2012 Middlesbrough by-election
{{Short description|2012 UK Parliamentary by-election}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2012 Middlesbrough by-election
| type = parliamentary
| country = United Kingdom
| seats_for_election = The Middlesbrough seat in the House of Commons
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2010 United Kingdom general election
| previous_year = 2010
| next_election = 2015 United Kingdom general election
| next_year =2015
| election_date = 29 November 2012
| turnout = 25.91%
| candidate1 = Andy McDonald
| image1 = 100px
| party1 = Labour Party (UK)
| last_election1 =
| popular_vote1 = 10,201
| percentage1 = 60.5%
| swing1 = {{increase}}14.6%
| candidate2 = Richard Elvin
| image2 = 100px
| party2 = UK Independence Party
| last_election2 =
| popular_vote2 = 1,990
| percentage2 = 11.8%
| swing2 = {{increase}}8.1%
| candidate3 = George Selmer
| image3 = 100px
| party3 = Liberal Democrats (UK)
| last_election3 =
| popular_vote3 = 1,672
| percentage3 = 9.9%
| swing3 = {{decrease}}10.0%
| candidate4 = Ben Houchen
| image4 = 100px
| party4 = Conservative Party (UK)
| last_election4 =
| popular_vote4 = 1,063
| percentage4 = 6.3%
| swing4 = {{decrease}}12.5%
| candidate5 = Imdad Hussain
| image5 = 100x10px
| party5 = Peace Party (UK)
| last_election5 =
| popular_vote5 = 1,060
| percentage5 = 6.3%
| swing5 = New party
| map_image =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
| title = MP
| posttitle = Subsequent MP
| before_election = Stuart Bell
| before_party = Labour Party (UK)
| after_election = Andy McDonald
| after_party =Labour Party (UK)
}}
On 29 November 2012, a by-election was held for the UK House of Commons constituency of Middlesbrough. The by-election was caused by the death of its Member of Parliament, Sir Stuart Bell.{{cite news|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/national/news/9983926.MP_Bell_dies_after_cancer_battle/|title=MP Bell dies after cancer battle|date=13 October 2012|work=Bradford Telegraph & Argus|accessdate=13 October 2012}} It was held on the same day as by-elections in Croydon North and Rotherham.
The deadline for nominations was 14 November.[http://middlesbrough.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=5136&p=0 Election Notice] Middlesbrough.gov.uk[http://www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=5598 By-election candidates confirmed] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20121223214013/http://www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=5598 |date=23 December 2012 }}, Middlesbrough Council The election returned a Labour member of parliament, with UKIP second and the Liberal Democrats third.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-20527532|title=Middlesbrough by-election: Labour's Andy McDonald wins|date=30 November 2012|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|accessdate=30 November 2012}}
Candidates
Labour selected Andy McDonald, a solicitor born in Middlesbrough and former councillor for Westbourne ward from 1995 to 1999, for the seat. At the time, McDonald was chairman of Middlesbrough Labour Party Local Government Committee.
UKIP selected Richard Elvin, chairman of the North East Regional Committee, as their candidate. He contested the Houghton and Sunderland South seat for UKIP in 2010.
The Liberal Democrats selected George Selmer, who works in employment services, as their candidate.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/10024559.Middlesbrough_by_election_date_announced/|title = Middlesbrough by-election date announced}}
Stockton borough Councillor Ben Houchen was the Conservative candidate.[http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/10040770.More_candidates_announced_for_Middlesbrough_s_MP_role/ More candidates announced for Middlesbrough's MP role] Northern Echo He would later go on to become Tees Valley Mayor.
In November 2012, Councillor Imdad Hussain, who had been suspended from the Labour Party for two years after failing to disclose he had been banned as a company director, resigned from the party and announced he would be standing for the Peace Party in the by-election.[http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/local/localbrad/10027970.Bradford_c_ouncillor_resigns_from_Labour_party/ Bradford councillor resigns from Labour party], Telegraph & Argus, 6 November 2012
Campaigner Mark Heslehurst launched his candidacy as a self-styled 'independent Labour' candidate.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20121130010709/http://mark-heslehurst-mp.com/ Mark Heslehurst Home Page]}} He had no description on the ballot paper. He had previously organised events to raise awareness of an issue related to his estranged partner and son,{{cite web |url=http://edwardmylife.com/ |title = REunite! – Edward My Life {{!}} A father's epic fight to be reunited with his son |accessdate=13 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716044249/http://edwardmylife.com/ |archivedate=16 July 2012 }} which involved walking 500 miles to Downing Street.[http://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/story/2012-05-01/500-mile-walk-to-try-and-get-son-back/ 500 mile walk to try and get son back] ITV News
The BNP candidate was Peter Foreman.
Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition candidate John Malcolm was the Tees, Esk & Wear Valley Health Unison branch representative.
