- 11 Labour MPs died, along with eight Conservatives and Ulster Unionist Harold McCusker. 1983–1987 Parliament There were 31 by-elections in the 1983–1987 Parliament. Nine were in seats held by the governing Conservative party, six by Labour and one by the Liberals. The remaining 15 were in Northern Ireland, involving the province's own political parties. 25 by-elections were won by the incumbent party, including all in Northern Ireland except one. The Conservatives lost five seats; one to Labour, two to the Liberals, and two to the Social Democrats. The Ulster Unionists lost one seat to the Social Democratic and Labour Party. 11 by-elections were the result of the death of the incumbent MP; seven were Conservatives, three Labour and one Liberal. 1979–1983 Parliament There were 20 by-elections in the 1979–1983 Parliament. Seven were in seats held by the governing Conservative party, ten by Labour, one by the Ulster Unionists and two (in the same seat) by Irish republican parties, who do not take up their seats in the House of Commons. 13 by-elections were won by the incumbent party. The Conservatives lost four seats: one to Labour, one to the Liberals and two to the Social Democrats, and Labour lost two seats: one to the Liberals and one to the Conservatives. Meanwhile, the seat of Fermanagh and South Tyrone was won from the Independent Republican Party by Anti H-Block, a branch of Sinn Féin. 15 by-elections were a result of the death of the incumbent MP; six were Conservatives, six Labour, and the others were the Ulster Unionist Robert Bradford, the Independent Republican Frank Maguire and the Anti H-Block member Bobby Sands (who was in prison). See also List of United Kingdom by-elections (2010–present) List of United Kingdom by-elections (1950–1979) United Kingdom by-election records References Sources United Kingdom Election Results (David Boothroyd) United Kingdom Elections (Keele University) British Parliamentary By-Elections since 1945 F. W. S. Craig (1984). British parliamentary election results, 1974–1983. Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. . F. W. S. Craig, British Parliamentary Election Statistics 1832–1987F. W. S. Craig (1987). Chronology of British by-elections, 1832–1987''. Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. . 1979 20th century in the United Kingdom 21st century in the United Kingdom