Bromley and Chislehurst by-election, 2006
Encyclopedia
A by-election
was held in the UK parliament constituency of Bromley and Chislehurst in London
, following the death of Conservative
Member of Parliament
Eric Forth
on 17 May 2006. The writ for the electing of a new member was issued on 6 June for a polling day of 29 June 2006, the same day as the Blaenau Gwent by-elections
. The by-election was an astonishing rebuff to both the governing and main opposition parties. The Conservatives held the seat, but with their majority much reduced by the Liberal Democrats. By some measures, this was the worst performance by the Conservative opposition since at least 1930. Labour were pushed into fourth place by the UK Independence Party, a terrible night for them as they also failed to win the Blaenau Gwent by-elections. This was only the second time Labour had fallen to fourth place in an English by-election since World War II
, the 1989 Richmond (Yorks) by-election
being the other occasion and Labour would later drop to 5th place at the Henley by-election, 2008
.
, the London Assembly
Member for Bexley and Bromley
and leader of the Conservative group in the Assembly. The Liberal Democrats
selected London Borough of Bromley
councillor Ben Abbotts. He is the Liberal Democrat environment spokesman on Bromley Council. Labour
chose economist Rachel Reeves
, runner-up in 2005, to stand once again.
The Green Party
selected Ann Garrett as its candidate. Garrett stood as a Green Party candidate in the 2005 general election and the 2004 London Assembly elections.
The United Kingdom Independence Party
selected Nigel Farage
MEP, who represents South East England
in the European Parliament
.
The Official Monster Raving Loony Party
selected John Cartwright.
Two independent candidates were validly nominated: John Hemming-Clark and Nick Hadziannis. The English Democrats
selected Steven Uncles and candidates from the Money Reform Party and the National Front also ran. The Money Reform Party is a minor political party
who only fought this by-election.
As per the Senior Electoral Officer of Bromley Council, the electorate for this by-election was 72,206, an increase of 1.50% from the 2005 election.
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
was held in the UK parliament constituency of Bromley and Chislehurst in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, following the death of Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
Eric Forth
Eric Forth
Eric Forth was a British politician. He was the Conservative Member of the European Parliament for Birmingham North, then Member of Parliament for Mid Worcestershire and finally Bromley and Chislehurst at his death. He served as a junior minister in the governments of Margaret Thatcher and John...
on 17 May 2006. The writ for the electing of a new member was issued on 6 June for a polling day of 29 June 2006, the same day as the Blaenau Gwent by-elections
Blaenau Gwent by-elections, 2006
Two by-elections were held for the constituency of Blaenau Gwent in Wales following the death of Member of Parliament and Assembly Member Peter Law on 25 April 2006. As Law was the MP and Assembly Member , his death required by-elections in both the parliamentary seat and the equivalent Welsh...
. The by-election was an astonishing rebuff to both the governing and main opposition parties. The Conservatives held the seat, but with their majority much reduced by the Liberal Democrats. By some measures, this was the worst performance by the Conservative opposition since at least 1930. Labour were pushed into fourth place by the UK Independence Party, a terrible night for them as they also failed to win the Blaenau Gwent by-elections. This was only the second time Labour had fallen to fourth place in an English by-election since World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the 1989 Richmond (Yorks) by-election
Richmond by-election, 1989
A by-election was held in the Richmond constituency of the United Kingdom Parliament on 23 February 1989. It followed the resignation of the sitting Conservative Member of Parliament Leon Brittan on 31 December 1988, to allow him to take up the position of Vice-President of the European...
being the other occasion and Labour would later drop to 5th place at the Henley by-election, 2008
Henley by-election, 2008
The Henley by-election, 2008 to elect a member of the British House of Commons for the constituency of Henley in Oxfordshire was held on 26 June 2008. It followed the election of Boris Johnson as Mayor of London in May 2008...
.
