1996 Barnsley East by-election

The Barnsley East by-election was held on 12 December 1996, following the death of the Labour Party Member of Parliament Terry Patchett for Barnsley East, in South Yorkshire, England, on 11 October.

1996 Barnsley East by-election

← 1992 12 December 1996 1997 →
  First party Second party
 
Candidate Jeff Ennis David Willis
Party Labour Liberal Democrats
Popular vote 13,683 1,502
Percentage 76.4% 8.4%
Swing Decrease0.8pp Decrease0.2pp

  Third party Fourth party
 
Candidate Jane Ellison Ken Chapstick
Party Conservative Socialist Labour
Popular vote 1,299 949
Percentage 7.3% 5.3%
Swing Decrease6.9pp New

MP before election

Terry Patchett
Labour

Elected MP

Jeff Ennis
Labour

Barnsley council leader Jeff Ennis held the seat for Labour on an increased majority of 68% and more than three quarters of the votes, despite a low voter turnout. Despite a slight reduction in the vote for the Liberal Democrats, they overtook the Conservative Party for second place.

The Socialist Labour Party, on their leader Arthur Scargill's home territory, was able to save its deposit.

With the election of a new Labour MP, the Conservatives lost their Parliamentary majority.

Barnsley East by-election, 1996[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jeff Ennis 13,683 76.4 −0.8
Liberal Democrats David Willis 1,502 8.4 −0.2
Conservative Jane Ellison 1,299 7.3 −6.9
Socialist Labour Ken Capstick 949 5.3 New
UKIP Nikolai Tolstoy 378 2.1 New
Socialist Equality Julie Hyland 89 0.5 New
Majority 12,181 68.0 +5.0
Turnout 17,900 33.7 −39.0
Labour hold Swing
General election 1992: Barnsley East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Terry Patchett 30,346 77.2 +2.7
Conservative John Proctor 5,569 14.2 +0.2
Liberal Democrats Sylvia Anginotti 3,399 8.6 −2.9
Majority 24,777 63.0 +2.5
Turnout 39,314 72.7 +0.1
Labour hold Swing

References

edit
  1. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Results of Byelections in the 1992-97 Parliament". United Kingdom Election Results. Archived from the original on 20 July 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2015.