1993 Christchurch by-election

1993 Christchurch by-election

← 1992 29 July 1993 1997 →
Constituency of Christchurch
Turnout	74.2%
First party Second party   Candidate Diana Maddock Robert Hayward Party Liberal Democrats Conservative Popular vote 33,164 16,737 Percentage 62.2% 31.4% Swing 38.6% 32.2%
MP before election Robert Adley Conservative Elected MP Diana Maddock Liberal Democrats

A by-election was held in the British House of Commons constituency of Christchurch on 29 July 1993 following the death of sitting Conservative MP Robert Adley.

The result was a gain for the Liberal Democrats, notable for the swing necessary to take such a strong Conservative seat, gaining more than 60% of the votes cast and winning practically twice as many votes as the Conservatives. As of December 2021^[update], the swing of 35.4% remains the sixth-largest by-election swing in British political history (the Bermondsey by-election in 1983 having the largest). It was also the largest swing (35%) against any British government since 1918.^[1]

At the time, it was not necessary for candidates in British elections to register party names or ballot paper descriptions. Details on candidates at this election are taken from the official count^[2] and David Boothroyd's election results site.^[3]