Current independent Middlesbrough mayor Ray Mallon mooted the possibility of standing in the by-election, depending on the quality of other candidates,{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-20002613 |title=Mayor Ray Mallon not ruling out Middlesbrough MP bid |work=BBC News |date=19 October 2012}} but did not submit his candidacy.
Hustings
Hustings were held at St Barnabas' Church on 26 November 2012, hosted by Friends of the Earth. The lively proceedings went well, with members of the audience asking over 20 questions on topics ranging from education and services to employment and the environment. Six of the eight candidates were invited.{{cite web |url=http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/multimedia/news/local-news/2012/11/27/middlesbrough-by-election-hustings-event-84229-32316734/ |title = Middlesbrough by-election hustings event - Local News - News - Videos & Pics - Gazette Live |accessdate=27 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121221231614/http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/multimedia/news/local-news/2012/11/27/middlesbrough-by-election-hustings-event-84229-32316734/ |archivedate=21 December 2012 |work=Evening Gazette|date= 27 November 2012}}
Result
The Labour Party held the seat, with McDonald elected as the new MP. Along with other by-elections held on the same day, there were sharp declines in the vote for the governing coalition parties, although this was the only one of the three at which they both retained their deposit, and the only one at which the Liberal Democrats finished ahead of the Conservatives. UKIP finished in second place. Previously they had only come second in one other parliamentary election (the Barnsley Central by-election in 2011). They also came second in the Rotherham contest held on the same date as the Middlesbrough election.
The result was also notable as the first time the Peace Party had ever retained their deposit at a parliamentary election and their highest percentage of vote share in a single constituency.
{{Compact election box begin}}
{{Compact election box
| election_title = Middlesbrough by-election, 2012
| election_note = Death of Sir Stuart Bell
| election_ref =
| electorate =
| turnout_votes = 16,866
| turnout_percent = 25.91
| turnout_change = −25.5
| majority_votes = 8,211
| majority_percent = 47.7
| majority_change = +21.7
| result = hold
| swing = 3.3
| swing_from = UK Independence Party
| swing_to = Labour Party (UK)
| winner = Andy McDonald
| winner_party = Labour Party (UK)
| winner_votes = 10,201
| winner_percent = 60.5
| winner_change = +14.6
| candidate2 = Richard Elvin
| candidate2_party = UK Independence Party
| candidate2_votes = 1,990
| candidate2_percent = 11.8
| candidate2_change = +8.1
| candidate3 = George Selmer
| candidate3_party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
| candidate3_votes = 1,672
| candidate3_percent = 9.9
| candidate3_change = −10.0
| candidate4 = Ben Houchen
| candidate4_party = Conservative Party (UK)
| candidate4_votes = 1,063
| candidate4_percent = 6.3
| candidate4_change = −12.5
| candidate5 = Imdad Hussain
| candidate5_party = Peace Party (UK)
| candidate5_votes = 1,060
| candidate5_percent = 6.3
| candidate5_change = New
| candidate6 = Peter Foreman
| candidate6_party = British National Party
| candidate6_votes = 328
| candidate6_percent = 1.9
| candidate6_change = −3.9
| candidate7 = John Malcolm
| candidate7_party = Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
| candidate7_votes = 277
| candidate7_percent = 1.6
| candidate7_change = New
| candidate8 = Mark Heslehurst
| candidate8_party_unlinked = no description
| candidate8_votes = 275
| candidate8_percent = 1.6
| candidate8_change = New
}}
{{Compact election box
| election_title = General Election 2010
| election_note =
| election_ref =
| electorate =
| turnout_votes = 33,455
| turnout_percent = 51.4
| turnout_change = +2.7
| majority_votes = 8,689
| majority_percent = 26.0
| result = hold
| swing = 6.4
| swing_from = Labour Party (UK)
| swing_to = Liberal Democrats (UK)
| winner = Stuart Bell
| winner_party = Labour Party (UK)
| winner_votes = 15,351
| winner_percent = 45.9
| winner_change = −11.7
| candidate2 = Chris Foote-Wood
| candidate2_party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
| candidate2_votes = 6,662
| candidate2_percent = 19.9
| candidate2_change = +1.2
| candidate3 = John Walsh
| candidate3_party = Conservative Party (UK)
| candidate3_votes = 6,283
| candidate3_percent = 18.8
| candidate3_change = +2.3
| candidate4 = Joan McTigue
| candidate4_party = Independent (politician)
| candidate4_votes = 1,969
| candidate4_percent = 5.9
| candidate4_change = +5.9
| candidate5 = Michael Ferguson
| candidate5_party = British National Party
| candidate5_votes = 1,954
| candidate5_percent = 5.8
| candidate5_change = +3.3
| candidate6 = Robert Parker
| candidate6_party = UK Independence Party
| candidate6_votes = 1,236
| candidate6_percent = 3.7
| candidate6_change = +1.3
}}
{{Compact election box end}}