1990 Bootle by-elections

Two UK parliamentary by-elections November 2019 Two by-elections for the United Kingdom parliamentary constituency of Bootle were held in 1990; the first on 24 May, and the second on 8 November. The first by-election, caused by the death of incumbent Labour Party Member of Parliament (MP) Allan Roberts, was won by Labour candidate Michael Carr. On 20 July, Carr died after just 57 days in office, triggering another by-election which was won by Joe Benton, who once again held the seat for Labour. Bootle was one of the Labour Party's safest seats, having held the seat since 1945. This was the first instance of multiple by-elections being held in the same constituency in the same year since the April and August by-elections in Fermanagh and South Tyrone of 1981. 24 May by-election May 1990 Bootle by-election parliamentary United Kingdom Constituency of Bootle no 1987 United Kingdom general election 1987 24 May 1990 Michael Carr Labour Party (UK) 26,737 75.4% 8.5% James Clappison Conservative Party (UK) 3,220 9.1% 11.0% John Cunningham Liberal Democrats (UK) 3,179 8.9% 4.1% MP Subsequent MP Allan Roberts Labour Party (UK) Michael Carr Labour Party (UK) 50.6% ( 22.3%) 1990 Bootle by-elections#November by-election 1990 The first by-election was caused by the death of Labour MP Allan Roberts, on 21 March 1990. Roberts had held the seat since the 1979 general election, and his majority had remained over 15,000 votes; even at the 1983 general election, which was a landslide victory for the Conservative Party. At the 1987 general election, Roberts' majority had increased to almost 25,000 votes. For the by-election, Labour selected Michael Carr, a full-time official for the Transport and General Workers Union, and a former Labour Party councillor. The Conservatives, who had consistently taken second place in the seat but were struggling in the national polls, nominated James Clappison, a barrister from Yorkshire. He had unsuccessfully contested Barnsley East for the Conservative Party in 1987, and the South Yorkshire constituency at the 1989 European Parliament election. The newly named Liberal Democrats had suffered in the national polls since their formation by a merger of the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and in Bootle they were challenged by both David Owen's 'continuing' Social Democratic Party and Michael Meadowcroft's 'continuing' Liberal Party, each consisting of members of the former SDP–Liberal Alliance parties who had rejected their merger. The Green Party also nominated a candidate. Screaming Lord Sutch of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party and an independent rounded out the field. The Loonies gained publicity after the Labour Party election agent unsuccessfully tried to get Sutch charged with having a public house as an election campaign headquarters. This had not been illegal since 1985.Lord Sutch blames raid on 'Kinnock's killjoys' Liverpool Daily Echo 16 May 1990 11https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1985/50/schedule/4/paragraph/42/enacted Representation of the People Act 1985 Schedule 4 Part II paragraph 42 UK legislation.gov.uk 2025-06-21 The election was held on 24 May. Despite having to contend with a large field of candidates, Carr increased the Labour vote, to win with more than three-quarters of all the votes cast. The Conservative vote halved, although they retained second place, as the Liberal Democrat vote could not match that of the SDP–Liberal Alliance in 1987. The Greens polled 3.6%, while the continuing Liberals fared poorly, and the 'continuing' Social Democrats were beaten even by the Monster Raving Loonies. Sutch jokingly offered to form a coalition with them, and the party was wound up soon afterwards, but Holmes formed yet another Social Democratic Party of members who wished to continue.July 2026 Bootle by-election, May 1990http://www.election.demon.co.uk/by1987.html Results of Byelections in the 1987-92 Parliament Boothroyd David 2015-10-01 United Kingdom Election Results Labour Party (UK) Michael Carr 26,737 75.4 +8.5 Conservative Party (UK) James Clappison 3,220 9.1 − 11.0 Liberal Democrats (UK) John Cunningham 3,179 8.9 − 4.1 Green Party (UK) Sean Brady 1,269 3.6 N/A Liberal Party (UK, 1989) Kevin White 474 1.3 N/A Official Monster Raving Loony Party Lord David Sutch 418 1.2 N/A Social Democratic Party (UK, 1988) Jack Holmes 155 0.4 N/A Independent (politician) T. J. Schofield 27 0.1 N/A 23,517 66.3 +19.5 35,477 50.6 Labour Party (UK) +9.7 8 November by-election November 1990 Bootle by-election parliamentary United Kingdom Constituency of Bootle no 1990 Bootle by-elections#May by-election May 1990 8 November 1990 Joe Benton x160px Labour Party (UK) 22,052 78.2% 2.8% James Clappison Con Conservative Party (UK) 2,587 9.2% 0.1% John Cunningham LD Liberal Democrats (UK) 2,216 7.9% 1.0% MP Subsequent MP Michael Carr Labour Party (UK) Joe Benton Labour Party (UK) 39.7% ( 10.9%) 1992 United Kingdom general election 1992 Carr died on 20 July, only 57 days after his by-election victory. A second by-election was called for 8 November. Labour nominated Joe Benton, the leader of Sefton Borough Council, a local Justice of the Peace and a personnel manager with Girobank. All the other parties nominated the same candidates as in May, except for the Social Democratic Party which did not participate (neither did the independent Schofield). The only addition to the field was David Black, a candidate in the previous year's Vauxhall and Vale of Glamorgan by-elections, standing as "Christian Alliance". On a low turnout of 39.7%, Benton increased the Labour Party majority again, taking 78.2% of the vote. The Conservative vote held steady, while all the other parties fell back. This allowed the Loonies to overtake the continuing Liberal Party. Benton remained as the Member of Parliament for Bootle until he retired in 2015,Joe Benton to step down as Labour MP for Bootle https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27822202 BBC News BBC 13 May 2015 12 June 2014 while Clappison was elected in 1992 for Hertsmere; he too retired in 2015. Bootle by-election, November 1990http://www.election.demon.co.uk/by1987.html Results of Byelections in the 1987-92 Parliament Boothroyd David 2015-10-01 United Kingdom Election Results Labour Party (UK) Joe Benton 22,052 78.2 + 2.8 Conservative Party (UK) James Clappison 2,587 9.2 + 0.1 Liberal Democrats (UK) John Cunningham 2,216 7.9 - 1.0 Green Party of England and Wales Sean Brady 557 2.0 - 1.6 Official Monster Raving Loony Party Lord David Sutch 310 1.1 - 0.1 Liberal Party (UK, 1989) Kevin White 291 1.0 - 0.3 Christian Alliance David Black 132 0.5 N/A 19,465 69.1 28,145 39.7 Labour Party (UK) + 1.5 References See also 1911 Bootle by-election Bootle by-elections Bootle by-elections Category:1990s in Merseyside Category:By-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom in Merseyside constituencies Category:Politics of the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton Bootle by-elections Bootle by-elections Category:Bootle