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On 20 March, the [[Social Democratic Party (UK, 1990–present)|Social Democratic Party]] (SDP) announced that they intend to stand in the by-election.<ref>{{Cite web|date=20 March 2021|last=Ledwith|first=Gavin|title='Together we will break the stranglehold of the two-party system' says latest party to join by-election battle|url=https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/people/together-we-will-break-the-stranglehold-of-the-two-party-system-says-latest-party-to-join-hartlepool-by-election-battle-3172864|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-20|website=The Hartlepool Mail|language=en}}</ref> On 29 March, the SDP announced that its candidate would be David Bettney, a former [[regimental sergeant major]] in the [[Light Dragoons]].<ref>{{cite news|date=29 March 2021|title=SDP candidate at Hartlepool by-election promises to work 'night and day' for town if elected|work=Hartlepool Mail|url=https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/politics/sdp-candidate-at-hartlepool-by-election-promises-to-work-night-and-day-for-town-if-elected-3182277|accessdate=29 March 2021}}</ref> On 22 March, Gemma Evans from the [[Women's Equality Party]] expressed her intention to stand.<ref>{{cite news|title='We can’t let politicians get away with inaction': Hartlepool by-election candidate demands action on tackling violence against women and girls|first=Zoe|last=Tidman|date=22 March 2021|accessdate=23 March 2021|work=The Independent|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/hartlepool-byelection-womens-equality-party-b1820628.html}}</ref> On 24 March, the [[North East Party]] announced that former Labour MP and founding party member [[Hilton Dawson]] would be their candidate for the by-election.<ref>{{Cite web|date=24 March 2021|title=North East Party reveals Hilton Dawson as Hartlepool By-Election Candidate|url=https://sunderlandglobalmedia.com/2021/03/24/the-north-east-party-reveals-hilton-dawson-as-hartlepool-by-election-candidate|access-date=24 March 2021|website=Sunderland Global Media|language=en-GB}}</ref>
On 20 March, the [[Social Democratic Party (UK, 1990–present)|Social Democratic Party]] (SDP) announced that they intend to stand in the by-election.<ref>{{Cite web|date=20 March 2021|last=Ledwith|first=Gavin|title='Together we will break the stranglehold of the two-party system' says latest party to join by-election battle|url=https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/people/together-we-will-break-the-stranglehold-of-the-two-party-system-says-latest-party-to-join-hartlepool-by-election-battle-3172864|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-20|website=The Hartlepool Mail|language=en}}</ref> On 29 March, the SDP announced that its candidate would be David Bettney, a former [[regimental sergeant major]] in the [[Light Dragoons]].<ref>{{cite news|date=29 March 2021|title=SDP candidate at Hartlepool by-election promises to work 'night and day' for town if elected|work=Hartlepool Mail|url=https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/politics/sdp-candidate-at-hartlepool-by-election-promises-to-work-night-and-day-for-town-if-elected-3182277|accessdate=29 March 2021}}</ref> On 22 March, Gemma Evans from the [[Women's Equality Party]] expressed her intention to stand.<ref>{{cite news|title='We can’t let politicians get away with inaction': Hartlepool by-election candidate demands action on tackling violence against women and girls|first=Zoe|last=Tidman|date=22 March 2021|accessdate=23 March 2021|work=The Independent|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/hartlepool-byelection-womens-equality-party-b1820628.html}}</ref> On 24 March, the [[North East Party]] announced that former Labour MP and founding party member [[Hilton Dawson]] would be their candidate for the by-election.<ref>{{Cite web|date=24 March 2021|title=North East Party reveals Hilton Dawson as Hartlepool By-Election Candidate|url=https://sunderlandglobalmedia.com/2021/03/24/the-north-east-party-reveals-hilton-dawson-as-hartlepool-by-election-candidate|access-date=24 March 2021|website=Sunderland Global Media|language=en-GB}}</ref>
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Independent (politician)|candidate=Samantha Lee<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/19212128.hartlepool-mam-stand-independent-mp-by-election/|title=Hartlepool mam to stand as Independent MP for by-election|work=Northern Echo|date=6 April 2021|accessdate=9 April 2021}}</ref><ref>https://www.facebook.com/SamLeeforMP/</ref><ref>https://wikitacticalvoting.miraheze.org/wiki/Hartlepool#Candidates_and_timetable</ref> |votes=|percentage=|change=}}

