2016 Batley and Spen by-election
{{short description|UK parliament by-election}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2016 Batley and Spen by-election
| type = parliamentary
| country = United Kingdom
| seats_for_election = Batley and Spen constituency
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2015 United Kingdom general election
| previous_year = 2015
| next_election = 2017 United Kingdom general election
| next_year = 2017
| election_date = 20 October 2016
| turnout = 25.8%
| candidate1 = Tracy Brabin
| image1 = 150x150px
| party1 = Labour Party (UK)
| last_election1 =
| popular_vote1 = 17,506
| percentage1 = 85.8%
| swing1 = {{increase}}42.6%
| map_image =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
| title = MP
| posttitle =
| before_election = Jo Cox
| before_party = Labour
| after_election = Tracy Brabin
| after_party = Labour
}}
On 20 October 2016, a by-election was held in the UK parliamentary constituency of Batley and Spen. It was triggered by the murder of the incumbent member of parliament (MP), Jo Cox, on 16 June 2016.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/16/labour-mp-jo-cox-shot-in-leeds-witnesses-report/|title=Labour MP Jo Cox dies after being shot and stabbed as husband urges people to 'fight against the hate' that killed her|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=16 June 2016| accessdate=16 June 2016}} The Labour candidate, Tracy Brabin, won with 85.8% of the vote. Four parties with parliamentary representation did not enter candidates, out of respect for Cox. Nine candidates contested against Labour, and none reached the 5% threshold to keep their deposit.
The by-election was scheduled to coincide with the Witney by-election.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37371430|title=Batley by-election to be on 20 October|date=15 September 2016|work=BBC News|access-date=15 September 2016}} They were the fifth and sixth by-elections of the 56th UK Parliament.
Candidates
The Conservative Party, the Liberal Democrats, UKIP and the Green Party all declined to contest the election, as a mark of respect.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jo-cox-death-conservatives-will-not-contest-murdered-labour-mp-seat-batley-spen-thomas-mair-a7087246.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jo-cox-death-conservatives-will-not-contest-murdered-labour-mp-seat-batley-spen-thomas-mair-a7087246.html |archive-date=1 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Jo Cox death: Parties stand down in killed Labour MP's seat as Corbyn and Cameron call for unity|first=Jon|last=Stone|work=The Independent|date=17 June 2016|accessdate=17 June 2016}}{{cbignore}}{{cite news|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/major-parties-will-not-contest-jo-cox-s-seat-1-7969733|title=Major parties will not contest Jo Cox's seat |first=Kate |last=Proctor |date=17 June 2016 |work=The Yorkshire Post |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160618091604/http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/major-parties-will-not-contest-jo-cox-s-seat-1-7969733 |archivedate=18 June 2016 |accessdate=15 July 2024}} Brendan Cox, Jo Cox's widower, also ruled out standing for the seat.{{cite news|first=Adam |last=Withnall |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jo-cox-died-for-her-political-views-says-husband-brendan-cox-in-first-interview-a7093856.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jo-cox-died-for-her-political-views-says-husband-brendan-cox-in-first-interview-a7093856.html |archive-date=1 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Jo Cox 'died for her political views', says husband Brendan Cox in first interview |publisher=Independent Print Limited |newspaper=The Independent |date=21 June 2016 |accessdate=21 June 2016}}{{cbignore}}
Labour began selecting a candidate on 14 September.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-37361980 |title=Jo Cox death: Labour opens Batley & Spen by-election selection |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=14 September 2016 |accessdate=14 September 2016}} The Batley-born actress Tracy Brabin and the Keighley-based{{cite web|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/news_elections/general_election_2010/constituencies/217.keighley/candidates/569._jane_thomas/ |title=Jane Thomas, Labour, Keighley |website=The Telegraph and Argus |date= |accessdate=3 October 2016}} campaigner, Jane Thomas, were shortlisted for selection on 19 September.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/sep/19/actor-tracy-brabin-frontrunner-win-jo-cox-batley-spen-jane-thomas|title=Former actor Tracy Brabin is frontrunner to win Jo Cox's seat |last=Halliday|first=Josh|date=19 September 2016|newspaper=The Guardian|publisher=Guardian Media Group|accessdate=20 September 2016}} Brabin won the selection on 23 September.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-37451237 |title=Soap star Tracy Brabin to stand in Jo Cox by-election |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=23 September 2016 |accessdate=23 September 2016}} She had campaigned for Cox at the 2015 election, and had been told by her that "you should be an MP".{{cite news|last1=Perraudin|first1=Frances|title=Tracy Brabin: 'I hope I can build on Jo Cox's legacy'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/sep/30/tracy-brabin-i-hope-i-can-build-on-jo-coxs-legacy|accessdate=22 October 2016|work=The Guardian|date=30 September 2016}}
