Altrincham by-election, 1913
Encyclopedia
The Altrincham by-election was held on 28 May 1913. The contest took place following the resignation of John Robert Kebty-Fletcher, the sitting Conservative
member of parliament
for Altrincham
.
Kebty-Fletcher had won the seat from the Liberal Party
at the previous general election in December 1910 with a slim majority of 119 votes. The Liberals had formed a minority government
with the support of Irish Nationalists
. As the price of Nationalist support the government was attempting to introduce Home Rule
for Ireland
. The government majority had been reduced from 126 to 106 following the loss of a string of by-elections since December 1910. The Liberals hoped to reverse this trend by regaining the Altrincham seat.
On 2 May, the candidates for the by-election
were selected. The Altrincham Conservative Association chose George C Hamilton of Knutsford
, while the Liberals nominated the Honorable Lawrence Kay-Shuttleworth, eldest son of Lord Shuttleworth
, Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire. The writ for the by-election was moved on 8 May, and the date for the election was set as 28 May. The delay was due to allow for the week-long Whitsun
holiday enjoyed by Manchester
workers.
One of the main issues in the contest was Home Rule The Irish Nationalist leaders John Redmond
and T P O'Connor urged Irish voters to support Kay-Shuttleworth. Hamilton spoke out in support of the Ulster Unionists who were threatening armed insurrection to resist devolution. This led to the Manchester Guardian launching an attack on the Conservative candidate as a "revolutionist". The apparent lack of support for Hamilton by Kebty-Fletcher, and his treatment by the local Conservative Party caused some controversy, although he eventually issued a letter discounting the story. The Altrincham Trades Council called on workers to vote against Hamilton, who as a major employer refused to pay union rates.
, President of the Ulster Unionist Council sent a message of congratulation to Hamilton.
Hamilton held the seat for ten years, losing to a Liberal candidate at the 1923 general election
.
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
member of parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Altrincham
Altrincham (UK Parliament constituency)
Altrincham was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885 to 1945. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :...
.
Kebty-Fletcher had won the seat from the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
at the previous general election in December 1910 with a slim majority of 119 votes. The Liberals had formed a minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
with the support of Irish Nationalists
Nationalist Party (Ireland)
The Nationalist Party was a term commonly used to describe a number of parliamentary political parties and constituency organisations supportive of Home Rule for Ireland from 1874 to 1922...
. As the price of Nationalist support the government was attempting to introduce Home Rule
Home Rule Act 1914
The Government of Ireland Act 1914 , also known as the Third Home Rule Bill, was an Act passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom intended to provide self-government for Ireland within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.The Act was the first law ever passed by the Parliament of...
for Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The government majority had been reduced from 126 to 106 following the loss of a string of by-elections since December 1910. The Liberals hoped to reverse this trend by regaining the Altrincham seat.
On 2 May, the candidates for the by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
were selected. The Altrincham Conservative Association chose George C Hamilton of Knutsford
Knutsford
Knutsford is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority area of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, in North West England...
, while the Liberals nominated the Honorable Lawrence Kay-Shuttleworth, eldest son of Lord Shuttleworth
Ughtred Kay-Shuttleworth, 1st Baron Shuttleworth
Ughtred James Kay-Shuttleworth, 1st Baron Shuttleworth PC , known as Sir Ughtred Kay-Shuttleworth, Bt, between 1872 and 1902, was a British landowner and Liberal politician...
, Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire. The writ for the by-election was moved on 8 May, and the date for the election was set as 28 May. The delay was due to allow for the week-long Whitsun
Whitsun
Whitsun is the name used in the UK for the Christian festival of Pentecost, the seventh Sunday after Easter, which commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Christ's disciples...
holiday enjoyed by Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
workers.
One of the main issues in the contest was Home Rule The Irish Nationalist leaders John Redmond
John Redmond
John Edward Redmond was an Irish nationalist politician, barrister, MP in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party from 1900 to 1918...
and T P O'Connor urged Irish voters to support Kay-Shuttleworth. Hamilton spoke out in support of the Ulster Unionists who were threatening armed insurrection to resist devolution. This led to the Manchester Guardian launching an attack on the Conservative candidate as a "revolutionist". The apparent lack of support for Hamilton by Kebty-Fletcher, and his treatment by the local Conservative Party caused some controversy, although he eventually issued a letter discounting the story. The Altrincham Trades Council called on workers to vote against Hamilton, who as a major employer refused to pay union rates.
Results
The Conservatives easily held the seat with a greatly increased majority. This was however partly explained by an increase in the electorate of 1,939 voters since 1910. Nevertheless the result was deeply disappointing for the government. In contrast, Unionists were delighted, and Lord LondonderryCharles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 6th Marquess of Londonderry
Charles Stewart Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 6th Marquess of Londonderry KG, GCVO, PC, DL, JP , styled Viscount Castlereagh between 1872 and 1884, was an Anglo-Irish Conservative politician, landowner and benefactor, who served in various capacities in the Conservative administrations of the late 19th and...
, President of the Ulster Unionist Council sent a message of congratulation to Hamilton.
Hamilton held the seat for ten years, losing to a Liberal candidate at the 1923 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1923
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
.