Neil Balfour - Byelection Campaign

Byelection Campaign

Balfour was the Conservative Party candidate at the Chester-le-Street by-election in 1973, a seat that it had little chance of winning. Balfour was candid about his chances but hoped to come a strong second, despite his campaign being based in a caravan in a garden. In the event, the Conservative vote collapsed to the Liberals and he lost his deposit; the Labour campaign accused the Liberals of dirty tricks but regarded Balfour as an honourable opponent.