On 26 March, the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] selected farmer and [[Hambleton District]] Cllr Jill Mortimer as their candidate in the by-election.<ref>{{cite news|date=26 March 2021|title=Conservatives announce Jill Mortimer as candidate for Hartlepool by-election|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/19191863.conservatives-announce-jill-mortimer-candidate-hartlepool-by-election/|access-date=26 March 2021|website=The Northern Echo|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tees-56549471|date=|title= Farmer to stand for Conservatives in Hartlepool by-election|access-date=|website=bbc.co.uk}}</ref> She was previously the Conservative candidate in [[Leeds East (UK Parliament constituency)|Leeds East]] at the 2019 election.
On 26 March, the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] selected farmer and [[Hambleton District]] Cllr Jill Mortimer as their candidate in the by-election.<ref>{{cite news|date=26 March 2021|title=Conservatives announce Jill Mortimer as candidate for Hartlepool by-election|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/19191863.conservatives-announce-jill-mortimer-candidate-hartlepool-by-election/|access-date=26 March 2021|website=The Northern Echo|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tees-56549471|date=|title= Farmer to stand for Conservatives in Hartlepool by-election|access-date=|website=bbc.co.uk}}</ref> She was previously the Conservative candidate in [[Leeds East (UK Parliament constituency)|Leeds East]] at the 2019 election.



Revision as of 13:05, 9 April 2021

2021 Hartlepool by-election
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Hartlepool constituency

Location of Hartlepool within the former county of Cleveland

Incumbent MP

Mike Hill
Labour



The 2021 Hartlepool by-election is a by-election to be held in the UK parliamentary constituency of Hartlepool following the resignation of the sitting Member of Parliament (MP), Mike Hill.[1] It will be held on 6 May 2021 alongside elections to the Borough Council, Tees Valley Mayor, and Cleveland Police and Crimes Commissioner.[2] The seat is considered to be in the red wall, a set of constituencies that historically supported the Labour Party but where the party is being challenged by increasing Conservative support.[3]

This will be the first by-election to the parliament elected in 2019.[4] The 21-month gap between the last by-election in Brecon and Radnorshire in August 2019 and the polling day of the by-election in Hartlepool will be the longest since World War II.[5]

Background

Constituency

Hartlepool, named after the town of the same name, has been held by the Labour Party since 1964. The seat includes the town of Hartlepool itself and the nearby villages of Hart, Elwick, Greatham, Newton Bewley and Dalton Piercy.

In the 2016 European Union membership referendum, the Hartlepool Council area, which covers the same area as the constituency, voted 69.6% to 30.4% to leave the European Union (EU).[6]

Greatham, County Durham.

History

Former MPs have included Royal Navy officer John Kerans and former cabinet minister Peter Mandelson.[7]

The 2004 by-election saw a huge swing to the Liberal Democrats, while the UK Independence Party came in a close second place at the 2015 general election.

Hill is due to face an employment tribunal later in the year following allegations of sexual harassment and victimisation.[4] Hill was suspended from the Labour Party in September 2019 over allegations of sexual harassment but reinstated in October 2019.[8] In January 2020 Hill's request for anonymity was turned down in an upcoming employment tribunal related to the accusations. The alleged victim stated that she had also made a report to the Metropolitan Police at the time of the original accusations.[9] On 16 March 2021, Hill announced his resignation with immediate effect.[4]

Candidates and timetable

The following candidates have been reported as intending to stand. The full list of candidates will be published on 8 April 2021.

By-election 2021: Hartlepool[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SDP David Bettney
Monster Raving Loony The Incredible Flying Brick
North East Hilton Dawson
Women's Equality Gemma Evans
Green Rachel Featherstone
Independent Adam Gaines
Liberal Democrats Andrew Hagon
Freedom Alliance Steve Jack
No description Chris Killick
Independent Sam Lee
Heritage Party (UK) Claire Martin
Conservative Jill Mortimer
Reform UK John Prescott[a]
Independent Thelma Walker
Independent W. Ralph Ward-Jackson
Labour Paul Williams
Majority
Turnout

