# 2014 Wythenshawe and Sale East by-election

On 13 February 2014, a by-election was held for the UK parliamentary constituency of Wythenshawe and Sale East, following the death of the former MP, Paul Goggins.
The election was won by Mike Kane of the Labour Party with a greatly increased share of the vote compared with the 2010 general election. UKIP, which had previously performed poorly, came second, beating the Conservative Party into third place. The Liberal Democrats lost their deposit. The turnout was 28.2%, compared with 54.3% for the 2010 general election.

## Background

On 30 December 2013, Goggins became seriously ill after collapsing while running. He died in hospital on 7 January 2014 following complications from a brain haemorrhage.

## Candidates and result

Applications to register to vote had to be received by Manchester City Council by 28 January. The Statement of Persons Nominated was published at 5 pm on 29 January 2014.
The result was declared at around 2.30am GMT on Friday, 14 February.
| Election | Political result | Candidate | Party | Votes | % | ±% |
| By-election 2014 Turnout: 23,961 (28.2%) –26.1 | Labour hold Majority: 8,960 (37.4%) +18.8 Swing: 1.6% from Lab to UKIP | Mike Kane | Labour | 13,261 | 55.3 | +11.2 |
| By-election 2014 Turnout: 23,961 (28.2%) –26.1 | Labour hold Majority: 8,960 (37.4%) +18.8 Swing: 1.6% from Lab to UKIP | John Bickley | UKIP | 4,301 | 18.0 | +14.5 |
| By-election 2014 Turnout: 23,961 (28.2%) –26.1 | Labour hold Majority: 8,960 (37.4%) +18.8 Swing: 1.6% from Lab to UKIP | Daniel Critchlow | Conservative | 3,479 | 14.5 | –11.0 |
| By-election 2014 Turnout: 23,961 (28.2%) –26.1 | Labour hold Majority: 8,960 (37.4%) +18.8 Swing: 1.6% from Lab to UKIP | Mary di Mauro | Liberal Democrats | 1,176 | 4.9 | –17.4 |
| By-election 2014 Turnout: 23,961 (28.2%) –26.1 | Labour hold Majority: 8,960 (37.4%) +18.8 Swing: 1.6% from Lab to UKIP | Nigel Woodcock | Green | 748 | 3.1 | New |
| By-election 2014 Turnout: 23,961 (28.2%) –26.1 | Labour hold Majority: 8,960 (37.4%) +18.8 Swing: 1.6% from Lab to UKIP | Eddy O'Sullivan | BNP | 708 | 3.0 | –0.9 |
| By-election 2014 Turnout: 23,961 (28.2%) –26.1 | Labour hold Majority: 8,960 (37.4%) +18.8 Swing: 1.6% from Lab to UKIP | Captain Chaplington-Smythe | Monster Raving Loony | 288 | 1.2 | New |
Mike Kane, a former Manchester councillor and the acting chief executive of Movement for Change, was confirmed as the Labour Party candidate, on 24 January. In a selection process described as "quick-fire", London interviews on 22 January produced a short list of five local councillors and ex-councillors: Rosa Battle and Suzannah Reeves of Manchester City Council, Catherine Hynes and Sophie Taylor of Trafford Borough, and Mike Kane.
The Wythenshawe branch of the Conservative Party chose Daniel Critchlow, a Trafford-based vicar, on 23 January 2014.
The Liberal Democrats chose a Manchester City councillor, Mary di Mauro, on 26 January 2014.
On 24 January 2014, the British National Party announced Eddy O'Sullivan as its candidate. O'Sullivan had been a candidate in Salford local elections and stood for the BNP at the 2012 Manchester Central by-election, where his party's share of the vote was reduced.
The UK Independence Party selected John Bickley, 60, a former Labour supporter who grew up in Wythenshawe. Bickley, who runs a mobile app firm, told The Guardian that he felt Parliament needed to "take responsibility" having "outsourced running of the country to the EU". Bickley added that he felt "Labour had let down the working class" and that Labour's behaviour would mean his former trade unionist father would be "turning in his grave".
The Green Party selected Nigel Woodcock, a further education lecturer at The Manchester College.
The Official Monster Raving Loony Party put forward Captain Chaplington-Smythe as its candidate on 25 January 2014.

## Polling

| Date(s) conducted | Polling organisation/client | Sample size | Lab | UKIP | Con | LD | Others | Lead |
| 13 Feb 2014 | Wythenshawe by-election Result | 23,961 | 55.3% | 18.0% | 14.5% | 4.9% | 7.3% | 37.3% |
| 3–5 Feb 2014 | Lord Ashcroft | 1,009 | 61% | 15% | 14% | 5% | 4% | 46% |
| 6 May 2010 | General Election Results | 40,751 | 44.1% | 3.4% | 25.6% | 22.3% | 4.6% | 18.6% |

## Previous result

| Election | Political result | Candidate | Party | Votes | % | ±% |
| General election 2010 Turnout: 40,751 (54.3%) +3.1 | Labour hold Majority: 7,575 (18.6%) Swing: 5.9% from Lab to Con | Paul Goggins | Labour | 17,987 | 44.1 | –8.0 |
| General election 2010 Turnout: 40,751 (54.3%) +3.1 | Labour hold Majority: 7,575 (18.6%) Swing: 5.9% from Lab to Con | Janet Clowes | Conservative | 10,412 | 25.6 | +3.3 |
| General election 2010 Turnout: 40,751 (54.3%) +3.1 | Labour hold Majority: 7,575 (18.6%) Swing: 5.9% from Lab to Con | Martin Eakins | Liberal Democrats | 9,107 | 22.3 | +0.9 |
| General election 2010 Turnout: 40,751 (54.3%) +3.1 | Labour hold Majority: 7,575 (18.6%) Swing: 5.9% from Lab to Con | Bernard Todd | BNP | 1,572 | 3.9 | New |
| General election 2010 Turnout: 40,751 (54.3%) +3.1 | Labour hold Majority: 7,575 (18.6%) Swing: 5.9% from Lab to Con | Christopher Cassidy | UKIP | 1,405 | 3.4 | +0.4 |
| General election 2010 Turnout: 40,751 (54.3%) +3.1 | Labour hold Majority: 7,575 (18.6%) Swing: 5.9% from Lab to Con | Lynn Worthington | TUSC | 268 | 0.7 | –0.3$^1$ |
$^1$This is compared to Worthington's performance as the Socialist Alternative candidate at the prior election.