Glasgow Govan by-election, 1988

Glasgow Govan by-election, 1988

← 1987 10 November 1988 1992 →
Candidate Jim Sillars Bob Gillespie Graeme Hamilton Party SNP Labour Conservative Popular vote 14,677 11,123 2,207 Percentage 48.8 36.9 7.3
Map showing the Glasgow Govan Parliamentary constituency within Scotland.
MP before election Bruce Millan Labour Subsequent MP Jim Sillars SNP

Bruce Millan
Labour

Jim Sillars
SNP

The Glasgow Govan by-election, in the British House of Commons constituency of Glasgow Govan, Scotland, was held on 10 November 1988. It was caused by the resignation of Bruce Millan as Member of Parliament for the constituency following his appointment as a European Commissioner.

The result of the election provided the first major upset of the by-elections in the 1987-1992 parliament and was seen as embarrassing for the Labour Party, with the former Labour MP Jim Sillars winning the seat for the Scottish National Party with a majority of 3,554 and a large swing from Labour to the SNP.