Falkirk West
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Dennis Canavan	22,772	59.3
	SNP	David Alexander	8,989	23.4
	Conservative	Carol Buchanan	4,639	12.1
	Liberal Democrats	Derek Houston	1,970	5.1
Majority			13783	35.9
Turnout			38370	72.6
	Labour hold		Swing