Darlington by-election, 1983

The seat had become vacant when the constituency's Labour Member of Parliament (MP), Edward Fletcher had died on 13 February 1983, a few days before his 72nd birthday. He had held the seat since the 1964 general election.

The result of the contest was a victory for the Labour candidate, Oswald O'Brien, who won with a majority of 2,412 over the Conservative Party candidate Michael Fallon.

[edit] Votes

Darlington by-election, 1983
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Oswald O'Brien	20,544	39.5	−6.0
	Conservative	Michael Fallon	18,132	34.9	−8.5
	Social Democrat	Anthony Cook	12,735	24.5	+14.3
	Monster Raving Loony	David Sutch	374	0.7	N/A
	Independent	Arthur Clark	164	0.3	N/A
	Tactical Voting Annihilates Bennite Tatchellites	Thomas Keen	27	0.1	N/A
	Yoga and Meditation	Jitendra Bardwaj	15	0.0	N/A
	Republican	Peter Smith	10	0.0	N/A
Majority			2,412	4.6	+2.5
Turnout			52,001
	Labour hold		Swing

General election, 1979: Darlington
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Edward Fletcher	22,565	45.52	+0.03
	Conservative	Timothy Kirkhope	21,513	43.39	+5.77
	Liberal	K. Walker	5,054	10.19	−6.44
	National Front	H. Outhwaite	444	0.90	N/A
Majority			1,052	2.12	−5.81
Turnout			49,576	78.4	+13.43
	Labour hold		Swing	−2.82

v • d • e « 47th Parliament « By-elections to the 48th Parliament of the United Kingdom » 49th Parliament »

1979	September: Manchester Central • December: South West Hertfordshire

1980	March: Southend East • June: Glasgow Central

1981	April: Fermanagh and South Tyrone • July: Warrington • August: Fermanagh and South Tyrone • October: Croydon North West • November: Crosby

1982	March: Belfast South • Glasgow Hillhead • May: Beaconsfield • June: Mitcham and Morden • Coatbridge and Airdrie • September: Gower • October: Birmingham Northfield • Peckham • December: Glasgow Queens Park

1983	February: Bermondsey • March: Darlington

Lists of UK by-elections: 1885–1900 · 1900–1918 · 1918–1931 · 1931–1950 · 1950–1979 · 1979–present