1983 Darlington by-election
{{Short description|UK parliamentary by-election}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 1983 Darlington by-election
| type = parliamentary
| country = United Kingdom
| seats_for_election = Constituency of Darlington
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 1979 United Kingdom general election
| previous_year = 1979
| next_election = 1983 United Kingdom general election
| next_year = June 1983
| election_date = 24 March 1983
| candidate1 = Ossie O'Brien
| image1 =
| party1 = Labour Party (UK)
| popular_vote1 = 20,544
| percentage1 = 39.5%
| swing1 = {{decrease}}6.0%
| candidate2 = Michael Fallon
| image2 = x160px
| party2 = Conservative Party (UK)
| popular_vote2 = 18,132
| percentage2 = 34.9%
| swing2 = {{decrease}}8.5%
| candidate3 = Anthony Cook
| image3 =
| party3 = Social Democratic Party (UK)
| popular_vote3 = 12,735
| percentage3 = 24.5%
| swing3 = {{increase}}14.3%
| map_image =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
| title = MP
| before_election = Edward Fletcher
| before_party = Labour Party (UK)
| after_election = Ossie O'Brien
| after_party = Labour Party (UK)
| turnout =
}}
The 1983 Darlington by-election was a parliamentary by-election held on 24 March 1983 for the House of Commons constituency of Darlington in County Durham.
The seat had become vacant when the constituency's Labour Member of Parliament (MP), Edward Fletcher had died on 13 February 1983, at age 71. He had held the seat since the 1964 general election.
The result of the contest was a victory for the Labour candidate, Ossie O'Brien, who won with a majority of 2,412 over the Conservative Party candidate Michael Fallon. O'Brien only held the seat for three months, however, as it fell to Fallon at the general election in June 1983.
The by-election campaign is regarded by many former SDP members, including Bill Rodgers, as having been one that destroyed the SDP's momentum. Tony Cook, a local television celebrity, was the candidate and appeared to know very little about public issues and made a poor impression. At one point the SDP had been leading in the polls, but in part due to Cook's poor performance as a candidate, highlighted by the coverage from journalist Vincent Hanna, they finished third.
Votes
{{Election box begin |
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Ossie O'Brien
|votes = 20,544
|percentage = 39.5
|change = −6.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = Michael Fallon
|votes = 18,132
|percentage = 34.9
|change = −8.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Social Democratic Party (UK)
|candidate = Anthony Cook
|votes = 12,735
|percentage = 24.5
|change = +14.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Official Monster Raving Loony Party
|candidate = David Sutch
|votes = 374
|percentage = 0.7
|change = New
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent (politician)
|candidate = Arthur Clark
|votes = 164
|percentage = 0.3
|change = New
}}
{{Election box candidate
|party = Tactical Voting Annihilates Bennite Tatchellites
|candidate = Thomas Keen
|votes = 27
|percentage = 0.1
|change = New
}}
{{Election box candidate
|party = Yoga and Meditation
|candidate = Jitendra Bardwaj
|votes = 15
|percentage = 0.0
|change = New
}}
{{Election box candidate
|party = Republican
|candidate = Peter Smith
|votes = 10
|percentage = 0.0
|change = New
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 2,412
|percentage = 4.6
|change = +2.5
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 52,001
|percentage =
|change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = +1.25
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |
|title=General election, 1979: Darlington
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Edward Fletcher
|votes = 22,565
|percentage = 45.52
|change = +0.03
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = Timothy Kirkhope
|votes = 21,513
|percentage = 43.39
|change = +5.77
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate = K. Walker
|votes = 5,054
|percentage = 10.19
|change = −6.44
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = British National Front
|candidate = H. Outhwaite
|votes = 444
|percentage = 0.90
|change = New
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 1,052
|percentage = 2.12
|change = −5.81
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 49,576
|percentage = 78.40
|change = +13.43
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = −2.82
}}
{{Election box end}}
See also
Further reading
- Kevin Swaddle. 1985. The Darlington by-election of 24 March 1983. Durham: University College, 70 pp.