- Berwick and East Lothian by-election, 1978
The Berwick and East Lothian by-election, 1978 was a
by-election held for theBritish House of Commons constituency of Berwick and East Lothian inScotland on26 October 1978 . It was won by the Labour Party candidateJohn Home Robertson .Vacancy
The seat had become vacant when the Labour
Member of Parliament (MP),John Mackintosh had died at the age of 48 on30 July 1978 . He had held the seat since the October 1974 general election, having previously been MP for the seat between 1964 and the February 1974 election.Candidates
The Labour candidate was 29-year-old
John Home Robertson , a farmer who had been a member of Berwickshire District Council since 1974. The Conservative Party candidate was Margaret Marshall, theScottish National Party fielded Isobel Lindsay and the Liberals Tam Glen.Result
The result was a victory for Home Robertson, with an increased majority of 3,112 votes. This was well against the general trend of by-elections in the 1974 Parliament, which had been against Labour.
Home Robertson held the seat until its abolition for the 1983 general election, when he was returned for the new East Lothian constituency. He went on to represent the
Scottish Parliament constituency of East Lothian.Votes
Election box begin
title=Berwick and East Lothian by-election, 1978Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate =John Home Robertson
votes = 20,530
percentage = 47.4
change = +4.1Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Margaret Marshall
votes = 17,418
percentage = 40.2
change = +2.6Election box candidate with party link
party = Scottish National Party
candidate = Isobel Lindsay
votes = 3,799
percentage = 8.8
change = −4.4Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = Tam Glen
votes = 1,543
percentage = 3.6
change = −2.3Election box majority
votes = 3,112
percentage = 7.2
change = +1.5Election box turnout
votes = 43,290
percentage =
change = Election box hold with party link
winner = Labour Party (UK)
swing = +0.8Election box begin
title=General Election October 1974: Berwick and East LothianElection box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate =John Mackintosh
votes = 20,682
percentage = 43.3
change = +1.0Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate =Michael Ancram
votes = 17,942
percentage = 37.6
change = -5.8Election box candidate with party link
party = Scottish National Party
candidate = R. Macleod
votes = 6,323
percentage = 13.2
change = -1.0Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidate = C.F. Lawson
votes = 2,811
percentage = 5.9
change = N/AElection box majority
votes = 2,740
percentage = 5.7
change = N/AElection box turnout
votes = 47,758
percentage = 83.1
change = -2.3Election box hold with party link
winner = Labour Party (UK)
loser = Conservative Party (UK)
swing = +3.4ee also
*Berwick and East Lothian constituency
*List of United Kingdom by-elections (1950-1979) References
* [http://www.geocities.com/by_elections/78.html#berwick British Parliamentary by-elections: Berwick and East Lothian 1978]
* [http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/ge74b/i02.htm October 1974 general election results] at Richard Kimber's political science resources
* [http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/ge74a/i02.htm February 1974 general election results] at Richard Kimber's political science resources
*Rayment
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