2000 Falkirk West by-election explained

Election Name:2000 Falkirk West by-election
Country:United Kingdom
Type:parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1997 United Kingdom general election
Previous Year:1997
Next Election:2001 United Kingdom general election
Next Year:2001
Election Date:21 December 2000
Candidate1:Eric Joyce
Party1:Labour Party (UK)
Popular Vote1:8,492
Percentage1:43.5%
Swing1:15.9pp
Candidate2:David Kerr
Party2:Scottish National Party
Popular Vote2:7,787
Percentage2:39.9%
Swing2:16.5pp
Candidate4:Craig Stevenson
Party4:Conservative Party (UK)
Popular Vote4:1,621
Percentage4:8.3%
Swing4:3.8pp
Party5:Scottish Socialist Party
Popular Vote5:989
Percentage5:5.1%
Swing5:New
MP
Before Election:Dennis Canavan
After Election:Eric Joyce
Before Party:Labour
After Party:Labour

The 2000 Falkirk West by-election was a parliamentary by-election held on 21 December 2000 for the Scottish constituency of Falkirk West.

The vacancy was caused by the resignation from the House of Commons of Dennis Canavan, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Falkirk West. Canavan had first been elected for West Stirlingshire in the October 1974 election as a Labour Party candidate, and had held that seat until its abolition in 1983. He had then won the new Falkirk West seat, and held that seat as a Labour MP until he was expelled from Labour in 1999. He then sat as an Independent until he resigned on 21 November 2000 by accepting the office of Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead.

A by-election to fill the seat was held on 21 December. The Scottish National Party mounted a strong challenge, but fell 705 votes short of winning.

See also

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