NHS doctor and former MP Paul Williams was selected on 18 March as the Labour candidate.[11] Williams represented the nearby constituency of Stockton South but lost his seat at the 2019 election.[12] He had been standing for the position of Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner, to be elected in May 2021, but withdrew from that contest in order to stand in Hartlepool.[13] Labour was criticised for the conduct of its selection process, which gave candidates one day to submit application papers. An unnamed Labour MP accused Labour's leadership of a "stitch-up", and alleged that the speed of Labour's selection had disadvantaged local party members.[14] Labour leader Keir Starmer said that the local party had written to Labour headquarters to identify Williams as their preferred choice.[15] While Williams was a vocal advocate of a second referendum on EU membership, the constituency of Hartlepool supported Brexit by almost 70%, leading to criticism after he deleted his pro-EU tweets before his candidacy.[16]

On 17 March, the UK Independence Party (UKIP) announced their intention to stand a candidate.[17] The same day, the Northern Independence Party announced their intention to contest the by-election.[18] Later in March they selected as their candidate former Labour MP Thelma Walker, who represented the West Yorkshire constituency of Colne Valley but lost her seat at the 2019 election.[19]

On 17 March, Reform UK Leader Richard Tice, who contested the seat in 2019, told LBC that the party intends to stand a candidate.[20] On 31 March, the party selected businessman John Prescott (no relation to the former deputy prime minister) as their candidate. He was the party's candidate for Stockton South in the 2019 election, under its previous name of the Brexit Party.[21]

On 20 March, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) announced that they intend to stand in the by-election.[22] On 29 March, the SDP announced that its candidate would be David Bettney, a former regimental sergeant major in the Light Dragoons.[23] On 22 March, Gemma Evans from the Women's Equality Party expressed her intention to stand.[24] On 24 March, the North East Party announced that former Labour MP and founding party member Hilton Dawson would be their candidate for the by-election.[25] |- class="vcard" | style="background-color: #DCDCDC; width: 5px;" | | class="org" style="width: 130px" | Independent | class="fn" | Samantha Lee[26][27][28] | style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" | | style="color: #2C2C2C; vertical-align: middle; font-size: smaller; text-align: center;" class="table-na" | | style="color: #2C2C2C; vertical-align: middle; font-size: smaller; text-align: center;" class="table-na" | |-

On 26 March, the Conservative Party selected farmer and Hambleton District Cllr Jill Mortimer as their candidate in the by-election.[29][30] She was previously the Conservative candidate in Leeds East at the 2019 election.

On 31 March, the Official Monster Raving Loony Party selected party treasurer Nick Delves as their candidate.[31] On 2 April, local pub owner Adam Gaines announced his intention to stand as an independent candidate.[32]

On 2 April, the Liberal Democrats selected schoolteacher Andy Hagon as their candidate. Hagon was the party's candidate for the constituency in both the 2017 and 2019 elections.[33]

On 6 April, former journalist and local businesswoman Samantha 'Sam' Lee announced her intention to stand as an independent candidate lobbying for Hartlepool to be awarded freeport status.[34]

On 7 April, Rachel Featherstone, a lecturer at Teesside University, was selected as the Green Party candidate.[35] Featherstone was previously her party's candidate for Sunderland Central in 2015, 2017, and 2019, and was head of Green Party List in North East England at the 2019 European election.

On 8 April, local businessmen Ralph Ward-Jackson, descendent of West Hartlepool founder and 19th century Conservative MP for the The Hartlepools Constituency Ralph Ward Jackson, declared that he had filed to run, citing the town's lack of a hospital and closure of the magistrate court.[36] Ward-Jackson had previously been selected by the local Conservative Party to contest the seat at the 2019 General election, but ultimately withdrew to support the Brexit Party,[37] and was replaced as Conservative candidate by Stockton Cllr Stefan Houghton.

Campaign

During the by-election campaign, Labour candidate Paul Williams apologised for previously posting a tweet using the term "Tory MILFs" in 2011.[38] He was defended by the Labour Party leader, Keir Starmer, while Labour peer and former shadow Attorney General Shami Chakrabarti called for him to be replaced "immediately".[39]

Opinion polls

  Part of a MRP projection with other constituencies

Pollster Client Date(s)
conducted
Sample
size
Lab Con Ref UK Lib Dem Green NIP NEP Others Lead
data-sort-type="number" style="background:Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color;"| data-sort-type="number" style="background:Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color;"| data-sort-type="number" style="background:Template:Reform UK/meta/color;"| data-sort-type="number" style="background:Template:Liberal Democrats (UK)/meta/color;"| data-sort-type="number" style="background:Template:Green Party of England and Wales/meta/color;"| data-sort-type="number" style="background:Template:Northern Independence Party/meta/color;"| data-sort-type="number" style="background:Template:North East Party/meta/color;"|
Survation The Times 29 Mar3 Apr 2021 502 42% 49% 1% 1%[b] 1%[c] 2% <1% 4% style="background:Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 7%
Focaldata The Times 18–21 Mar 2021 5,265[d] 39% 36% 9% 3% 7% 6% style="background:Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 3%
2019 general election 12 Dec 2019 37.7% 28.9% 25.8% 4.1% 3.4% style="background:Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 8.8%

