Jim Marshall Labour Parmjit Singh Gill Liberal Democrats A by-election was held for the United Kingdom Parliament seat of Leicester South on 15 July 2004.

It was triggered by the death of Labour Party Member of Parliament (MP) Jim Marshall, who died on 27 May 2004, shortly before the local and European elections in June.

The constituency is diverse, covering leafy suburbs such as Stoneygate and Knighton along with inner city areas with a strong South Asian community, one of the largest such populations in the UK.

The by-election was considered a referendum on Blair's policies, especially the ongoing Iraq War, for which Labour had received heavy backlash from Asian and Muslim voters.

[12] In his victory speech, Gill said, "Yesterday, Lord Butler gave his views on Tony Blair's reasoning for backing the invasion of Iraq.

"[15] Labour MP and cabinet minister Patricia Hewitt, who represented neighbouring constituency Leicester West, stated that Iraq was clearly an issue, with the inner city Asian vote swinging decisively to the Lib Dems.