Labour Representation Committee election results explained

This article lists the Labour Representation Committee's election results in UK parliamentary elections. The Labour Representation was the forerunner of the Labour Party. It was founded in 1900 and became the Labour Party in 1906, shortly after that year's general election.

Summary of general election performance

Year Number of Candidates Total votes Average votes per candidate % UK vote Change (percentage points) Number of MPs[1]
15 62,698 4,780 1.8 N/A 2
50 321,723 6,434 4.8 +3.0 29

Election results

1900 general election

Constituency Candidate Votes % Position[2] Sponsorship[3]
737 11.0 3 ILP
7,096 25.6 3 ILP
2,558 36.7 2 SDF
4,949 49.8 2 ILP
7,640 25.7 2 Railway Servants
3,853 47.4 2 Steel Smelters
3,276 16.1 4 ILP
1,266 19.7 3 Leeds Trades Council
4,164 13.0 4 ILP
2,394 37.4 2 ILP
5,745 31.3 2 ILP
4,834 22.1 3 ILP
901 8.0 3 ILP and SDF
8,842 23.6 4 Shipwrights
4,439 44.2 2 Gasworkers

Hardie stood in two constituencies and was elected in Merthyr Tydfil, where he placed second in a two-seat constituency; Bell was similarly elected in Derby.

By-elections, 1900–1906

By-election Candidate Votes % Position Sponsorship[4]
1,979 40.1 2 ILP
unopposed N/A 1 Clitheroe LRC
8,687 61.4 1 Woolwich Trades Council
6,490 42.9 2 Steel Smelters
3,370 35.4 1 Ironfounders
2,440 13.7 3 ILP
3,966 47.2 2 Carpenters

1906 general election

Constituency Candidate Votes % Position[5] Sponsorship[6]
5,540 58.8 1 Ironfounders
5,167 48.3 1 Engineers
4,616 48.5 2 Carpenters
3,976 33.9 2 ILP
5,343 47.4 2 Railway Servants
10,282 26.8 2 ILP
10,416 37.1 2 Textile Workers
4,957 39.1 1 ILP
6,692 62.5 1 Shipwrights
12,035 75.9 1 Textile Workers
4,007 20.2 3 Stonemasons
4,087 48.3 2 Engineers
6,236 52.2 1 London Compositors
2,629 21.2 3 Heavy Woollen LRC
6,833 23.3 2 Shipwrights
3,985 26.4 3 Dockers
3,284 39.5 1 Engineers
2,568 30.0 3 ILP
4,212 29.0 3 Boilermakers
8,566 66.4 1 Steel Smelters
873 16.2 3 Shop Assistants
2,248 17.8 3 Engineers
8,937 38.3 2 ILP
5,813 35.2 2 Huddersfield Trades Council
8,046 70.2 1 Lancashire & Cheshire Miners
5,093 38.8 2 Gasworkers
4,299 66.1 1 Furnishing Trades
4,030 32.6 2 ASLEF
14,685 39.8 2 ILP
3,157 45.7 2 Boilermakers
2,592 43.5 2 Dock Labourers
5,386 64.6 1 ILP
4,101 58.8 1 Lithographic Printers
10,187 32.0 2 ILP
1,678 16.5 3 Newport Trades Council
18,869 31.1 1 Railway Servants
6,434 52.2 1 Shop Assistants
11,059 37.5 1 Typographers
8,172 17.6 3 Portsmouth LRC
10,181 31.0 1 Steel Smelters
6,088 56.6 1 Lancashire & Cheshire Miners
7,299 32.4 1 Railway Servants
1,710 23.1 3 Engineers
13,430 31.8 2 ILP
2,068 36.9 2 ILP
10,210 67.2 1 Gasworkers & West Ham Trades Council
9,262 60.2 1 Carpenters
6,767 50.9 1 Boot and Shoe
9,026 56.6 1 Woolwich LRC
4,573 19.7 4 Postmen

Burgess, Clynes, Coit, Hardie, Jowett, MacDonald, Parker, Snowden, Summerbell and Williams were sponsored by the Independent Labour Party. Gill, Hardie, MacDonald, Parker, Snowden, Summerbell and Wilkie were elected by taking second place in a two-seat constituency.

See also

References

  1. Book: Craig. F. W. S.. British Parliamentary Election Statistics 1918-1968. registration. 1968. Political Reference Publications. Glasgow. 0900178000. 53.
  2. Alan Haworth and Dianne Hayter, Men Who Made Labour, p.245
  3. [Frank Bealey]
  4. Frank Bealey and Henry Pelling, Labour and Politics, 1900-1906, p.290
  5. Joel Dayton Moore, The Taff Vale Decision in British Labor History, pp.115-116
  6. Frank Bealey and Henry Pelling, Labour and Politics, 1900-1906, pp.290-292