2019 result

2019 general election: Hartlepool[40]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mike Hill 15,464 37.7 -14.8
Conservative Stefan Houghton 11,869 28.9 -5.3
Brexit Party Richard Tice 10,603 25.8 N/A
Liberal Democrats Andy Hagon 1,696 4.1 +2.3
Independent Joe Bousfield 911 2.2 N/A
Socialist Labour Kevin Cranney 494 1.2 N/A
Majority 3,595 8.8 -9.5
Turnout 41,037 57.9 -1.3
Labour hold Swing -4.8

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Not the Labour politician with the same name.
  2. ^ Candidate unspecified, question asked about "a Liberal Democrat candidate".
  3. ^ Candidate unspecified, question asked about "a Green Party candidate".
  4. ^ across 83 constituencies within the North

References

  1. ^ Rodgers, Sienna (16 March 2021). "Mike Hill quits as Labour MP for Hartlepool with immediate effect". LabourList. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  2. ^ Marko, Nic (31 March 2021). "Hartlepool voters to go to the polls for four elections on the same day". LabourList. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Labour fears of losing Hartlepool grow ahead of 'defining' red wall by-election". The Independent. 21 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Mike Hill: Hartlepool MP quits 'with immediate effect'". BBC News. 16 March 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  5. ^ "New post-war record for longest period since parliamentary by-election". The New European. 1 March 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  6. ^ Singh, Matt [@MattSingh_] (16 March 2021). "#Hartlepoolbyelection fun fact: The seat is coterminous with the council area, so we know the exact EU referendum result (69.56833% Leave 30.43167% Remain)" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ^ Anderson, Katie (17 March 2021). "From war hero to 'Prince of darkness': Hartlepool MPs timeline". TeessideLive. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  8. ^ Press Association (22 September 2019). "Labour MP Mike Hill suspended over claims of sexual harassment". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  9. ^ Quinn, Ben (22 January 2020). "Labour MP accused of sexual assault fails in anonymity bid". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  10. ^ https://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/downloads/file/6825/notice_of_poll_statement_of_persons_nominated_and_situation_of_polling_stations
  11. ^ Labour North [@LabourNorth] (18 March 2021). "Congratulations to Dr Paul Williams, Labour's candidate for Hartlepool" (Tweet). Retrieved 18 March 2021 – via Twitter.
  12. ^ Blackburne, Elaine (18 March 2021). "Former MP Dr Paul Williams will fight for Labour in by-election". TeessideLive. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  13. ^ "Labour unveils ex-Stockton South MP for Hartlepool seat". 18 March 2021 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  14. ^ Proctor, Kate (17 March 2021). "Labour Accused Of A Candidate 'Stitch-Up' Over Hartlepool By-Election Timetable". Politics Home. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  15. ^ Courea, Eleni (22 March 2021). "Keir Starmer rebukes Labour's Hartlepool by-election candidate". The Times. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  16. ^ McGuinness, Alan (18 March 2021). "Dr Paul Williams announced as Labour's candidate for Hartlepool by-election after resignation of Mike Hill". Sky News.
  17. ^ "UKIP To Contest Hartlepool Seat After Labour MP Stands Down". politicalite. 17 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  18. ^ "North of England independence party to stand in Hartlepool by-election". Nation.Cymru. 16 March 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  19. ^ "Ex-MP to stand for Northern Independence party in by-election". BBC News. 29 March 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  20. ^ "Richard Tice 'actively considering' standing in Hartlepool by-election". LBC. 17 March 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  21. ^ "John Prescott (not that one) named as Reform UK candidate for Hartlepool". ITV News. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  22. ^ Ledwith, Gavin (20 March 2021). "'Together we will break the stranglehold of the two-party system' says latest party to join by-election battle". The Hartlepool Mail. Retrieved 20 March 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ^ "SDP candidate at Hartlepool by-election promises to work 'night and day' for town if elected". Hartlepool Mail. 29 March 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  24. ^ Tidman, Zoe (22 March 2021). "'We can't let politicians get away with inaction': Hartlepool by-election candidate demands action on tackling violence against women and girls". The Independent. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  25. ^ "North East Party reveals Hilton Dawson as Hartlepool By-Election Candidate". Sunderland Global Media. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  26. ^ "Hartlepool mam to stand as Independent MP for by-election". Northern Echo. 6 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  27. ^ https://www.facebook.com/SamLeeforMP/
  28. ^ https://wikitacticalvoting.miraheze.org/wiki/Hartlepool#Candidates_and_timetable
  29. ^ "Conservatives announce Jill Mortimer as candidate for Hartlepool by-election". The Northern Echo. 26 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  30. ^ "Farmer to stand for Conservatives in Hartlepool by-election". bbc.co.uk.
  31. ^ Marko, Nic (31 March 2021). "Monster Raving Loony Party 'want to move Parliament to Hartlepool'". Hartlepool Mail. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  32. ^ Cite error: The named reference HartMailInd was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  33. ^ "Hartlepool by-election: Lib Dems reveal Andrew Hagon as candidate". BBC News. 2 April 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  34. ^ "Hartlepool mam to stand as Independent MP for by-election". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  35. ^ Anderson, Katie (7 April 2021). "Green Party announce candidate for Hartlepool by-election". Teeside Live. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  36. ^ "Descendant of man who built West Hartlepool joins by-election election race as independent candidate". The Hartlepool Mail. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  37. ^ "Why descendant of modern Hartlepool's founder Ralph Ward-Jackson is not standing in General Election". Hartlepool Mail. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  38. ^ "Paul Williams: Labour candidate sorry for 'inappropriate' tweet". 21 March 2021 – via www.bbc.com.
  39. ^ Sleigh, Sophia (22 March 2021). "Starmer defends Hartlepool candidate after 'inappropriate' comment". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  40. ^ "Hartlepool Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 24 November 2019.