On 18 July, the English Democrats announced that its deputy chairman, Therese Hirst, a former leader of Veritas, would be its candidate.{{cite news|url=http://www.batleynews.co.uk/news/local/english-democrats-put-up-candidate-to-fight-for-jo-cox-s-seat-1-8021349 |title=English Democrats put up candidate to fight for Jo Cox's seat |work=Batley and Birstall News |date=19 July 2016 |accessdate=12 August 2016}} Hirst (as Therese Muchewicz) stood in Bradford West at the 2015 general election, but came last with 98 votes (0.2%). She was again its candidate for West Yorkshire in the 2016 Police and Crime Commissioner elections, where she again had the least support, with 20,656 votes (3.9%). She had previously stood for Veritas in Bradford South in 2005.{{cite news|last=Booth |first=Phil |url=http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/english-democrats-contest-election-jo-11630183 |title=English Democrats to contest by-election for Jo Cox's Batley & Spen seat with "pro-leave" candidate |newspaper=Huddersfield Daily Examiner |publisher=Trinity Mirror |date=18 July 2016 |accessdate=18 July 2016}}
The British National Party (BNP) chose David Furness, who had earlier that year received 0.5% of votes in the London mayoral election.{{cite news|last1=Lavigeur|first1=Nick|title=Who are the candidates in the Batley and Spen by-election?|url=http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/who-candidates-batley-spen-election-11952570|accessdate=22 October 2016|work=The Huddersfield Daily Examiner|date=29 September 2016}} The National Front chose the veteran campaigner Richard Edmonds, a perennial candidate for them and the BNP who came last with 49 votes in Carshalton and Wallington in the 2015 general election. On 18 June 2016, Liberty GB announced that Jack Buckby, a former BNP politician, would be its candidate in the by-election.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/dead-murdered-labour-mp-batley-and-spen-by-election-bnp-politician-jack-buckby-a7089966.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/dead-murdered-labour-mp-batley-and-spen-by-election-bnp-politician-jack-buckby-a7089966.html |archive-date=1 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Jo Cox: Former BNP politician Jack Buckby to contest by-election for murdered MP's Batley and Spen seat|date=20 June 2016|accessdate=20 June 2016|work=The Independent}}{{cbignore}} Liberty GB registered the description "No to terrorism, yes to Britain", which appeared on the ballot paper instead of the party name.{{cite web|url=http://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/English/Registrations/PP2032 |title=Liberty GB registration details|publisher= The Electoral Commission |accessdate=3 October 2016}} Neil Humphrey stood for the English Independence Party as Corbyn Anti (and so was listed as "Anti Corbyn" on the ballot paper);{{cite web|url=http://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/English/Registrations/PP4231 |title=English Independence registration details|publisher= The Electoral Commission|accessdate=3 October 2016}} this new party supported English nationalism.{{cite web|first=Tom |last=Gordon |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14709282.Party__39_s_anti_Indyref_slogan_rejected_as__quot_offensive_quot_/ |title=Party's anti-Indyref slogan rejected as "offensive" |website=The Herald|date=28 August 2016 |accessdate=3 October 2016}}
Waqas Ali Khan stood as an independent;{{cite web|url=http://metro.co.uk/2016/06/17/lib-dems-and-ukip-will-not-contest-by-election-caused-by-jo-cox-death-5951273/ |title=Jo Cox: Lib Dems and Ukip will not contest Batley and Spen by-election|work=Metro|date=17 June 2016 |accessdate=3 October 2016}}
- {{cite news|last1=Glover|first1=Chloe|title=UKIP member to stand as independent in Batley and Spen by-election|url=http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/ukip-member-stand-independent-batley-11707936|accessdate=6 August 2016|work=Huddersfield Daily Examiner|date=5 August 2016}} he was the UKIP candidate for Shipley at the 2015 general election, coming third of six candidates.{{cite news|title=Shipley|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/constituencies/E14000925|accessdate=22 October 2016|work=BBC News}} Garry Kitchin previously stood for the Green Party in local elections.{{cite web|url=http://democracy.kirklees.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=51&RPID=502138967|title=Election results for Batley West|publisher=Kirklees Council|access-date=5 October 2016}} He was the only candidate registered to an address in the constituency. A London-based musician, Ankit Love, stood for the One Love Party, which campaigns against air pollution. He contested several elections earlier in the year, including the London mayoral election.{{cite news|last1=Joshi|first1=Amita|title=London Mayor hopeful Ankit Love lives up to his name as musical past uncovered in romantic pop music video|url=http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/west-london-news/london-mayor-hopeful-ankit-love-11175236|accessdate=22 October 2016|website=My London|date=12 April 2016}}
Result