Candidates
On 3 June 2006, the local Conservative Association selected Bob NeillBob Neill
Robert James MacGillivray "Bob" Neill is a British barrister and Conservative Party politician. He has served as the Member of Parliament for Bromley and Chislehurst since a by-election on 29 June 2006...
, the London Assembly
London Assembly
The London Assembly is an elected body, part of the Greater London Authority, that scrutinises the activities of the Mayor of London and has the power, with a two-thirds majority, to amend the mayor's annual budget. The assembly was established in 2000 and is headquartered at City Hall on the south...
Member for Bexley and Bromley
Bexley and Bromley (London Assembly constituency)
Bexley and Bromley is a constituency represented in the London Assembly.It consists of the combined area of the London Borough of Bexley and the London Borough of Bromley...
and leader of the Conservative group in the Assembly. The Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
selected London Borough of Bromley
London Borough of Bromley
The London Borough of Bromley is a London borough of south east London, England and forms part of Outer London. The principal town in the borough is Bromley.-Geography:...
councillor Ben Abbotts. He is the Liberal Democrat environment spokesman on Bromley Council. Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
chose economist Rachel Reeves
Rachel Reeves
Rachel Jane Reeves is a British economist and a Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Leeds West since 2010. She served as Shadow Pensions Minister from October 2010 until October 2011, when she was appointed as Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury by Ed...
, runner-up in 2005, to stand once again.
The Green Party
Green Party of England and Wales
The Green Party of England and Wales is a political party in England and Wales which follows the traditions of Green politics and maintains a strong commitment to social progressivism. It is the largest Green party in the United Kingdom, containing within it various regional divisions including...
selected Ann Garrett as its candidate. Garrett stood as a Green Party candidate in the 2005 general election and the 2004 London Assembly elections.
The United Kingdom Independence Party
United Kingdom Independence Party
The United Kingdom Independence Party is a eurosceptic and right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Whilst its primary goal is the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, the party has expanded beyond its single-issue image to develop a more comprehensive party platform.UKIP...
selected Nigel Farage
Nigel Farage
Nigel Paul Farage MEP , a position he previously held from September 2006 to November 2009. He is a current Member of the European Parliament for South East England and co-chairs the Eurosceptic Europe of Freedom and Democracy group....
MEP, who represents South East England
South East England (European Parliament constituency)
South East England is a constituency of the European Parliament. It currently elects 10 Members of the European Parliament using the D'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.- Boundaries :...
in the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
.
The Official Monster Raving Loony Party
Official Monster Raving Loony Party
The Official Monster Raving Loony Party is a registered political party established in the United Kingdom in 1983 by musician and politician David Sutch , better known as Screaming Lord Sutch.-History:...
selected John Cartwright.
Two independent candidates were validly nominated: John Hemming-Clark and Nick Hadziannis. The English Democrats
English Democrats Party
The English Democrats are an English federalist political party, committed to the formation of a devolved English Parliament with at least the same powers as those granted to the Scottish Parliament. Whilst not supporting English Independence, the English Democrats consider themselves the English...
selected Steven Uncles and candidates from the Money Reform Party and the National Front also ran. The Money Reform Party is a minor political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
who only fought this by-election.
As per the Senior Electoral Officer of Bromley Council, the electorate for this by-election was 72,206, an increase of 1.50% from the 2005 election.
2005 general election result
See also
- Bromley and Chislehurst constituency
- List of United Kingdom by-elections
- London Borough of BromleyLondon Borough of BromleyThe London Borough of Bromley is a London borough of south east London, England and forms part of Outer London. The principal town in the borough is Bromley.-Geography:...
External links
- Campaign literature from the by-election
- Bromley & Chislehurst Conservatives
- Ben Abbotts & Bromley Liberal Democrats
- Rachel Reeves - Labour Party
- Bromley Green Party
- John Hemming-Clark
- Paul Winnett - National Front
- Nick Hadziannis
- Nigel Farage & UKIP Bromley & Chislehurst
- Steven Uncles - English Democrats
- Anne Belsey - Money Reform Party