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Template:Future election The Henley by-election, 2008 to elect a member of the UK House of Commons for the constituency of Henley in Oxfordshire will be held on 2008-06-26.

It follows the election of Boris Johnson as Mayor of London in May 2008. Johnson accepted the post of Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead and hence resigned as MP on 4 June2008.

It was expected that the by-election would only be held after the parliamentary summer recess. However, following the Conservative Party's victory in the Crewe and Nantwich by-election, it was reported that the by-election would take place on 26 June, as the Conservatives would likely try to capitalise on their current strong support.. The writ for the by-election was moved on 2008-06-05, with the by-election date set for 2008-06-26.

Candidates

For the next general election, candidates have been chosen for the Labour, and Liberal Democrat parties, but internal party rules may require re-selection before any by-election is called.

Boris Johnson's father Stanley Johnson was widely expected to seek the Conservative Party's nomination. However, John Howell, an Oxfordshire county councillor, was eventually selected as the Conservative candidate, defeating Ann Ducker, leader of South Oxfordshire district council, and John Cotton, a South Oxfordshire district councillor.

The Liberal Democrat candidate is Stephen Kearney, who is head of a development charity and before this owned and ran a small business. The Lib Dems had previously selected Oxfordshire councillor Susan Cooper for the general election, but under Liberal Democrat policies, such selections are not valid for by-elections. When it became apparent a by-election was to be held, a new selection process was run and she was replaced by Kearney.

The Labour candidate is Richard McKenzie, who was previously a local councillor in Reading, having lost his seat in the council elections of 2008.

UKIP have selected Chris Adams who is their Buckinghamshire County Organiser and also PPC for Aylesbury, having previously stood in Aylesbury at the 2005 General Election.

The Green Party have continued with their 2005 General Election candidate Mark Stevenson.

The Libertarian Party are standing for the first time in a parliamentary election having only been formed in late 2007 and selected Ian Parker-Joseph as their candidate.

General Election 2005 result

See also

• List of United Kingdom by-elections
• Henley by-election, 1932

References

1. ^ June date for Henley by-election BBC News, 5 June2008
2. Treasury press release - Manor of Northstead 4 June2008
3. Boris to make way for new Thame MP in the autumn - Thame Gazette 2008-05-10
4. Tory win in Crewe could prompt Boris by-election - Times Online
5. Cameron hails 'end of New Labour' - BBC News 2008-05-23
6. Henley Consituency Profile - UK Polling Report
7. Bank holiday Boris promises to work 'night and day' as father eyes his Commons seat - The Mail on Sunday 2008-05-06
8. And the candidate for Henley is..., ConservativeHome
9. Widow farmer is tipped to succeed Boris as Henley MP - This Is London 2008-05-27
10. Stephen Kearney Profile - Henley Liberal Democrats
11. Portcullis: Lib-Dems ditch their local hope, Daily Telegraph.
12. Reading Chronicle | News | RBC election results
13. Chris Adams UKIP Candidate for Henley
14. Libertarian Party Press Release
15. Libertarian Party website
16. ukpollingreport

External Links

• John Howell's Oxfordshire County Council profile
• Stephen Kearney's profile at Henley Lib Dems.
• Richard McKenzie's campaign web site.
• Chris Adams campaign web site.
• The Acting Returning Officer David Buckle's blog about the by-election.

• Henley-on-Thames
• By-elections to the UK Parliament in English constituencies
• 2008 elections in the United Kingdom