Knutsford by-election, 1979

The Knutsford by-election, 1979 was a by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Knutsford in Cheshire on 1 March 1979. It was won by the Conservative Party candidate Jock Bruce-Gardyne.

Vacancy

The seat had become vacant when the Conservative Member of Parliament (MP), John Davies had resigned due to illness on 6 November 1978. He had held the seat since the 1970 general election and had served as Secretary of State for Industry and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in the Government of Edward Heath, having previously been Director of the Confederation of British Industry.

Candidates

The Conservative candidate was 48-year-old Jock Bruce-Gardyne, who had been MP for South Angus from 1964 until his defeat at the October 1974 general election. The Labour Party candidate was Alan Barton, and the Liberals fielded Robert Ingham. Michael Byrne stood as an Independent Conservative.

Result

The result was a clear victory for Bruce-Gardyne in this Conservative safe seat, with a much increased majority of 16,880. Both the Labour and Liberal vote fell by a few per cent.

Bruce-Gardyne held the seat until its abolition for the 1983 general election, when he was effectively forced out of the Commons due to a reduction of the number of Cheshire seats. He was elevated to the House of Lords in the same year.

Votes

Election box begin
title=Knutsford by-election, 1979Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Jock Bruce-Gardyne
votes = 22,086
percentage = 67.1
change = +16.1Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = Robert Ingham
votes = 5,206
percentage = 15.8
change = −10.6Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Alan Barton
votes = 5,124
percentage = 15.6
change = −7.0Election box candidate with party link
party = Independent Conservative
candidate = Michael Byrne
votes = 486
percentage = 1.5
change = N/AElection box majority
votes = 16,880
percentage = 51.3
change = +26.7Election box turnout
votes = 32,902
percentage =
change = Election box hold with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
swing = +13.4

Election box begin
title=General Election October 1974: KnutsfordElection box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = John Davies
votes = 21,636
percentage = 51.0
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = B. Lomax
votes = 11,210
percentage = 26.4
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = D.L. Swain
votes = 9.565
percentage = 22.6
change = Election box majority
votes = 10,426
percentage = 24.6
change = Election box turnout
votes = 42,411
percentage = 76.8
change = Election box hold with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
swing =

ee also

*Knutsford constituency
*List of United Kingdom by-elections

References

* [http://www.geocities.com/by_elections/79.html#knutsford British Parliamentary by-elections: Knutsford 1979]
* [http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/ge74b/i12.htm October 1974 general election results] at Richard Kimber's political science resources
*Rayment