[Vanders9]

The usual reason for these “by-elections” is the death of the incumbent MP. With 650+ MP’s in total, statistically its usual to have a couple of by-elections every year.

[vimto]

This by-election was because of the death of the popular and independent minded Gwyneth Dunwoody(her daughter stood for labour). The next by-election will probably be for Boris Johnson (now London Mayor) who is expected to resign his seat next month. This would give the Conservatives a chance to rub Labour's nose in it.

The mood in the UK has changed somewhat recently. The idea of a Conservative government is no longer unthinkable. What kind of conservatism it will be is another matter....