1977 Birmingham Stechford by-election: Difference between revisions
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It also left the governing Labour Party without a majority and resulted in a vote of no confidence being issued, although the government won and was able to cling onto power by forming a [[Lib-Lab pact|pact]] with the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberals]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/23/newsid_2531000/2531277.stm BBC News]</ref> |
It also left the governing Labour Party without a majority and resulted in a vote of no confidence being issued, although the government won and was able to cling onto power by forming a [[Lib-Lab pact|pact]] with the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberals]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/23/newsid_2531000/2531277.stm BBC News]</ref> |
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The Conservative candidate [[Andrew MacKay]] won the election with a majority of nearly |
The Conservative candidate [[Andrew MacKay]] won the election with a majority of nearly 2,000, although ultimately he would only hold the seat until [[1979 United Kingdom general election|1979]] when it was regained for Labour.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge79/i03.htm |title=1979 results |access-date=24 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811162957/http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge79/i03.htm |archive-date=11 August 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> MacKay would go on to enjoy a long parliamentary career representing a number of constituencies. |
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The [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal Party]] candidate was Graham Gopsill, a [[Birmingham]] councillor who finished the by-election in a lowly fourth place. Gopsill would later serve the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] in [[Droitwich Spa]] until his death in 2009.<ref>[http://midworcslibdems.org.uk/news/000010/tributes_paid_to_the_late_councillor_graham_gopsill.html Obituary from local Liberal Democrats site] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100202191758/http://midworcslibdems.org.uk/news/000010/tributes_paid_to_the_late_councillor_graham_gopsill.html |date=2 February 2010 }}</ref> He was beaten into fourth by [[British National Front|National Front]] candidate [[Andrew Brons]], a veteran of a number of far right movements and member of the NF National Directorate who eventually became NF chairman in 1980.<ref>Duncan Campbell, [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/jun/08/european-elections-bnp 'Andrew Brons, the genteel face of neo-fascism'], ''[[The Guardian]]'' 8 June 2009</ref> Other candidates to appear on the ballot were leftists Brian Heron of the [[International Marxist Group]] and journalist [[Paul Foot (journalist)|Paul Foot]] for the [[Socialist Workers Party (UK)|Socialist Workers Party]]. |
The [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal Party]] candidate was Graham Gopsill, a [[Birmingham]] councillor who finished the by-election in a lowly fourth place. Gopsill would later serve the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] in [[Droitwich Spa]] until his death in 2009.<ref>[http://midworcslibdems.org.uk/news/000010/tributes_paid_to_the_late_councillor_graham_gopsill.html Obituary from local Liberal Democrats site] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100202191758/http://midworcslibdems.org.uk/news/000010/tributes_paid_to_the_late_councillor_graham_gopsill.html |date=2 February 2010 }}</ref> He was beaten into fourth by [[British National Front|National Front]] candidate [[Andrew Brons]], a veteran of a number of far right movements and member of the NF National Directorate who eventually became NF chairman in 1980.<ref>Duncan Campbell, [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/jun/08/european-elections-bnp 'Andrew Brons, the genteel face of neo-fascism'], ''[[The Guardian]]'' 8 June 2009</ref> Other candidates to appear on the ballot were leftists Brian Heron of the [[International Marxist Group]] and journalist [[Paul Foot (journalist)|Paul Foot]] for the [[Socialist Workers Party (UK)|Socialist Workers Party]]. |
Latest revision as of 02:24, 9 March 2024
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The 1977 Birmingham Stechford by-election, in Birmingham, on 31 March 1977 was held after Labour Member of Parliament (MP) Roy Jenkins resigned his seat following his appointment as President of the European Commission. A seat that had been solidly Labour since its formation in 1950, it was won by Andrew MacKay of the Conservative Party, before being regained by Labour in 1979. The by-election was noted for the strong performance of the National Front candidate and the presence of two far left candidates.[1]
Background
[edit]As a leading Labour sitting MP Roy Jenkins had hoped to become Foreign Secretary in the government of James Callaghan but was overlooked in favour of Anthony Crosland.[2] Following this Jenkins was nominated as President of the European Commission in succession to François-Xavier Ortoli, a move which necessitated his departure from Parliament.
Candidates
[edit]With the seat being solid Labour Party territory the by-election presented the possibility of a return to Parliament for Terry Davis, who had served as member for the defunct Bromsgrove seat from a by-election in 1971 until its abolition in 1974. Davis however failed to take the seat and began a pattern for the ailing Labour government who also lost the next by-election in Ashfield when David Marquand followed Jenkins to a role in the Commission.[3]
It also left the governing Labour Party without a majority and resulted in a vote of no confidence being issued, although the government won and was able to cling onto power by forming a pact with the Liberals.[4]
The Conservative candidate Andrew MacKay won the election with a majority of nearly 2,000, although ultimately he would only hold the seat until 1979 when it was regained for Labour.[5] MacKay would go on to enjoy a long parliamentary career representing a number of constituencies.
The Liberal Party candidate was Graham Gopsill, a Birmingham councillor who finished the by-election in a lowly fourth place. Gopsill would later serve the Liberal Democrats in Droitwich Spa until his death in 2009.[6] He was beaten into fourth by National Front candidate Andrew Brons, a veteran of a number of far right movements and member of the NF National Directorate who eventually became NF chairman in 1980.[7] Other candidates to appear on the ballot were leftists Brian Heron of the International Marxist Group and journalist Paul Foot for the Socialist Workers Party.
Result
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Andrew MacKay | 15,731 | 43.4 | +15.6 | |
Labour | Terry Davis | 13,782 | 38.0 | −19.6 | |
National Front | Andrew Brons | 2,955 | 8.2 | New | |
Liberal | Graham Gopsill | 2,901 | 8.0 | −6.6 | |
International Marxist | Brian Heron | 494 | 1.4 | New | |
Socialist Workers | Paul Foot | 377 | 1.0 | New | |
Majority | 1,949 | 5.4 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 36,240 | ||||
Conservative gain from Labour | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Roy Jenkins | 23,075 | 57.6 | +4.5 | |
Conservative | D. Wedgwood | 11,152 | 27.8 | −2.4 | |
Liberal | Graham Gopsill | 5,860 | 14.6 | −1.4 | |
Majority | 11,923 | 29.8 | +6.8 | ||
Turnout | 40,087 | 64.1 | −8.0 | ||
Labour hold | Swing |
References
[edit]- ^ Full results Archived 12 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Rosen, Greg (2001) Dictionary of Labour Biography, Politicos, p. 318
- ^ 1977 by-elections Archived 12 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ BBC News
- ^ "1979 results". Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
- ^ Obituary from local Liberal Democrats site Archived 2 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Duncan Campbell, 'Andrew Brons, the genteel face of neo-fascism', The Guardian 8 June 2009
- ^ "1977 By Election Results". Archived from the original on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2015.