Campaign

During the by-election campaign, Labour candidate Paul Williams apologised for previously posting a tweet using the term "Tory MILFs" in 2011.[1] He was defended by the Labour Party leader, Keir Starmer, while Labour peer and former shadow Attorney General Shami Chakrabarti called for him to be replaced "immediately".[2]

Opinion polls

  Part of a MRP projection with other constituencies

Pollster Client Date(s)
conducted
Sample
size
Lab Con Ref UK Lib Dem Green NIP NEP Others Lead
data-sort-type="number" style="background:Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color;"| data-sort-type="number" style="background:Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color;"| data-sort-type="number" style="background:Template:Reform UK/meta/color;"| data-sort-type="number" style="background:Template:Liberal Democrats (UK)/meta/color;"| data-sort-type="number" style="background:Template:Green Party of England and Wales/meta/color;"| data-sort-type="number" style="background:Template:Northern Independence Party/meta/color;"| data-sort-type="number" style="background:Template:North East Party/meta/color;"|
Survation Communication Workers Union 29 Mar3 Apr 2021 502 42% 49% 1% 1%[a] 1%[b] 2% <1% 4% style="background:Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 7%
Focaldata The Times 18–21 Mar 2021 5,265[c] 39% 36% 9% 3% 7% 6% style="background:Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 3%
2019 general election 12 Dec 2019 37.7% 28.9% 25.8% 4.1% 3.4% style="background:Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color;color:#FFFFFF;"| 8.8%

2019 result

2019 general election: Hartlepool[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mike Hill 15,464 37.7 -14.8
Conservative Stefan Houghton 11,869 28.9 -5.3
Brexit Party Richard Tice 10,603 25.8 N/A
Liberal Democrats Andy Hagon 1,696 4.1 +2.3
Independent Joe Bousfield 911 2.2 N/A
Socialist Labour Kevin Cranney 494 1.2 N/A
Majority 3,595 8.8 -9.5
Turnout 41,037 57.9 -1.3
Labour hold Swing -4.8

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Candidate unspecified, question asked about "a Liberal Democrat candidate".
  2. ^ Candidate unspecified, question asked about "a Green Party candidate".
  3. ^ across 83 constituencies within the North

References

  1. ^ "Paul Williams: Labour candidate sorry for 'inappropriate' tweet". 21 March 2021 – via www.bbc.com.
  2. ^ Sleigh, Sophia (22 March 2021). "Starmer defends Hartlepool candidate after 'inappropriate' comment". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  3. ^ "Hartlepool Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 24 November 2019.