The by-election was caused by the death of Conservative Party Member of Parliament Martin Maddan.
Hove was a safe Conservative seat, having been held by the party since its creation for the 1950 general election.
Former Labour Party MP Desmond Donnelly was unsuccessful in getting the Conservative nomination.
The far right National Front stood John Harrison-Broadley, a former Royal Air Force squadron leader[1] and bobsleigh champion, while the Maoist Communist Party of England (Marxist-Leninist) stood Carole Reakes.
Sainsbury held the seat for the Conservatives, although the party now gained less than half of the votes cast.