The result was declared at 1:45 am at Cathedral House in Huddersfield. Brabin held the seat for Labour on one of the lowest turnouts for a parliamentary by-election since the end of the Second World War. All other candidates polled less than 5% of the vote and lost their deposits. Brabin was heckled by some of the other candidates as she delivered her speech at the declaration of the result. In her speech she said, "Tonight is a bittersweet occasion for me. That this by-election had to take place at all is a tragedy. Whether you voted for me, voted for other candidates or didn't vote at all, I give you my word, I will be equally strong for each and every one of you."{{cite news|last1=Gildea|first1=Samantha|title=Batley and Spen by-election: Labour's Tracy Brabin elected as new MP|url=http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/batley-spen-election-labours-tracy-12057279|accessdate=22 October 2016|work=The Huddersfield Daily Examiner|date=21 October 2016|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021194612/http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/batley-spen-election-labours-tracy-12057279|archivedate=21 October 2016}} She thanked the parties who chose not to contest the election and declared a victory for "unity and hope". Cox's widower, Brendan, was pleased that the far-right candidates lost their deposits.{{cite news|title=Jo Cox's husband welcomes lost deposits of far-right candidates|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/oct/21/labour-tracy-brabin-batley-and-spen-byelection-witney-robert-court|accessdate=22 October 2016|work=The Guardian|date=21 October 2016}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Tracy Brabin
|votes = 17,506
|percentage = 85.8
|change = +42.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = English Democrats
|candidate = Therese Hirst
|votes = 969
|percentage = 4.8
|change = n/a
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = British National Party
|candidate = David Furness
|votes = 548
|percentage = 2.7
|change = n/a
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent politician
|candidate = Garry Kitchin
|votes = 517
|percentage = 2.5
|change = n/a
}}
{{Election box candidate|
|party = English Independence
|candidate = Corbyn Anti
|votes = 241
|percentage = 1.2
|change = n/a
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Liberty GB
|candidate = Jack Buckby
|votes = 220
|percentage = 1.1
|change = n/a
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent politician
|candidate = Henry Mayhew
|votes = 153
|percentage = 0.8
|change = n/a
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent politician
|candidate = Waqas Ali Khan
|votes = 118
|percentage = 0.6
|change = n/a
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = National Front (UK)
|candidate = Richard Edmonds
|votes = 87
|percentage = 0.4
|change = n/a
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = One Love Party
|candidate = Ankit Love
|votes = 34
|percentage = 0.2
|change = n/a
}}
{{Election box majority
|votes = 16,537
|percentage = 81.0
|change = +69.0
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes = 20,393
|percentage = 25.8
|change = –38.6
}}
{{Election box rejected
|votes=171
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = n/a
}}
{{Election box end}}
2015 result
{{Election box begin |
|title=General election 2015: Batley and Spen{{cite web|title=Election Data 2015|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|accessdate=17 October 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017112223/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt|archivedate=17 October 2015}}
- {{cite web| title = Batley & Spen| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000548| work = BBC News| accessdate = 13 May 2015}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Jo Cox
|votes = 21,826
|percentage = 43.2
|change = +1.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = Imtiaz Ameen
|votes = 15,769
|percentage = 31.2
|change = –1.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = UK Independence Party
|candidate = Aleks Lukic
|votes = 9,080
|percentage = 18.0
|change = n/a
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = John Lawson
|votes = 2,396
|percentage = 4.7
|change = –11.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Green Party of England and Wales
|candidate = Ian Bullock
|votes = 1,232
|percentage = 2.4
|change = +1.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
|candidate = Dawn Wheelhouse
|votes = 123
|percentage = 0.2
|change = n/a
}}
{{Election box candidate|
|party = Patriotic Socialist
|candidate = Karl Varley
|votes = 53
|percentage = 0.1
|change = n/a
}}
{{Election box majority
|votes = 6,057
|percentage = 12.0
|change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes = 50,479
|percentage = 64.4
|change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|swing = +1.7
}}
{{Election box end}}
See also
- 2021 Batley and Spen by-election, another by-election for the constituency
- 2022 Southend West by-election, another by-election which was held under similar circumstances
- List of United Kingdom by-elections (2010–present)
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{By-elections to the 56th UK Parliament}}
Category:By-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom in West Yorkshire constituencies