2008 Henley by-election

Background

Henley was considered a safe seat for the Conservative Party, having been held by the party continuously since 1910 up to this election. Johnson had gained a 12,793 majority over the Liberal Democrats at the previous election, though recent local elections have seen the Liberal Democrats' vote rise. Despite this, an easy win for the Conservative Party candidate was predicted, with the Labour Party being given little to no chance of victory. It had been expected that the by-election would be held after the parliamentary summer recess. However, following their victory in the Crewe and Nantwich by-election, the Conservatives brought the by-election forward to 26 June, in order to capitalise on their strong support.

Candidates

For the 2010 general election, candidates had been chosen for the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties, but internal party rules may have required re-selection before any by-election was called.

Boris Johnson's father Stanley Johnson was widely expected to seek the Conservative Party's nomination. However, John Howell, an Oxfordshire county councillor, was selected as the Conservative candidate, in preference to Ann Ducker, leader of South Oxfordshire district council, and John Cotton, a South Oxfordshire district councillor.

The Liberal Democrats' candidate was Stephen Kearney, head of a development charity who had previously owned and ran a small business. The Liberal Democrats had previously selected Oxfordshire councillor Susan Cooper for the general election, but under Liberal Democrat policies, such selections are not valid for by-elections. When it became apparent a by-election was to be held, a new selection process was run.

The Labour candidate was Richard McKenzie, who was previously a local councillor in Reading, having lost his seat in the local council elections of May 2008.

The Green Party continued with its 2005 general election candidate Mark Stevenson.

The British National Party candidate, Tim Rait, previously stood for European Parliament election in 2004, for Maidenhead in the 2005 general election and the Lothians Region in the 2007 Scottish election.

The UK Independence Party selected Chris Adams, Buckinghamshire County Organiser for the UKIP and also PPC for Aylesbury. He previously stood in Aylesbury at the 2005 general election.

Following the candidature of the then-Miss Great Britain, Gemma Garrett, at the Crewe and Nantwich by-election in 2008, the "Beauties for Britain" group stood two candidates - one blonde, the other brunette - in Henley: Amanda Harrington and Louise Cole, respectively. However, the party was not registered with the Electoral Commission so they were considered Independent candidates.

The Monster Raving Loony Party fielded candidate Bananaman Owen, whose name was taken from a British television programme. The Harry Bear candidate is the fictional creation of Mail on Sunday columnist Richard Heller.

Election result

Polling day was Thursday 26 June. The results were declared shortly after 0130 BST on Friday 27 June by the returning officer for South Oxfordshire council.

General election 2005 result

Campaign

The nature of campaign was seen as quite aggressive from both sides. The Liberal Democrats attacked both the green-belt credentials of the Conservative candidate and his participation in the campaign to save the local hospital, as well as producing leaflets which were alleged to imply that the previous MP, Boris Johnson backed their candidate and incorrectly asserting a local school's budget was under threat. The Conservatives in return threatened to sue, claiming the allegations of non-involvement were untrue and played on the fact that the Liberal Democrat candidate was not local, but from Plymouth. The Lib Dems responded by saying that their candidate had moved into the constituency and would remain there, the same way the former Conservative MP Boris Johnson had done when he stood.

Reaction from voters to the hard campaigning indicated that some constituents were turned off and some commentators raised questions on the effectiveness of the Liberal Democrat campaign after the results which saw an increased swing to the Conservatives.

References

References

1. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7437494.stm June date for Henley by-election] ''BBC News'', 5 June 2008
2. [http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/press/2008/press_54_08.cfm Treasury press release] {{webarchive. link. (2008-06-08 - ''Manor of Northstead'' 4 June 2008)
3. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7476703.stm Labour fifth as Tories win Henley], [[BBC News]], 27 June 2008
4. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7476737.stm Henley poll deals anniversary blow] Thomson, David; BBC News; 27 June 2008; Accessed 27 June 2008
5. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/833067.stm Boris Johnson given safe Tory seat] BBC News; 14 July 2000; Accessed 23 June 2008
6. [http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,91211-1318154,00.html Henley By-Election To Be Held On June 26] Sky News; 5 June 2008; Accessed 23 June 2008
7. link. (2008-06-11 [[William Hill plc). William Hill]]; Accessed 23 June 2008
8. [http://www.thametoday.co.uk/news/Boris-to-make-way-for.4068890.jp Boris to make way for new Thame MP in the autumn] - ''Thame Gazette'' 2008-05-10
9. [https://archive.today/20080724134903/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3985463.ece Tory win in Crewe could prompt Boris by-election] - ''Times Online''
10. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7415362.stm Cameron hails 'end of New Labour'] - ''[[BBC. BBC News]]'' 2008-05-23
11. [http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/guide/seat-profiles/henley Henley Constituency Profile] - ''UK Polling Report''
12. Helm, Toby. (27 May 2008). "Tories to choose local candidate for Boris Johnson's Henley seat". [[Daily Telegraph]].
13. [http://conservativehome.blogs.com/goldlist/2008/05/and-the-candida.html And the candidate for Henley is...], [[ConservativeHome]]
14. [http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-mayor/article-23487771-details/Widow+farmer+is+tipped+to+succeed+Boris+as+Henley+MP/article.do Widow farmer is tipped to succeed Boris as Henley MP] {{Webarchive. link. (2008-05-28 - ''This Is London'' 2008-05-27)
15. [http://www.henleylibdems.org.uk/pages/stephenkearney.html Stephen Kearney Profile] - ''Henley Liberal Democrats''
16. [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/2059159/Portcullis-Lib-Dems-ditch-their-local-hope.html Portcullis: Lib-Dems ditch their local hope], ''Daily Telegraph''.
17. "Reading Chronicle {{!}} News {{!}} RBC election results".
18. "Chris Adams UKIP Candidate for Henley".
19. Towsend, Ian. (2008-06-18). "Model MPs?". Newsquest Media Group.
20. Isaby, Jonathan. (2008-06-10). "Henley by-election gets glamorous". Telegraph Media Group Limited.
21. [http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/guide/seat-profiles/henley ukpollingreport]
22. [http://www.southoxon.gov.uk/ccm/content/legal/henley-by-election/candidates.en Candidates] {{Webarchive. link. (2008-06-14 South Oxfordshire Council)
23. (2008-06-16). "Tory MP John Howell in green belt row". The Daily Mirror.
24. (2008-06-19). "Townlands Hospital Campaign: Conservative candidate did NOT help us".
25. Johnson, Stanley. (2008-06-24). "Henley by-election: Jolly boating and voting weather for candidates". Daily Telegraph.
26. Snookes, Harriet. (2008-06-20). "'Don't use us as a pawn,' school tells Lib Dems". Johnston Press Digital Publishing.
27. (2008-06-20). "Tory threat over Lib Dem claims". BBC News.
28. (2008-06-24). "What is at stake in Henley poll?". BBC News.
29. Thompson, David. (2008-06-27). "Henley poll deals anniversary blow". BBC News.