Tottenham by-election, 2000
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The Labour Member of Parliament for Tottenham, Bernie Grant, died on April 8, 2000, creating a by-election in his constituency.
Grant was one of the first four black MPs and the constituency was one of the centres of the London Afro-Caribbean community. However, Grant's widow Sharon (who was white) declared her intention to seek selection and this split opinion within the local Labour Party. Both Sharon and Bernie Grant had been on the left-wing of the party whereas the leading black contender for the nomination, David Lammy, was a supporter of Tony Blair. After a close-fought selection battle, Lammy was chosen. During the campaign, Sharon Grant made a public show of supporting his election campaign in order not to allow disunity in the Labour Party.
Polling day in the by-election was set for June 22. Neither of the other major party candidates was able to mount a credible challenge in a seat where Labour was so strongly ahead, and David Lammy comfortably retained the seat on a low turnout.
Results
The turnout was 25.4%.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Change |
| David Lammy | Labour | 8,785 | 53.5% | -15.8% |
| Duncan Hames | Liberal Democrat | 3,139 | 19.1% | +8.3% |
| Jane Ellison | Conservative | 2,634 | 16.0% | +0.3% |
| Weyman Bennett | Socialist Alliance | 885 | 5.4% | |
| Peter Budge | Green Party | 606 | 3.7% | +0.9% |
| Erol Basarik | Reform 2000 Party | 177 | 1.1% | |
| Ashwin Tanna | UK Independence Party | 136 | 0.8% | |
| Dorian de Braâm | Independent Conservative | 55 | 0.3% |
General Election result, 1997
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
| Bernie Grant | (Lab) | 26,121 | 69.3% |
| Andrew Scantlebury | (C) | 5,921 | 15.7% |
| Neil Hughes | (L Dem) | 4,064 | 10.8% |
| Peter Budge | (GP) | 1,059 | 2.8% |
| Leelan Tay | (PLA) | 210 | 0.5% |
| Christopher Anglin | (WRP) | 181 | 0.5% |
| Tania Kent | (SEP) | 148 | 0.4% |