1986 Fulham by-election

1986 Fulham by-election
Constituency of Fulham
MP before election; Martin Stevens; Conservative	Subsequent MP ; Nick Raynsford; Labour

The Fulham by-election, in Fulham, on 10 April 1986 was held following the death of the Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) Martin Stevens on 10 January that year. In a seat that had changed hands on a few occasions, it was won by Nick Raynsford of Labour, only to be regained by the Tories in the general election 14 months later.

Candidates

Jane Birdwood was a veteran activist on the far right who was variously associated with the National Front and British National Party.^[1]
James "Boyd" Black advocated the right of Northern Ireland to directly elect its own government and was a leading member of the British and Irish Communist Organisation.^[2]
Matthew Carrington captured the seat for the Conservatives at the following election.
John Creighton was the owner of a local wine shop.^[2]
Liza Duke called for the abolition of Parliament.^[2]
Roger Liddle later went on to become an adviser to Tony Blair and Peter Mandelson.^[3]
Nick Raynsford would later return to Parliament as MP for Greenwich and Greenwich & Woolwich.
Rev. Geoffrey Rolph represented the Fellowship Party, which supported pacifism and opposed nuclear power.
Reginald Simmerson, a regular by-election candidate, campaigned against British membership of the European Community.^[2] Following his death in 1998 the Anti-Common Market League established a prize in his memory.^[4]
Jon Swinden ran for the Humanist Party which advocates the humanism of Mario Rodríguez Cobos.^[5]
David Sutch was the founder and leader of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party.

Fulham by-election, 1986^[6]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Nick Raynsford	16,451	43.2	+9.17
	Conservative	Matthew Carrington	12,948	34.0	−12.18
	SDP	Roger Liddle	6,953	18.26	+0.01
	England Demands Repatriation	Jane Birdwood	226	0.59	N/A
	Monster Raving Loony	David Sutch	134	0.35	N/A
	Connoisseur Wine Party	John Creighton	127	0.33	N/A
	Democratic Rights for Northern Ireland	James Black	98	0.26	N/A
	Fellowship	Geoffrey Rolph	39	0.1	N/A
	Humanist	Jon Swinden	38	0.1	N/A
	Captain Rainbows Universal Party	Liza Duke	37	0.1	N/A
	All Party Anti-Common Market	Reginald Simmerson	33	0.09	N/A
Majority			3,503	9.2	N/A
Turnout			38,084
	Labour gain from Conservative		Swing

General election 1983: Fulham
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Martin Stevens	18,204	46.2	−0.5
	Labour	A Powell	13,415	34.03	−9.2
	Liberal	David Rendel	9,174	18.3	+9.3
	Ecology	J Grimes	277	0.7	N/A
	National Front	R Pearce	229	0.6	−0.6
	Independent Liberal	J Keats	102	0.3	N/A
Majority			4,798	12.15	+8.7
Turnout			39,421	76.1	−0.0
	Conservative hold		Swing

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1983	July: Penrith and the Border
1984	March: Chesterfield May: Cynon Valley South West Surrey Stafford June: Portsmouth South December: Enfield Southgate
1985	July: Brecon and Radnor December: Tyne Bridge
1986	January: Belfast East Belfast North Belfast South East Antrim East Londonderry Fermanagh & South Tyrone Lagan Valley Mid Ulster Newry & Armagh North Antrim North Down South Antrim South Down Strangford Upper Bann April: Fulham May: Ryedale West Derbyshire July: Newcastle-under-Lyme November: Knowsley North
1987	February: Greenwich March: Truro
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