title: 1997 Wirral South by-election
text: # 1997 Wirral South by-election
  
  A by-election was held for the United Kingdom parliament constituency of Wirral South, in Merseyside, England, on 27 February 1997. The seat became vacant on the death of Conservative Party Member of Parliament Barry Porter, and was won by Labour's Ben Chapman.
  
  The Conservative loss in this seat, which came close to the last possible date for a general election, meant that they no longer had a majority in the House of Commons. Wirral South was the last in a run of significant Conservative losses, following a period of dissatisfaction with the Major years. This was the last Conservative loss to Labour in a by-election until the 2012 Corby by-election. Labour has held this seat since the by-election.
  
  ## Result
  
  Wirral South by-election, 1997 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Ben Chapman | 22,767 | 52.6 | +18.0 |
  | | Conservative | Leslie Byrom | 14,879 | 34.4 | −16.5 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Flo Clucas | 4,357 | 10.1 | −3.0 |
  | | UKIP | Richard North | 410 | 0.9 | New |
  | | Independent | Harold Bence | 184 | 0.4 | New |
  | | Socialist Labour | Michael Cullen | 156 | 0.4 | New |
  | | Disillusioned Conservative | Phillip Gott | 148 | 0.3 | New |
  | | Independent | Roger Taylor | 132 | 0.3 | New |
  | | Independent - anti tobacco donation | Anthony Samuelson | 124 | 0.3 | New |
  | | Natural Law | Geoffery Mead | 52 | 0.1 | −0.2 |
  | | 21st Century Foresters | Colin Palmer | 44 | 0.1 | New |
  | | Independent - Thalidomide Action Group | Frederick Astbury | 40 | 0.1 | New |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,888 | 18.2 | N/A |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,293 | 71.5 | −10.8 |
  | | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +17.25 | |
  
  ## Previous result
  
  General election 1992: Wirral South :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Barry Porter | 25,590 | 50.8 | +0.6 |
  | | Labour | Helen Southworth | 17,407 | 34.6 | +6.6 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Edward T. Cunniffe | 6,581 | 13.1 | −8.7 |
  | | Green | Nigel Birchenough | 584 | 1.2 | New |
  | | Natural Law | George Griffiths | 182 | 0.4 | New |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,183 | 16.2 | −5.8 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,344 | 82.3 | +2.9 |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −3.0 | |
  