2004 Leicester South by-election

A by-election was held in Leicester South on 15 July 2004. It was triggered by the death of Labour Party Member of Parliament (MP) Jim Marshall, who died on 27 May 2004, shortly before the local and European elections in June. The by-election was won by Parmjit Singh Gill of the Liberal Democrats, over-turning a Labour majority of 13,243 votes at the 2001 general election.

Leicester South by-election
15 July 2004
Leicester South parliamentary seat
  First party Second party
 
Candidate Parmjit Singh Gill Peter Soulsby
Party Liberal Democrats Labour
Popular vote 10,274 8,620
Percentage 34.9% 29.3%
Swing 17.7% 25.2%
  Third party Fourth party
 
Candidate Chris Heaton-Harris Yvonne Ridley
Party Conservative Respect
Popular vote 5,796 3,724
Percentage 19.7% 12.7%
Swing 3.4% New party
MP before election

Jim Marshall
Labour

 Subsequent MP

Parmjit Singh Gill
Liberal Democrats

This by-election was held on the same day as the Birmingham Hodge Hill by-election, which Labour won with a highly reduced majority of just 460 votes (2.3%).[1]

Background

The seat was first won by Marshall in 1974. He lost it to the Conservative Party candidate, Derek Spencer, in the 1983 general election by a mere 7 votes, but won it back at the 1987 election. Marshall had a large personal vote, and both the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives targeted the seat at the 2004 by-election. At the 2005 general election, the Liberal Democrats were unable to retain the seat and Peter Soulsby became Leicester South's MP.

The constituency is diverse, covering leafy suburbs such as Stoneygate and Knighton along with inner city areas with a strong Asian community.

Results
Liberal Democrat posters on London Road.
By-election 2004: Leicester South[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Parmjit Singh Gill 10,274 34.9 +17.7
Labour Peter Soulsby 8,620 29.3 -25.2
Conservative Chris Heaton-Harris 5,796 19.7 -3.4
Respect Yvonne Ridley 3,724 12.7 New
Socialist Labour Dave Roberts 263 0.9 -0.7
Monster Raving Loony R. U. Seerius 225 0.8 New
Independent Pat Kennedy 204 0.7 New
Independent Paul Lord 186 0.6 New
Independent Mark Benson 55 0.2 New
Independent Jitendra Bardwaj 36 0.1 New
Ind. Conservative Alan Barrett 25 0.1 New
Majority 1,654 5.6 N/A
Turnout 29,438 41.6 -16.4
Liberal Democrats gain from Labour Swing +21.5

The by-election was considered a referendum on Blair's policies, especially the ongoing Iraq War; Leicester South has one of the largest South Asian populations of any constituency in the UK. In his victory speech, Gill said, "Yesterday, Lord Butler gave his views on Tony Blair's reasoning for backing the invasion of Iraq. Today, people in Leicester have given theirs."[3] He then went on to say, "The justification which Tony Blair gave for backing George Bush was wrong. The people of Leicester South have spoken for the people of Britain. Their message is that the prime minister has abused and lost their trust. He should apologise and he should apologise now."[4]

2001 result
General election 2001: Leicester South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jim Marshall 22,958 54.5 -3.5
Conservative Richard Hoile 9,715 23.1 -0.7
Liberal Democrats Parmjit Singh Gill 7,243 17.2 +3.4
Green Margaret Layton 1,217 2.9 New
Socialist Labour Arnie Gardner 676 1.6 New
UKIP Kirti Ladwa 330 0.8 New
Majority 13,243 31.4
Turnout 42,139 58.0
Labour hold Swing

References
  1. Hall, Sarah (9 July 2004). "Feuding parties fight dirty war on doorsteps". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  2. Boothroyd, David. "Results of Byelections in the 2001-2005 Parliament". United Kingdom Election Results. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  3. "By-election disaster for Blair". Al Jazeera. 16 July 2004. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  4. "Blair's party loses parliament by-election in Leicester". People's Daily. 16 July 2004. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
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