Henley by-election, 2008

The Henley by-election, 2008 to elect a member of the British House of Commons for the constituency of Henley in Oxfordshire was held on 26 June2008. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7437494.stm June date for Henley by-election] "BBC News, 5 June2008] It followed the election of Boris Johnson as Mayor of London in May 2008. In order to resign from being an MP, Johnson accepted the post of Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead on 4 June2008. [ [http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/press/2008/press_54_08.cfm Treasury press release] - "Manor of Northstead" 4 June2008]

The election was won comfortably by the Conservative candidate John Howell with an increased percentage of the popular vote. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7476703.stm Labour fifth as Tories win Henley] , BBC News, 27 June 2008] The governing Labour Party's vote fell by 11% and they finished fifth, losing their deposit. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7476737.stm Henley poll deals anniversary blow] Thomson, David; BBC News; 27 June 2008; Accessed 27 June 2008 ]

Background

Henley was considered a safe seat for the Conservative Party—having been held by the party continuously since 1910 up to this election. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/833067.stm Boris Johnson given safe Tory seat] BBC News; 14 July 2000; Accessed 23 June 2008] Johnson had gained a 12,793 majority from the Liberal Democrats at the previous election, though recent local elections have seen the Liberal Democrats' vote rise. [ [http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,91211-1318154,00.html Henley By-Election To Be Held On June 26] Sky News; 5 June 2008; Accessed 23 June 2008] Despite this, an easy win for the Conservative Party candidate was predicted, with the Labour Party being given little to no chance of victory. [ [http://www.williamhillmedia.com/index_template.asp?file=10217 Bookies Predict Easy Win For Conservative Party In Henley!] William Hill; Accessed 23 June 2008] It had been expected that the by-election would be held after the parliamentary summer recess. [ [http://www.thametoday.co.uk/news/Boris-to-make-way-for.4068890.jp Boris to make way for new Thame MP in the autumn] - "Thame Gazette" 2008-05-10] However, following their victory in the Crewe and Nantwich by-election, the Conservatives took the opportunity to bring the by-election forward to 26 June, [ [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3985463.ece Tory win in Crewe could prompt Boris by-election] - "Times Online"] in order to capitalise on their strong support. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7415362.stm Cameron hails 'end of New Labour'] - "BBC News" 2008-05-23]

Candidates

For the next general election, candidates had been chosen for the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties, [ [http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/guide/seat-profiles/henley Henley Consituency Profile] - "UK Polling Report"] but internal party rules may have required re-selection before any by-election was called.

Boris Johnson's father Stanley Johnson was widely expected to seek the Conservative Party's nomination. [ [http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=563847&in_page_id=1770&ct=5 Bank holiday Boris promises to work 'night and day' as father eyes his Commons seat] - "The Mail on Sunday" 2008-05-06] However, John Howell, an Oxfordshire county councillor, was selected as the Conservative candidate, [ [http://conservativehome.blogs.com/goldlist/2008/05/and-the-candida.html And the candidate for Henley is...] , ConservativeHome] in preference to Ann Ducker, leader of South Oxfordshire district council, and John Cotton, a South Oxfordshire district councillor. [ [http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-mayor/article-23487771-details/Widow+farmer+is+tipped+to+succeed+Boris+as+Henley+MP/article.do Widow farmer is tipped to succeed Boris as Henley MP] - "This Is London" 2008-05-27]

The Liberal Democrats' candidate was Stephen Kearney, head of a development charity and previously owned and ran a small business. [ [http://www.henleylibdems.org.uk/pages/stephenkearney.html Stephen Kearney Profile] - "Henley Liberal Democrats"] The Liberal Democrats had previously selected Oxfordshire councillor Susan Cooper for the general election, but under Liberal Democrat policies, such selections are not valid for by-elections. When it became apparent a by-election was to be held, a new selection process was run and she was replaced by Kearney. [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/2059159/Portcullis-Lib-Dems-ditch-their-local-hope.html Portcullis: Lib-Dems ditch their local hope] , "Daily Telegraph".]

The Labour candidate was Richard McKenzie, who was previously a local councillor in Reading, having lost his seat in the local council elections of May 2008. [ [http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/articles/1/1406 Reading Chronicle | News | RBC election results ] ]

The Green Party continued with its 2005 General Election candidate Mark Stevenson.

The British National Party candidate, Tim Rait, previously stood for European Parliament election in 2004, for Maidenhead in the 2005 General election and the Lothians Region in the 2007 Scottish election.

The United Kingdom Independence Party selected Chris Adams, Buckinghamshire County Organiser for the UKIP and also PPC for Aylesbury. He previously stood in Aylesbury at the 2005 General Election. [ [http://www.ukiphenley.org.uk/ Chris Adams UKIP Candidate for Henley] ]

Following the candidature of the current Miss Great Britain at the Crewe and Nantwich by-election in 2008, the "Beauties for Britain" group stood two candidates - one blonde, the other brunette - in Henley: Amanda Harrington and Louise Cole respectively. [cite web|url=http://www.oxfordmail.net/news/headlines/display.var.2350497.0.model_mps.php|title=Model MPs?|last=Towsend|first=Ian|date=2008-06-18|work=Oxford Mail|publisher=Newsquest Media Group |accessdate=2008-06-28] [cite web|url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/jonathan_isaby/blog/2008/06/10/henley_byelection_gets_glamorous|title=Henley by-election gets glamorous|last=Jonathan|first=Jonathan |date=2008-06-10|work=Daily Telegraph|publisher=Telegraph Media Group Limited|accessdate=2008-06-28] However, the party is not registered with the Electoral Commission so they were considered Independent candidates.

