Eastleigh by-election, 2013

Eastleigh by-election, 2013

← 2010 28 February 2013 2015 →
The Eastleigh seat in the House of Commons. Triggered by vacation of seat by incumbent
Candidate Mike Thornton Diane James Party Liberal Democrat UKIP Popular vote 13,342 11,571 Percentage 32.06% 27.80%   Candidate Maria Hutchings John O'Farrell Party Conservative Labour Popular vote 10,559 4,088 Percentage 25.37% 9.82%
Map showing the Eastleigh Parliamentary constituency within the English county of Hampshire.
MP before election Chris Huhne Liberal Democrat Subsequent MP Mike Thornton Liberal Democrat

Chris Huhne
Liberal Democrat

Mike Thornton
Liberal Democrat

The Eastleigh by-election, 2013 was a parliamentary by-election held on 28 February 2013 for the United Kingdom House of Commons constituency of Eastleigh in Hampshire.

The election was triggered by the resignation of the sitting MP, Liberal Democrat Chris Huhne, which took effect on 5 February 2013. The resignation coincided with his guilty plea on the eve of a court case in which he and his ex-wife were to be prosecuted for lying to police about a historical speeding offence (committed in 2003 but which only came to light in May 2011). Huhne had already stood down from his position as the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change in February 2012 when first charged.

Mike Thornton retained the seat for the Liberal Democrats, though with a reduced majority compared with the 2010 general election. UKIP came second with a greatly increased share of the vote, the Conservatives came third, and Labour fourth. Following the election result, UKIP leader Nigel Farage and Conservative candidate Maria Hutchings each blamed the other party for splitting the vote and allowing the Liberal Democrats to win.

The Statement of Persons Nominated was published on 13 February and confirmed 14 candidates for the by-election. The defending party, the Liberal Democrats, nominated Eastleigh Borough Council councillor Mike Thornton.