1997 Uxbridge by-election

Election in the United Kingdom September 2020 April 2012 1997 Uxbridge by-election parliamentary United Kingdom Uxbridge parliamentary seat no 1997 United Kingdom general election 1997 2001 United Kingdom general election 2001 31 July 1997 55.2% 17.1% John Randall Official portrait of Lord Randall of Uxbridge crop 2.jpg Conservative Party (UK) 16,288 51.1% 7.6% Andy Slaughter 120px Labour Party (UK) 12,522 39.3% 2.5% Keith Kerr 90px Liberal Democrats (UK) 1,792 5.6% 5.3% MP Subsequent MP Michael Shersby Conservative Party (UK) John Randall Conservative Party (UK) A by-election for the United Kingdom parliamentary constituency of Uxbridge was held on 31 July 1997 following the death of incumbent Conservative Party Member of Parliament (MP) Michael Shersby. In their first by-election hold since 1989, John Randall held the seat for the Conservatives. Background The vacancy was caused by the death of the Conservative MP Michael Shersby, who died unexpectedly on 8 May 1997, just seven days after his being returned to the House of Commons at the 1997 general election. Although that election saw the end of 18 years of Conservative rule as Labour won by a landslide, Shersby won a narrow victory over Labour Party candidate David Williams. The by-election was called for Thursday, 31 July 1997 and was the first by-election of the 1997-2001 parliament. Candidates David Williams, the Labour general election candidate was not placed on the by-election shortlist, which the BBC reported had "infuriated" some members.Tories hold onto Uxbridge https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/news/07/0731/result.shtml BBC Politics 97 28 June 2015 BBC News Activist Michael Shrimpton was also passed over, leading to his defection to the Conservatives. The Labour Party eventually chose Andy Slaughter, the Leader of Hammersmith and Fulham Council, over the Barrister Willie Bach from Nottinghamshire. The Conservative Party selected John Randall, the Managing Director of the century-old Randall's Furniture Store in Uxbridge.May 2019 Keith Kerr, a senior executive with British Airways, represented the Liberal Democrats. Eight other candidates also stood, including perennial candidates Screaming Lord Sutch and Ronnie Carroll. Campaign Labour's concentrated campaign included an unusual visit by Prime Minister Tony Blair. This was unusual in that a sitting prime minister does not normally campaign personally in by-elections for fear that a defeat may harm his own political standing. Conservative leader William Hague was the first leader of his party to campaign in a by-election for 20 years.May 2019 The Conservative campaign was criticised by some members for keeping records of how much time would-be future parliamentary candidates had spent in the constituency.Tories Mark Time as Nominations Close for Uxbridge By-election https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/news/07/0718/uxbridge.shtml BBC Politics 97 BBC News Result and aftermath In the end, the Conservative candidate was elected by a large majority, gaining over 50% of all votes cast, while the Labour and Liberal Democrat votes both fell. It was the first time the Conservatives held onto a seat at a by-election since the 1989 Richmond by-election (when the candidate was William Hague - who had become leader of the party shortly before the Uxbridge by-election).May 2019 Randall represented the seat (and its successor, Uxbridge and South Ruislip) until standing down in 2015.Sir John Randall to step down as Uxbridge MP http://www.hillingdontimes.co.uk/news/localnews/11332452.Sir_John_Randall_to_step_down_as_Uxbridge_MP___speculation_grows_over_Boris_Johnson_as_successor/?ref=var_0 Hillingdon Times 28 June 2015 Newsquest London & Essex 10 July 2014 Slaughter entered parliament eight years later, winning the seat of Ealing, Acton and Shepherds Bush in 2005. He has represented the Hammersmith constituency since 2010.Andy Slaughter MP http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/andy-slaughter/1516 UK Parliament 28 June 2015 Uxbridge by-election, 1997Tories hold onto Uxbridge https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/news/07/0731/result.shtml BBC Politics 97 28 June 2015 BBC News Conservative Party (UK) John Randall 16,288 51.1 +7.6 Labour Party (UK) Andy Slaughter 12,522 39.3 –2.5 Liberal Democrats (UK) Keith Kerr 1,792 5.6 –5.3 Official Monster Raving Loony Party Screaming Lord Sutch 396 1.3 New Socialist Party (England and Wales) Julia Leonard 259 0.8 –0.1 British National Party Frances Taylor 205 0.7 New National Democrats (United Kingdom) Ian Anderson 157 0.5 New National Front (United Kingdom) John McAuley 110 0.3 New Independent Liberal Henry Middleton 69 0.2 New UK Independence Party James Feisenberger 39 0.1 New Vote For Yourself Rainbow Dream Ticket Ronnie Carroll 30 0.1 New 3,766 11.8 +10.1 31,867 55.2 –16.9 Conservative Party (UK) +5.1 General election 1997: Uxbridge Conservative Party (UK) Michael Shersby 18,095 43.5 -12.9 Labour Party (UK) David Williams 17,371 41.8 +12.4 Liberal Democrats (UK) Andrew Malyan 4,528 10.9 -1.2 Referendum Party Garrick Aird 1,153 2.8 New Socialist Party (England and Wales) Julia Leonard 398 1.0 New 724 1.7 -25.4 41,545 72.3 -6.6 Conservative Party (UK) -12.7 See also 2023 Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election List of United Kingdom by-elections References Labour Activist Defects in Uxbridge https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/news/07/0725/uxbridge.shtml BBC News 25 July 1997 22 June 2016 Copley Joy Blair hits the campaign trail again https://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=/archive/1997/07/26/nux26.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20030924034435/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=%2Farchive%2F1997%2F07%2F26%2Fnux26.html The Daily Telegraph 26 July 1997 24 September 2016 24 September 2003 External links Campaign literature from the by-election British Parliamentary By-Elections (Archived) Uxbridge by-election Uxbridge,1997 Uxbridge,1997 Uxbridge by-election Uxbridge by-election Category:Uxbridge