What UK seat has had the most by elections?

[afleitch]

I was thinking about it the other day and obviously to take into account boundary changes the figure varies. A strong contender, I think would be my own Hamilton. There was a by-election in 1943, 1967, 1978 and again in it's succesor seat of Hamilton South in 1999. But going back to say 1918 or 1900, there must be some constituency and its successors that has had more than 4 by-elections (I'm thinking Northern Ireland in particular, Mid Ulster had 3 elections in 1955-56, the General Elction and two-by elections IIRC due to problems with the candidates' eligability).

Any idea's ?

EDIT: Mid Ulster also had 4 by-elections They had another two in 1969 and 1986.

[Harry Hayfield]

From 1950 - 2005, the following seats have had more than their fair share of by-elections:

Bristol South East : 3 by-elections
November 1950: Labour hold
May 1961: Labour hold
August 1963: Labour hold

Edinburgh North: 3 by-elections
January 1955: Conservative hold
May 1960: Conservative hold
November 1973: Conservative hold

Rotherham: 3 by-elections
March 1963: Labour hold
June 1976: Labour hold
June 1994: Labour hold

Wigan: 3 by-elections
March 1948: Labour hold
June 1958: Labour hold
September 1999: Labour hold

I have information on by-elections pre 1950, but that will take a little more time to work through

[Filuwaúrdjan]

May 1961: Labour hold

Weren't that technically a Tory gain due to the ruling of the electoral court?

You must be logged in to read this quote.

The Wigan of 1999 was a very different constituency to the Wigan of the earlier by-elections; IIRC it actually contains almost as much of the old Westhoughton as it does the old Wigan. Boundaries in that part of Lancs have been absurd since 1983.

[Rural Radical]

Bootle and Knowsley South had a few in a short space of time.

[Harry Hayfield]

May 1961: Labour hold

Weren't that technically a Tory gain due to the ruling of the electoral court?

True, but on the night it was a Labour hold (just as in 1997 Winchester on the night was a Lib Dem gain)