The 1963 Dundee West by-election was held on 21 November 1963 due to the death of the incumbent Labour MP John Strachey.
In 1959, the Unionist candidate Robert Taylor had reduced the Labour majority to just 714 votes, thereby coming close to a surprise victory.
The Communist Party selected fifty year-old David Bowman, a local engine driver who had contested the seat at the previous three elections.
[2] On 22 September 1963, local councillor Peter Doig was chosen ahead of five other people to be the Labour Party candidate.
[2][3] The Scottish National Party selected James C. Lees and were reported to have high hopes of achieving a good result following their strong showing in the West Lothian by-election the previous year.