1972 Southwark by-election

Candidates

The Labour candidate was Harry Lamborn, who represented the constituency on the Greater London Council, of which he was Deputy Chair. The Conservative candidate was Jeffrey Gordon.

Gunter, who had resigned over the issue of the Common Market, had had a majority of nearly 10,000 and the seat was expected to remain a Labour one. Lamborn was described as 'a fervent anti-marketeer'. His main platform was opposition to the Government's Housing Finance Bill, which was expected to raise rents for council tenants. The constituency was reported as having more rented accommodation than any other in the country. The third candidate was an independent, Brian McDermott, who stood as the Actors Anti-Heath's Union-Bashing Tactics candidate.

Polling

Polling took place on the same day as the local elections outside London, in which Labour made very large gains. Labour won the seat comfortably with a swing of 11 per cent. The Conservatives took some comfort from the fact that in the by-election for the safe Kingston-upon-Thames seat the same day, they retained it against only a small swing to Labour.

Result

References

References

1. Tim Jones, "Candidates are enthusiastic but party chiefs expect 'no change'", ''The Times'', 2 May 1972.
2. 'Labour captures the cities but by-election gives Tories comfort', 'Kingston stays Tory and Labour holds Southwark', ''The Times'' 5 May 1972.
3. "1972 By Election Results".