1959 Southend West by-election

The seat was very safe, having been won at the 1955 United Kingdom general election by almost 18,500 votes[1]

• 23-year old Paul Channon was selected by the Conservatives after the death of his father, Sir Henry Channon. A company director. Born October, 1935; educated at Lockers Park, Hemel Hempstead, Eton, and Christ Church, Oxford.
• Labour's candidate was 35-year old Anthony Pearson-Clarke, a deputy headmaster. Born November, 1923; educated at St. Luke's College School and Training College, Exeter, Battersea Polytechnic, and Ruskin College, Oxford. A former weekly newspaper editor and local government officer.
• The Liberal Party selected 59-year old Miss Heather Joan Harvey. She had contested the division in 1955 and Esher in 1950 and 1951. She was a writer and was engaged in historical research. She was educated privately at Prior's Field School, Godalming, and Newnham College, Cambridge, where she graduated in 1921 with first-class honours, economics tripos. She joined the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House, in 1931. She became secretary of the Study Groups Department in 1935. She was a temporary Civil servant in the Foreign Office, 1939–45. She served with the United Nations 1945-46 as deputy administrative secretary.[2] She was Hon. treasurer, Women's Liberal Federation, a member of Liberal Party Organization Council and executive committee.[3] She was Joint honorary treasurer of the Liberal Party organization.[4]