1910 East Dorset by-election explained

Election Name:1910 East Dorset by-election
Type:presidential
Country:United Kingdom
Previous Election:East Dorset (UK Parliament constituency)#Elections in the 1910s
Previous Year:1910
Next Election:East Dorset (UK Parliament constituency)#Elections in the 1910s
Next Year:1910
Election Date:30 June 1910
Candidate1:Henry Guest
Party1:Liberal Party (UK)
Popular Vote1:6,967
Percentage1:52.2%
Candidate2:Nicholson
Party2:Conservative Party (UK)
Popular Vote2:6,375
Percentage2:47.8%
Map Size:250px
MP
Posttitle:Subsequent MP
Before Election:Freddie Guest
Before Party:Liberal Party (UK)
After Election:Freddie Guest
After Party:Liberal Party (UK)

The 1910 East Dorset by-election was a Parliamentary by-election held on 30 June 1910.[1] The constituency returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system.

Vacancy

Thirty-five-year-old Frederick Guest had been Liberal MP for the seat of East Dorset since the January 1910 general election. In May 1910, his own election result was declared void, and he was unseated because of election irregularities by his constituency agent. This meant a by-election would take place and without Guest as a candidate.

Electoral history

The seat had been Liberal since they gained it in the 1904 East Dorset by-election. They narrowly held the seat at the last election, with a slightly increased majority;

Candidates

The local Liberal Association selected 36-year-old Henry Guest, the older brother of Frederick Guest, to defend the seat. Like his brother, he had a military background, but unlike his brother, he had not before stood for parliament.[2] The Conservatives retained John Sanctuary Nicholson as their candidate.

Campaign

Polling Day was fixed for 30 June 1910.

Result

In a remarkably high turnout, almost as high as the last General Election, the Liberals held the seat and managed a slightly increased majority;

Aftermath

Henry Guest did not defend the seat at the December 1910 general election and was instead elected for Pembroke and Haverfordwest. This allowed Frederick Guest to return first as Liberal candidate and then as the MP again;

Notes and References

  1. Book: Craig, F.W.S. . 1987 . Chronology of British Parliamentary By-elections 1833–1987 . Chichester . Parliamentary Research Services . 104.
  2. Who's Who: www.ukwhoswho.com