The Labour Member of Parliament for Wigan (Greater Manchester, England) Roger Stott, died on 9 August 1999, causing a by-election in the constituency. Polling day was set for 23 September. Labour selected Neil Turner, who had been a local councillor for 27 years, to defend the seat. The Conservatives chose Tom Peet, who was an active Trade Unionist and had worked at a nearby coal mine.
Wigan was a massively safe Labour seat and none of the other candidates could form an effective challenge.