British By-Elections 1769-2025: The 88 By-Election Campaigns That Shaped Our Politics

A parliamentary by-election happens when a seat in the House
of Commons becomes vacant between general elections, whether because the
sitting MP dies, resigns, goes bankrupt, is convicted of a crime or is subject
to a recall petition. By-elections can often appear to break the mould of
British politics, signify the seemingly terminal decline of a particular
political party or indicate the end of a premiership. Some take on iconic
status or attract celebrity candidates and are remembered several decades after
they take place. Others quickly disappear into the depths of our memories. As
these pages will testify, however, there's rarely a dull contest.

In this latest anthology, Iain Dale picks the most
consequential by-elections of the modern era and presents a series of thoroughly
researched and absorbing essays by some of our finest political writers,
including Sir Vernon Bogdanor, Sir John Curtice, Simon Heffer, Julia Langdon,
Lord Lexden, Andrew Marr, Tim Shipman and many others.

This remarkable book uncovers unique stories of political
tragedy, triumph, success and failure, set against the backdrop of some of the most
dramatic moments in British parliamentary history.