The Monster Raving Loony Party fielded candidate Bananaman Owen, whose name was taken from a British television programme. The Harry Bear candidate is the fictional creation of Mail on Sunday columnist Richard Heller.

Election result

Polling day was Thursday 26 June. The results were declared shortly after 0130 BST on Friday 27 June by the returning officer for South Oxfordshire council.

Election box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = John Howell
votes = 19,796
percentage = 56.9
change = +3.4Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
candidate = Stephen Kearney
votes = 9,680
percentage = 27.8
change = +1.8Election box candidate with party link
party = Green Party of England and Wales
candidate = Mark Stevenson
votes = 1,321
percentage = 3.8
change = +0.5Election box candidate with party link
party = British National Party
candidate = Tim Rait
votes = 1,243
percentage = 3.6
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Richard McKenzie
votes = 1,066
percentage = 3.1
change = –11.6Election box candidate with party link
party = United Kingdom Independence Party
candidate = Chris Adams
votes = 843
percentage = 2.4
change = –0.1Election box candidate with party link
party = Official Monster Raving Loony Party
candidate = Bananaman Owen
votes = 242
percentage = 0.7
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = English Democrats Party
candidate = Derek Allpass
votes = 157
percentage = 0.4
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Independent (politician)
candidate = Amanda Harrington
votes = 128
percentage = 0.4
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = The Common Good
candidate = Dick Rodgers
votes = 121
percentage = 0.3
change = "N/A"Election box candidate with party link
party = Independent (politician)
candidate = Louise Cole
votes = 91
percentage = 0.3
change = "N/A"Election box candidate
party = Fur Play Party
candidate = Harry Bear
votes = 73
percentage = 0.2
change = "N/A"Election box majority
votes = 10,116
percentage = 29.1
change = +1.6Election box turnout
votes = 34,761
percentage = 50.5
change = –17.4Election box hold with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
swing = +0.8

General Election 2005 result

Election box begin
title=General Election 2005: HenleyElection box candidate with party link
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidate = Boris Johnson
votes = 24,894
percentage = 53.5
change = +7.4Election box candidate with party link
party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
candidate = David Turner
votes = 12,101
percentage = 26.0
change = –1.0Election box candidate with party link
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidate = Kaleem Saeed
votes = 6,862
percentage = 14.7
change = –6.4Election box candidate with party link
party = Green Party of England and Wales
candidate = Mark Stevenson
votes = 1,518
percentage = 3.3
change = +0.7Election box candidate with party link
party = United Kingdom Independence Party
candidate = Delphine Gray-Fisk
votes = 1,162
percentage = 2.5
change = –0.7Election box majority
votes = 12,793
percentage = 27.5
change = Election box turnout
votes = 46,537
percentage = 67.9
change = +3.6Election box hold with party link
winner = Conservative Party (UK)
swing = +4.2

Campaign

The nature of campaign was seen as quite aggressive from both sides. The Liberal Democrat Party attacked both the green-belt credentials of the Conservative candidate and his participation in the campaign to save the local hospital, [cite web|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2008/06/16/green-belt-tory-row-89520-20609101/|title=Tory MP John Howell in green belt row|date=2008-06-16|publisher=The Daily Mirror|accessdate=2008-06-26] [cite web|url=http://www.henleylibdems.org.uk/news/000117/townlands_hospital_campaign_conservative_candidate_did_not_help_us.html|title=Townlands Hospital Campaign: Conservative candidate did NOT help us|date=2008-06-19|accessdate=2008-06-26] as well as producing leaflets which were alleged to imply that the previous MP, Boris Johnson backed their candidate and incorrectly asserting a local school's budget was under threat. [cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/2171855/Henley-by-election-Jolly-boating-and-voting-weather-for-candidates.html|title=Henley by-election: Jolly boating and voting weather for candidates|last=Johnson|first=Stanley|date=2008-06-24|publisher=Daily Telegraph|accessdate=2008-06-26] [cite web|url=http://www.thametoday.co.uk/news/39Don39t-use-us-as-a.4208827.jp|title='Don't use us as a pawn,' school tells Lib Dems|last=Snookes|first=Harriet|date=2008-06-20|work=Thame Gazette|publisher=Johnston Press Digital Publishing |accessdate=2008-06-28] The Conservatives in return threatened to sue, [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7465019.stm|title=Tory threat over Lib Dem claims |date=2008-06-20|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=2008-06-26] claiming the allegations of non-involvement were untrue and played on the fact that the Liberal Democrat candidate was not local, but from Plymouth. The Lib Dems responded by saying that their candidate had moved into the constituency and would remain there, the same way the former Conservative MP Boris Johnson had done when he ran.Fact|date=June 2008

Reaction from voters to the hard campaigning indicated that some constituents were turned off and some commentators raised questions on the effectiveness of the Liberal Democrat campaign after the results which saw an increased swing to the Conservatives. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7471553.stm|title=What is at stake in Henley poll? |date=2008-06-24|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=2008-06-26] [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7476737.stm|title=Henley poll deals anniversary blow |last=Thompson|first=David|date=2008-06-37|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=2008-06-27]

ee also

*List of United Kingdom by-elections
*Henley by-election, 1932
*Henley by-election, 1917

References