Political History: Perennial candidates you may not have heard of

Readers, you may of course know that if you track recent UK Parliamentary by-elections, the Monster Raving Loony Party leader, Alan 'Howling Laud' Hope, makes a frequent appearance, or at least someone from this most famous of joke parties. David 'Screaming Lord' Sutch also of course did this until 1997 (he committed suicide in 1999 and no Parliamentary by-elections at all occurred in 1998).

There have, however, been many perennial candidates in the last 35 years or so, who have been forgotten but should be noted nevertheless. It is sometimes hard not to admire their stubborn yet hopeless determination to represent their beliefs in the House of Commons, is it not?

These candidates (who have stood for parliament at least 5 times apiece without success) notably include:

Jitendra Bhardwaj, whose first by-election appearance notably came after his conviction of assaulting a police officer outside the House of Commons in 1982 (although he contested Luton in the 1979 general election) and who also contested by-elections in 1983, 1984, 2003, and 2004. Highest votes: 60 (Luton, 1979); lowest votes: 15 (Darlington by-election, 1983).

John Connell, who prominently believed in peace and that ITN was manipulating broadcasts, stood in by-elections of 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1988. Highest votes: 250 (Tyne Bridge by-election, 1985). Lowest votes: 7 (Chesterfield by-election, 1984; second-lowest number of votes ever in a British by-election).

Helen Anscomb, an anti-road, pro-rail public safety campaigner ,contested several elections in from 1983 to 1987, including most notably Finchley in 1983 against Margaret Thatcher. Highest votes: 82 (South West Surrey by-election 1984). Lowest votes: 34 (Chesterfield by-election, 1984)

Lindi St. Claire, who ran for the Corrective Party 11 times in 11 by-elections in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Highest votes: 216 (Eastbourne by-election, 1990). Lowest votes: 39 (Vale of Glamorgan by-election, 1989).

Roger Everest, who ran as an Independent Conservative several times, but ran as a real Conservative candidate first in 1974. Highest votes: 5,912 (Conservative, Caerphilly, 1974). Lowest votes: 40 (Winchester by-election, 1997).

Colin Bex, the President of the Wessex Regionalists, has ran for Parliament in 1979, 1983, 1997, 2001,2005,2010 and 2013 without any success at all. Highest vote: 251 (Windsor and Maidenhead, 1979). Lowest vote: 30 (Eastleigh by-election, 2013).

Barry Kirk, commonly known as Captain Beany, has ran for Parliament since 1991 several times (and also in local elections as a Neath Port Talbot Residents Association member). Highest vote: 727 (Aberavon,2001). Lowest vote: 262 (Neath by-election, 1991).

Reginald Simmerson, perennial anti-EU (or EEC as it was known when he stood) candidate in the 1970s and 1980s. Highest vote: 963(Macclesfield by-election, 1971). Lowest vote: 33 (Fulham by-election, 1986).

John Peck, Communist candidate for Nottingham North many times and later a Green councillor. Highest vote: 1579 (Nottingham North, 1964). Lowest vote: 525 (Nottingham North, October 1974).

Ronald Mallone, Fellowship Party leader for many years and perennial Greenwich candidate. Highest vote: 792 (Greenwich by-election, 1971). Lowest vote: 59 (Greenwich, 1987).

British political history is fascinating, is it not? 

Alan.

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