This is a list of parliamentary by-elections in the United Kingdom since 1979, with the names of the incumbent and victor and their respective parties. Where seats changed political party at the election, the result is highlighted: red for a Labour gain, blue for a Conservative gain, orange for a Liberal, SDP or Liberal Democrat gain, yellow for a SNP gain, green for a Plaid Cymru gain and grey for any other gain.
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Where the cause of by-election is given as "resignation" or "seeks re-election", this indicates that the incumbent was appointed on his or her own request to an "office of profit under the Crown", either the Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds or the Steward of the Manor of Northstead. Appointment to such an office automatically leads to the Member being expelled from the House. This process is used because members of the House of Commons are not technically permitted to resign. A member who resigns in this manner may stand for re-election without resigning from the office of profit.
In the present Parliament there are three vacancies: North West Leicestershire and Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland caused by the death of their respective members; and Strangford caused by the resignation of its member. With the close proximity of the United Kingdom general election, 2010 the chances of a by-election in any of these seats are diminished.
For a list of exceptional results and records in the history of by-elections in the United Kingdom see: United Kingdom by-election records
| By-elections in the United Kingdom |
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| British Parliament: 1868–1885 • 1885–1900 • 1900–1918 • 1918–1931 • 1931–1950 • 1950–1979 • 1979–present |
| Scottish Parliament • Welsh Assembly • Northern Irish Parliament |
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