Parliamentary by-election happens when a seat in the House of Commons becomes vacant between general elections, whether the sitting MP dies, resigns, goes bankrupt, is convicted of a crime or is subject to a recall petition. Whatever the circumstances, by-elections have long provided some the most dramatic moments in British parliamentary history.

In this latest volume of political essays, Iain Dale picks the most consequential by-elections of the modern era and presents a series of thoroughly researched, and absorbing essays by some of the finest political writers working today.

'An entertaining, thorough and informative canter through the characters and stories of prime ministers past.' New Statesman

'A wealth of enjoyable insights into three centuries of Westminster politics.' The Scotsman

'A superb guide to the times we have lived through and are living in.' Scottish Review