2007 Sedgefield by-election

2007 UK Parliamentary by-election April 2022 2007 Sedgefield by-election parliamentary United Kingdom Sedgefield constituency no 2005 United Kingdom general election 2005 2010 United Kingdom general election 2010 19 July 2007 41.6% 13.23pp Phil Wilson Phil Wilson 2015 (cropped).jpg Labour Party (UK) 12,528 44.8% 14.1% Greg Stone Liberal Democrats (UK) Liberal Democrats (UK) 5,572 19.9% 8.0% Graham Robb Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) 4,082 14.6% 0.2% Andrew Spence British National Party 2,494 8.9% Paul Gittins Independent politician 1,885 6.7% MP Subsequent MP Tony Blair Labour Party (UK) Phil Wilson Labour Party (UK) thumb|Map of Sedgefield A by-election for the United Kingdom parliamentary constituency of Sedgefield was held on 19 July 2007, triggered by the resignation of incumbent Labour Party Member of Parliament (MP) and Prime Minister Tony Blair. It was won by Phil Wilson, who held the seat for Labour. The by-election was initiated when Blair resigned both of his parliamentary offices in order to become envoy for the international diplomatic Quartet on the Middle East. He had held the constituency since its creation in 1983, and Labour had held the seat and its predecessors since 1935. The Ealing Southall by-election was held on the same day, also resulting in a Labour hold. Background and candidates Tony Blair, Labour Party Member of Parliament (MP) for Sedgefield and Prime Minister, resigned both offices on 27 June 2007. Blair also resigned as an MP to become envoy for the international diplomatic Quartet on the Middle East; he accepted the office of Steward and Bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern,http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/press/2007/press_72_07.cfm HM Treasury Three Hundreds of Chiltern 2007-06-27 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070629204516/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/press/2007/press_72_07.cfm 29 June 2007 2007-06-27 thereby disqualifying himself from Parliament and causing the by-election. The Labour Party selected Phil Wilson, a public relations consultant, local party member and one of the "Famous Five" who had promoted Tony Blair's first candidacy in 1983. He was chosen from a shortlist of five candidates, including former Minister Melanie Johnson.Chris Lloyd, "Labour chooses one of the 'Famous Five'", The Northern Echo The Liberal Democrats chose North East regeneration expert Greg Stone, a councillor in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and former candidate in the Vale of York in the 2001 election and Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central in the 2005 election. The Conservatives stood Graham Robb, a public relations consultant and former radio presenter, who stood for the party in 1992 in Hartlepool, losing to Peter Mandelson.http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/guide/seat-profiles/sedgefield UKPollingReport: Sedgefield 6 July 2007 23 January 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130123115611/http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/guide/seat-profiles/sedgefield/ dead Several other candidates contested the election. The UK Independence Party (UKIP) selected Toby Horton, who formerly contested the seat for the Conservatives in 1983, and in 1992 stood in Rother Valley. The Green Party of England and Wales chose Chris Haine, and the British National Party chose Andrew Spence, who was involved in the 2000 fuel protests and stood for UKIP in the seat in 2001. The leader of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party, Alan Hope, also stood, having previously contested a long list of seats in both general and by-elections. The English Democrats chose Stephen Gash, and Operation Christian Vote fielded barrister Tim Grainger. Norman Scarth stood as an independent "anti crime" candidate, having previously contested Chesterfield in 1997 as an "independent old age pensioner". Local independent councillor Paul Gittins stood on a platform calling for the regeneration of the centre of Newton Aycliffe.Greg Hurst, "Meet the man who would be Tony Blair", The Times Result Wilson held the seat for Labour with a majority reduced by over 11,000. The Liberal Democrats overtook the Conservatives for second place, with an 11% swing. The British National Party and independent local campaigner Paul Gittins both retained their deposits.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6907049.stm Labour holds on to Blair's seat 20 July 2007 BBC News 19 June 2023 The turnout for the by-election was down by 13.23 percentage points in comparison with 2005.2007-07-20 Tories shrug off by-election blow http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6907049.stm 2024-06-15 en-GB 2007 Sedgefield by-electionhttp://www.election.demon.co.uk/by2005.html Results of Byelections in the 2005–2010 Parliament Boothroyd David 2015-10-05 United Kingdom Election Results 27 December 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151227081306/http://www.election.demon.co.uk/by2005.html dead Labour Party (UK) Phil Wilson 12,528 44.8 –14.1 Liberal Democrats (UK) Greg Stone 5,572 19.9 +8.0 Conservative Party (UK) Graham Robb 4,082 14.6 +0.2 British National Party Andrew Spence 2,494 8.9 New Independent politician Paul Gittins 1,885 6.7 New UK Independence Party Toby Horton 536 1.9 +0.3 Green Party of England and Wales Chris Haine 348 1.2 New English Democrats Party Stephen Gash 177 0.6 New Christian Party (UK) Tim Grainger 177 0.6 New Official Monster Raving Loony Party Alan Hope 129 0.5 +0.1 Anti Crime Norman Scarth 34 0.1 New 6,956 24.9 –19.6 27,962 41.6 –20.6 Labour Party (UK) General Election 2005 result General election 2005: Sedgefield Labour Party (UK) Tony Blair 24,421 58.9 –6.0 Conservative Party (UK) Al Lockwood 5,972 14.4 –6.5 Liberal Democrats (UK) Robert Browne 4,935 11.9 +2.9 Independent politician Reg Keys 4,252 10.3 New UK Independence Party William Brown 646 1.6 –0.8 National Front (UK) Mark Farrell 253 0.6 New Veritas (political party) Fiona Luckhurst-Matthews 218 0.5 New Independent politician Berony Abraham 205 0.5 New Official Monster Raving Loony Party Melodie Staniforth 157 0.4 New Blair Must Go Party Jonathan Cockburn 103 0.2 New Senior Citizens Party Terry Pattinson 97 0.2 New UK Pensioners Party Cherri Gilham 82 0.2 New Independent politician Helen John 68 0.2 –0.4 Independent politician John Barker 45 0.1 New Independent politician Julian Brennan 17 0.0 New 18,449 44.5 +0.5 41,475 62.2 +0.2 Labour Party (UK) –0.2 References External links BBC News Labour's Sedgefield By-Election Website Liberal Democrats Sedgefield By-Election Website Conservative Sedgefield By-Election Website By-Election blog Sedgefield UK Independence Party Election leaflets from the by-election campaign Sedgefield by-election Sedgefield by-election Sedgefield Category:Sedgefield (borough) Category:2000s in County Durham Sedgefield by-election