1997 Wirral South by-election

A by-election was held for the United Kingdom parliament constituency of Wirral South, in Merseyside, England, on 27 February 1997. The seat became vacant on the death of Conservative Party Member of Parliament Barry Porter, and was won by Labour's Ben Chapman.

1997 Wirral South by-election

← 1992 27 February 1997 May 1997 →
Turnout	71.5%
First party Second party Third party   Candidate Ben Chapman Leslie Byrom Flo Clucas Party Labour Conservative Liberal Democrats Popular vote 22,767 14,879 4,357 Percentage 52.6% 34.4% 10.1% Swing 18.0pp 16.5pp 3.0pp
MP before election Barry Porter Conservative Elected MP Ben Chapman Labour

The Conservative loss in this seat, which came close to the last possible date for a general election, meant that they no longer had a majority in the House of Commons.^[1] Wirral South was the last in a run of significant Conservative losses, following a period of dissatisfaction with the Major years. This was the last Conservative loss to Labour in a by-election until the 2012 Corby by-election. Labour held this seat from the by-election until its dissolution in 2024.

Result

Wirral South by-election, 1997^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Ben Chapman	22,767	52.6	+18.0
	Conservative	Leslie Byrom	14,879	34.4	−16.5
	Liberal Democrats	Flo Clucas	4,357	10.1	−3.0
	UKIP	Richard North	410	0.9	New
	Independent	Harold Bence	184	0.4	New
	Socialist Labour	Michael Cullen	156	0.4	New
	Disillusioned Conservative	Phillip Gott	148	0.3	New
	Independent	Roger Taylor	132	0.3	New
	Independent - anti tobacco donation	Anthony Samuelson	124	0.3	New
	Natural Law	Geoffery Mead	52	0.1	−0.2
	21st Century Foresters	Colin Palmer	44	0.1	New
	Independent - Thalidomide Action Group	Frederick Astbury	40	0.1	New
Majority			7,888	18.2	N/A
Turnout			43,293	71.5	−10.8
	Labour gain from Conservative		Swing	+17.25

Previous result

General election 1992: Wirral South^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Barry Porter	25,590	50.8	+0.6
	Labour	Helen Southworth	17,407	34.6	+6.6
	Liberal Democrats	Edward T. Cunniffe	6,581	13.1	−8.7
	Green	Nigel Birchenough	584	1.2	New
	Natural Law	George Griffiths	182	0.4	New
Majority			8,183	16.2	−5.8
Turnout			50,344	82.3	+2.9
	Conservative hold		Swing	−3.0