Marquand had resigned to take up a post at the European Commission in Brussels, as an advisor to the United Kingdom's newly appointed Commissioner Roy Jenkins.
This strategy succeeded in saving Grimsby, but allowed Tim Smith to win by 264 votes[2] (after a recount) over Labour's Michael Cowan.
[3] Labour Cabinet Minister Roy Hattersley was reported to be "almost speechless" at the by election results which were announced at 02:00 the next day, while Conservative leader Margaret Thatcher stated that "This is one of the greatest by-election victories of all time.
"[3] The Liberal Party lost its deposit in Ashfield as well as in the Grimsby contest, the third time this had happened at by-election following the 1977 Lib-Lab Pact.
[3] Smith was unable to hold the seat at the 1979 general election, when Labour's Frank Haynes won with a majority of 7,797 votes.