 The Liberal Democrats, who at the time of the Eastbourne success were looking set for a big rise in votes and seats, were left with a reduced number of seats, while the Conservatives were re-elected under new leader John Major (who had succeeded Margaret Thatcher in November 1990), leaving Labour in opposition for a fourth successive term of parliament - meaning that Neil Kinnock never made it into government as the opinion polls throughout 1990 had all suggested would happen.This remains, as of 2016, the most recent by-election resulting from the assassination of a sitting MP that was contested by all of the major parties.Following the next such killing, which occurred in 2016 when Labour MP Jo Cox was attacked and murdered in her constituency, Labour's major political rivals announced they would not contest the ensuing Batley and Spen by-election.