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2006 Bromley and Chislehurst by-election

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Bromley and Chislehurst by-election
← 2005 29 June 2006 2010 →
 
Candidate Bob Neill Ben Abbotts Nigel Farage
Party Conservative Liberal Democrats UKIP
Popular vote 11,621 10,988 2,347
Percentage 40.0% 37.8% 8.1%
MP before election

Eric Forth
Conservative

Subsequent MP

Bob Neill
Conservative

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.[1] 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.[2] 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 Conservatives in opposition since at least 1930. Labour was pushed into fourth place by the UK Independence Party on what was a terrible night for them when 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.

Candidates

On 3 June 2006, the local Conservative Association selected Bob Neill, the London Assembly Member for Bexley and Bromley and leader of the Conservative group in the Assembly.[2] The Liberal Democrats selected London Borough of Bromley councillor Ben Abbotts. He is the Liberal Democrat environment spokesman on Bromley Council.[3] Labour chose economist Rachel Reeves, runner-up in 2005, to stand once again.[2] 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.[4] The United Kingdom Independence Party selected Nigel Farage MEP, who represents South East England in the European Parliament. [5] The Official Monster Raving Loony Party selected John Cartwright. [6]

Two independent candidates were validly nominated: John Hemming-Clark and Nick Hadziannis. The English Democrats selected Steven Uncles[7] 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.

Bromley and Chislehurst by-election, 2006[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Bob Neill 11,621 40.0 −11.1
Liberal Democrats Ben Abbotts 10,988 37.8 +17.5
UKIP Nigel Farage 2,347 8.1 +4.9
Labour Rachel Reeves 1,925 6.6 −15.6
Green Ann Garrett 811 2.8 −0.4
National Front Paul Winnett 476 1.6 N/A
Independent John Hemming-Clark 442 1.5 N/A
English Democrat Steven Uncles 212 0.7 N/A
Monster Raving Loony John Cartwright 132 0.5 N/A
Independent Nick Hadziannis 65 0.2 N/A
Money Reform Party Anne Belsey 33 0.1 N/A
Majority 633 2.2 −26.7
Turnout 29,052 40.18 −24.68
Conservative hold Swing 14.3%

2005 general election result

General Election 2005: Bromley and Chislehurst
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Eric Forth 23,583 51.1 +1.6
Labour Rachel Reeves 10,241 22.2 −6.4
Liberal Democrats Peter Brookes 9,368 20.3 +1.4
UKIP David Hooper 1,475 3.2 +0.3
Green Ann Garrett 1,470 3.2 N/A
Majority 13,342 28.9
Turnout 46,137 64.8 +0.5
Conservative hold Swing

See also

References

  1. ^ "Tributes paid to Tory Eric Forth". BBC News. 18 May 2006. Retrieved 18 May 2006.
  2. ^ a b c "Conservatives nominate Bob Neill for the Bromley and Chislehurst by-election". BBC. 3 June 2006. Retrieved 3 June 2006.
  3. ^ "Lib Dem Choice for the Bromley & Chislehurst by-election". Bromley Liberal Democrats. 30 May 2006. Retrieved 31 May 2006.
  4. ^ "Bromley Greens select candidate for Bromley and Chislehurst by-election". Bromley Green Party. 14 May 2006. Retrieved 22 June 2006.
  5. ^ "UKIP announces Nigel Farage MEP to contest by-election". UKIP Bromley & Chiselhurst. 3 June 2006. Retrieved 3 June 2006.
  6. ^ "BROMLEY & CHISLEHURST - Vote for JOHN CARTWRIGHT, Vote for the Official Monster Raving Loony Party". Croydon Official Monster Raving Loony Party. Retrieved 12 June 2006.
  7. ^ "The English Democrats announce Bromley and Chislehurst Candidate". 8 June 2006. Retrieved 12 June 2006. [dead link‍]
  8. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Results of Byelections in the 2005-2010 Parliament". United Kingdom Election Results. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
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