Independent

This category covers politicians who do not belong to a particular party, such as the former news reporter Martin Bell, who won a seat in the 1997 General Election in Tatton, Cheshire - what was thought to be a one of the safest Conservative seats in the country. Bell in fact won with a majority of 11,000 votes, becoming the first successful independent parliamentary candidate since the Second World War.

There are currently 5 independent candidates in the House of Commons: Dai Davies (Blaenau Gwent) Andrew Pelling (Croydon Central), Bob Spink (Castle Point), Robert Wareing (Liverpool, West Derby) and Dr Richard Taylor (Wyre Forest). Taylor first ran in 2001 as the 'Independent Kidderminster Hospital and Health Concern' candidate, initially campaigning on a single issue: that of keeping Kidderminster Hospital open. He won by a majority of 18,000. He was re-elected in 2005, albeit with a reduced majority of 5,250.

In addition, there are currently two MPs who were elected under the auspices of a particular party, then resigned the party whip (or had it withdrawn); these are Claire Short (Independent Labour) and Derek Conway (Independent Conservative).