Russellite Unionist
Encyclopedia
The Russellite group, were the followers of Thomas Wallace Russell an Irish political leader of the early twentieth century.
Russell was the Liberal Unionist MP for South Tyrone
. He and some followers left the party in February 1904. They favoured a policy of compulsory land purchase. Dod's Parliamentary Companion regarded them as ex-Liberal Unionists who had joined the Liberal Party
, although Russell's two Parliamentary colleagues had been first elected as Independent Unionists and they did not seek re-election as Liberals in 1906.
At by-elections and in the United Kingdom general election, 1906
Russellite candidates contested elections in Ulster
seats as Independent Unionists. F.W.S. Craig's compilation of election results for 1906 includes them with the Liberals, but gives them a footnote.
Russell became clearly associated with the Liberal Party
in the 1906-1910 Parliament. Glendinning was regarded by Dod's Parliamentary Companion as an Independent Liberal. No new Russellite candidates stood in by-elections.
In the January 1910 general election, Glendinning retired and Russell lost his seat as a Liberal candidate.
Russell was the Liberal Unionist MP for South Tyrone
South Tyrone (UK Parliament constituency)
South Tyrone was a UK Parliament constituency in Ireland.-Boundaries and Boundary Changes:This county constituency comprised the southern part of County Tyrone.It returned one Member of Parliament 1885–1922....
. He and some followers left the party in February 1904. They favoured a policy of compulsory land purchase. Dod's Parliamentary Companion regarded them as ex-Liberal Unionists who had joined 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...
, although Russell's two Parliamentary colleagues had been first elected as Independent Unionists and they did not seek re-election as Liberals in 1906.
At by-elections and in the United Kingdom general election, 1906
United Kingdom general election, 1906
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1906*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
Russellite candidates contested elections in Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
seats as Independent Unionists. F.W.S. Craig's compilation of election results for 1906 includes them with the Liberals, but gives them a footnote.
MPs in the 1900-1906 Parliament
- Thomas Wallace Russell, South TyroneSouth Tyrone (UK Parliament constituency)South Tyrone was a UK Parliament constituency in Ireland.-Boundaries and Boundary Changes:This county constituency comprised the southern part of County Tyrone.It returned one Member of Parliament 1885–1922....
elected at the United Kingdom general election, 1900United Kingdom general election, 1900-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1900*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**... - James Wood, East DownEast Down (UK Parliament constituency)East Down was a UK Parliament constituency in Ireland.-Boundaries and Boundary Changes:This county constituency comprised the eastern part of County Down...
elected at a by-election 5 February 1902 - Edward MitchellEdward Mitchell (politician)Edward Mitchell was an Irish Russellite Unionist politician.Mitchell was elected at the as Member of Parliament for North Fermanagh at a by-election on 20 March 1903 after the resignation of the Unionist MP Edward Archdale. At the next general election, in January 1906 the Russellites did not...
, North FermanaghNorth Fermanagh (UK Parliament constituency)North Fermanagh was a UK Parliament constituency in Ireland.-Boundaries and Boundary Changes:This county constituency comprised the northern part of County Fermanagh.It returned one Member of Parliament 1885–1922....
elected at a by-election 20 March 1903
MPs elected in 1906
- Robert Graham GlendinningRobert Graham GlendinningRobert Graham Glendinning PC was the Member of Parliament for North Antrim from 1906 to 1910.- External links :...
, North AntrimNorth Antrim (UK Parliament constituency)North Antrim is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons. Its current member is Ian Paisley Jr.-Boundaries:North Antrim has always been a county constituency comprising the northern part of County Antrim in the north-east of Northern Ireland... - Thomas Wallace Russell, South TyroneSouth Tyrone (UK Parliament constituency)South Tyrone was a UK Parliament constituency in Ireland.-Boundaries and Boundary Changes:This county constituency comprised the southern part of County Tyrone.It returned one Member of Parliament 1885–1922....
Russell became clearly associated with 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...
in the 1906-1910 Parliament. Glendinning was regarded by Dod's Parliamentary Companion as an Independent Liberal. No new Russellite candidates stood in by-elections.
In the January 1910 general election, Glendinning retired and Russell lost his seat as a Liberal candidate.