You are here:

House of Commons Library

By-election results since the 2015 General Election

Published Friday, February 24, 2017

This Commons Library Briefing Paper sets out results of the by-elections held since the 2015 election. Currently there have been 10 by-elections, the latest two were held on 23 February 2017. Full details are presented in the associated PDF but an overview of the recent by-election results are shown below.

Jump to full report >>

Stoke-on-Trent Central - 23 February 2017

The election was called following the resignation of Tristram Hunt on 23 January 2017. Gareth Snell (Labour Party) was elected MP with a 2,620 (12.4%) majority. 

Overview of results

  • Gareth Snell (Labour Party) - 7,853 (37.1%)
  • Paul Nuttall (UKIP) - 5,233 (24.7%)
  • Jack Brereton (Conservative) - 5,154 (24.3%)
  • Zulfiqar Ali (Liberal Democrats) 2,083 (9.8%)
  • Other (6 candidates) – 847 (4.0%)

Majority of winning candidate - 2,620 (12.4%)

Total poll - 21,170 (not including invalid votes)

Turnout - 38.1%

Copeland - 23 February 2017

The election was called following the resignation of Jamieson Reed on 23 January 2017. Trudy Harrison (Conservatives) was elected MP with 44.3% of the vote (a 6.9% majority). 

Overview of results

  • Trudy Harrison (Conservatives) – 13,748 (44.3%)
  • Gillian Troughton (Labour) – 11,601 (37.3%)
  • Rebecca Hanson (Liberal Democrats) – 2,252 (7.2%)
  • Fiona Mills (UKIP) - 2,025 (6.5%)
  • Other (3 candidates) – 1,442 (4.6%)

Majority of winning candidate – 2,147 (6.9%)

Total poll - 31,068 (not including invalid votes)

Turnout - 51.3% 

Sleaford and North Hykeham - 8 December 2016

The election was called following the resignation of Stephen Phillips on 4 November 2016. Caroline Johnson (Conservatives) was elected MP with 53.5% of the vote (a 40.0% majority). 

Overview of results

  • Caroline Johnson (Conservatives) – 17,570 (53.5%)
  • Victoria Ayling (UKIP) – 4,426 (13.5%)
  • Ross Pepper – 3,606 (11.0%)
  • Jim Clarke (Labour) - 3,363 (10.2%)
  • Other (6 candidates) – 3,869 (11.8%)

Majority of winning candidate – 13,144 (40.0%)

Total poll - 32,834 (not including invalid votes)

Turnout - 37.0% 

Richmond Park - 1 December 2016

The election was called following the resignation of Zac Goldsmith on 25 October 2016. Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrats) was elected MP with 49.7% of the vote (a 4.5% majority). The writ was moved on 27 October.

Overview of results

  • Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrats) – 20,510 (49.7%)
  • Zac Goldsmith (Independent) – 18,638 (45.1%)
  • Christian Wolmar (Labour) – 1,515 (3.7%)
  • Other (5 candidates) – 620 (1.5%)

Majority of winning candidate – 1,872 (4.2%)

Total poll - 41,283 (not including invalid votes)

Turnout - 53.4% 

Batley and Spen - 20 October 2016

The election was called following the death of Jo Cox on 16 June 2016. Tracy Brabin has been elected (Labour Party) with 85.8% of the vote. 

The Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, UKIP and Green Party decided not to stand at this election out of respect

Overview of results

  • Tracy Brabin (Labour Party) – 17,506 (85.8%)
  • Other parties (9 candidates) – 2,887 (14.2%)

Total poll – 20,393 (not including invalid votes)

Turnout – 25.6%

Witney - 20 October 2016

The election was called following the resignation of David Cameron on 12 September 2016. Robert Courts (Conservative Party) was elected MP with 45.0% of the vote (a 14.8% majority). The writ was moved on 15 September.

Overview of results

  • Robert Courts (Conservative Party) – 17,313 (45.0%)
  • Elizabeth Leffman (Liberal Democrats) – 11,611 (30.2%)
  • Duncan Enright (Labour) – 5,765 (15.0%)
  • Larry Sanders (Green Party) – 1,363 (3.5%)
  • Dickie Bird (UK Independence Party) – 1,354 (3.5%)
  • Other (9 candidates) – 1,049 (2.7%)

Majority of winning candidate – 5,702 (14.8%)

Total poll - 38,455 (not including invalid votes)

Turnout - 46.7%

Tooting - 16 June 2016

The election was called when Sadiq Khan resigned as MP for Tooting on 9 May 2016 after London Mayor election on 5 May 2016. Rosena Allin-Khan (Labour Party) was elected MP with a 6,357 (19.9%) majority. 

Overview of results

  • Rosena Allin-Khan (Labour Party) - 17,894 (55.9%)
  • Dan Watkins (Conservative Party) - 11,537 (36.1%)
  • Esther Obiri-Darko (Green Party) - 830 (2.6%)
  • Alexander Glassbrook (Liberal Democrats) 820 (2.6%)
  • Other (10 candidates) – 918 (2.9%)

Majority of winning candidate - 6,357 (19.9%)

Total poll - 31,999 (not including invalid votes)

Turnout - 42.8%

Ogmore - 5 May 2016

The election was called after the resignation of Huw Irranca-Davies who switched from Ogmore Westminster MP to become the constituency's Assembly Member (AM). 

Overview of results

  • Christopher Elmore (Labour Party) - 12,166 (52.2%)
  • Glenda Davies (UK Independence Party) - 3,808 (16.3%)
  • Abi Thomas (Plaid Cymru) - 3,683 (15.8%)
  • Alex Williams (Conservative Party) - 2,956 (12.7%)
  • Other (1 candidate) – 702 (3.0%)

Majority of winning candidate - 8,358 (35.8%)

Total poll - 23,315 (not including invalid votes)

Turnout - 42.4%

Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough - 5 May 2016

The election was called after the death of Harry Harpham MP on 4 February 2016. 

Overview of results

  • Gill Furniss (Labour Party) - 14,087 (62.4%)
  • Steve Winstone (UK Independence Party) - 4,497 (19.9%)
  • Mohammed Shaffaq (Liberal Democrats) - 1,385 (6.1%)
  • Spencer Pitfield (Conservative Party) - 1,267 (5.6%)
  • Other (3 candidates) - 1,345 (6.0%)

Majority of winning candidate - 9,590 (42.5%)

Total poll - 22,581 (not including invalid votes)

Turnout - 33.0%

Oldham West and Royton - 3 December 2015

The election was called after the death of Rt Hon. Michael Meacher MP on 21 October 2015. 

Overview of results

  • Jim McMahon (Labour Party) - 17,209 (62.1%)
  • John Bickley (UK Independence Party) - 6,487 (23.4%)
  • James Daly (Conservative Party) - 2,596 (9.4%)
  • Jane Brophy (Liberal Democrats) - 1,024 (3.7%)
  • Other (2 candidates) – 390 (1.4%)

Majority of winning candidate - 10,722 (38.7%)

Total poll - 27,706 (not including invalid votes)

Turnout - 40.1%

Further information

Publication details

Commons Briefing papers CBP-7417

Authors: Oliver Hawkins; Christopher Watson

Topics: By-elections, Election results : UK

Share this page

Stay up to date

  • Subscribe to RSS feed Subscribe to Email alerts Commons Briefing papers

House of Commons Library

The House of Commons Library provides research, analysis and information services for MPs and their staff.