2007 Sedgefield by-election with a majority reduced by over 11,000. The Liberal Democrats overtook the Conservatives for second place, with an 11% swing. The British National Party and independent local campaigner Paul Gittins both retained their deposits. 2007 Sedgefield by-election The Sedgefield by-election, 2007 was a by-election held on 19 July 2007 for the British House of Commons constituency of Sedgefield in County Durham. The Ealing Southall by-election was also held on 19 July. The by-election was triggered when Tony Blair, the Labour Party Member of Parliament (MP) for Sedgefield and former Prime Minister, "resigned" to become envoy for the international diplomatic Quartet
Tony Lloyd remained a Trafford councillor until 1984, rising to the rank of Deputy Labour Leader. Lloyd entered the House of Commons as Member of Parliament for Stretford on 9 June 1983, after the 1983 general election. He was an opposition whip between 1986 and 1987, and became the opposition spokesman for transport (1987–1992), employment (1992–1994), the environment (1994–1995), and foreign affairs (1995–1997). Constituency boundaries were reformed for the 1997 general election, and Lloyd was selected for the Manchester Central constituency, where he returned at each subsequent general election through to 2010. Following the 1997 general election which returned Tony Blair as