1996 Barnsley East by-election

The Barnsley East by-election was held on 12 December 1996, following the death of the Labour Party Member of Parliament Terry Patchett for Barnsley East, in South Yorkshire, England, on 11 October.

1996 Barnsley East by-election

12 December 1996

First party Second party   Candidate Jeff Ennis David Willis Party Labour Liberal Democrats Popular vote 13,683 1,502 Percentage 76.4% 8.4% Swing 0.8pp 0.2pp   Third party Fourth party   Candidate Jane Ellison Ken Chapstick Party Conservative Socialist Labour Popular vote 1,299 949 Percentage 7.3% 5.3% Swing 6.9pp New

MP before election Terry Patchett Labour Elected MP Jeff Ennis Labour

Barnsley council leader Jeff Ennis held the seat for Labour on an increased majority of 68% and more than three quarters of the votes, despite a low voter turnout. Despite a slight reduction in the vote for the Liberal Democrats, they overtook the Conservative Party for second place.

The Socialist Labour Party, on their leader Arthur Scargill's home territory, was able to save its deposit.

With the election of a new Labour MP, the Conservatives lost their Parliamentary majority.

Barnsley East by-election, 1996

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Jeff Ennis	13,683	76.4	−0.8
	Liberal Democrats	David Willis	1,502	8.4	−0.2
	Conservative	Jane Ellison	1,299	7.3	−6.9
	Socialist Labour	Ken Capstick	949	5.3	New
	UKIP	Nikolai Tolstoy	378	2.1	New
	Socialist Equality	Julie Hyland	89	0.5	New
Majority			12,181	68.0	+5.0
Turnout			17,900	33.7	−39.0
	Labour hold		Swing

General election 1992: Barnsley East

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Terry Patchett	30,346	77.2	+2.7
	Conservative	John Proctor	5,569	14.2	+0.2
	Liberal Democrats	Sylvia Anginotti	3,399	8.6	−2.9
Majority			24,777	63.0	+2.5
Turnout			39,314	72.7	+0.1
	Labour hold		Swing