Hoyle only narrowly held the seat for the Labour Party. Jenkins came from nowhere to win 42.4% of the vote, taking a close second place. Sorrell dropped to a distant third, losing three-quarters of the Conservative vote. None of the minor candidates were able to make an impact, all winning less than 1% of the vote, and Keen equalled the record low of only ten votes. According to the next day's edition of
The Glasgow Herald Roy Jenkins had "emerged as a triumphant loser", coming close to victory and taking votes from both the Conservatives and Labour. Reacting to the result Jenkins noted that in his career he had fought 12 election and this was the first that he had lost in 35 years. However he said "But in losing, it is by far the greatest victory in which I have participated" going on to claim that the figures made it possible that an SDP-Liberal government would be returned at the next election with a large majority. Jenkins returned to Parliament at the
1982 Glasgow Hillhead by-election, subsequently becoming the SDP party leader. The Warrington seat was split at the
1983 general election. Hoyle won
Warrington North, holding the seat until his retirement in
1997, while a Conservative won
Warrington South. ==References==