1990 Paisley South by-election
29 November 1990
Constituency of Paisley South
Turnout55.0% (Decrease 20.3%)
  First party Second party
 
Candidate Gordon McMaster Iain Lawson
Party Labour SNP
Popular vote 12,485 7,455
Percentage 46.1% 27.5%
Swing Decrease10.0% Increase13.5%
  Third party Fourth party
 
Candidate John Workman Alan Reid
Party Conservative Liberal Democrats
Popular vote 3,627 2,660
Percentage 13.4% 9.8%
Swing Decrease1.3% Decrease5.3%
MP before election

Norman Buchan
Labour

 Subsequent MP

Gordon McMaster
Labour

The 1990 Paisley South by-election was a parliamentary by-election held on 29 November 1990 for the House of Commons constituency of Paisley South, in the town of Paisley, Scotland.

It was caused by the death of the previous Labour Member of Parliament, Norman Buchan.

As in the by-election in the neighbouring seat of Paisley North held on the same day, the SNP saw a healthy increase in their share of the vote, but not enough to win, and the Labour Party retained the seat, with Gordon McMaster emerging as the victor.

The by-election was the first parliamentary election to take place under the premiership of John Major, who had succeeded Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister just two days earlier. Although the change of party leader sparked an almost instant upswing in Conservative support (which had been declining for the previous 18 months largely due to the poll tax) and ultimately saw them win the 1992 general election with their highest number of votes on record, the Tories failed to take advantage of this by-election; polling at a mere 13.4% and failing to alter the political climate in a traditional Labour stronghold.

Results

Paisley South by-election, 1990[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gordon McMaster 12,485 46.1 -10.0
SNP Iain Lawson 7,455 27.5 +13.5
Conservative John Workman 3,627 13.4 -1.3
Liberal Democrats Alan Reid 2,660 9.8 -5.3
Scottish Green Lizbeth Collie 835 3.1 New
Majority 5,030 18.6 -22.5
Turnout 27,062 55.0 -20.3
Labour hold Swing -11.8

See also

References

  1. ↑ Boothroyd, David. "Results of Byelections in the 1987-92 Parliament". United Kingdom Election Results. Retrieved 1 October 2015.


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