British By-Elections 1769–2025

A parliamentary by-election happens when a seat in the House of Commons becomes vacant between general elections, whether because the sitting MP dies, resigns, goes bankrupt, is convicted of a crime or is subject to a recall petition. By-elections can often appear to break the mould of British politics, signify the seemingly terminal decline of a particular political party or indicate the end of a premiership. Some take on iconic status or attract celebrity candidates and are remembered several decades after they take place. Others quickly disappear into the depths of our memories. As these pages will testify, however, there’s rarely a dull contest.

In this latest anthology, Iain Dale picks the most consequential by-elections of the modern era and presents a series of thoroughly researched and absorbing essays by some of our finest political writers, including Sir Vernon Bogdanor, Sir John Curtice, Simon Heffer, Julia Langdon, Lord Lexden, Andrew Marr, Tim Shipman and many others.

This remarkable book uncovers unique stories of political tragedy, triumph, success and failure, set against the backdrop of some of the most dramatic moments in British parliamentary history.