What is the relationship between a sitting MP and a seats party status?
Generally we define every sitting member of Parliament as being a sitting MP, whether they are contesting their own seat, a different seat, or contesting against another sitting member. While the party of a sitting MP may play a part in deciding what party we classify holds a seat, the presence of a sitting MP is not the only factor. Especially after redistributions, but also when a seat has changed hands at a by-election or following a member’s resignation from a party, we have to define a new party status for a seat. Generally we do this based on votes at the last election when there has been a redistribution. With by-elections and changes of party, we tend to go with the party of the sitting member. These are the general rules, but we sometimes have to vary them from election to election. You will find if there is something tricky about the party status of an electorate, it will be clearly indicated throughout this site.
