1910 Tower Hamlets St George by-election

The Tower Hamlets St George by-election was a Parliamentary by-election. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system. It was held on 1 March 1910.

1910 Tower Hamlets St George
1 March 1910
 
Candidate Benn Simmons
Party Liberal Conservative
Popular vote 1,598 1,089
Percentage 59.5 40.5
MP before election

Wedgwood Benn
Liberal

 Subsequent MP

Wedgwood Benn
Liberal

Vacancy

The by-election was caused due to the incumbent Liberal MP, William Wedgwood Benn, becoming a Commissioner of the Treasury, requiring him to seek re-election.

Electoral history

The seat had been Liberal since Benn gained it in 1906. Benn easily held the seat at the January 1910 election, with a reduced majority;

General election January 1910: Tower Hamlets, St. George[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Wedgwood Benn 1,568 58.0 -3.3
Conservative Percy Coleman Simmons 1,134 42.0 +3.3
Majority 434 16.0 -6.6
Turnout 2,702
Liberal hold Swing -3.3

Candidates
  • The local Liberal Association re-selected 33-year-old Wedgwood Benn to defend the seat.
  • The Conservatives retained Percy Coleman Simmons as their candidate.

Campaign

Polling Day was fixed for the 1 March 1910.

Result

The Liberals held the seat and managed a slightly increased majority;

Tower Hamlets St George by-election, 1910[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Wedgwood Benn 1,598 59.5 +1.5
Conservative Percy Coleman Simmons 1,089 40.5 -1.5
Majority 509 19.0 +3.0
Turnout 2,687
Liberal hold Swing +1.5

Aftermath

Benn was re-elected at the general election 9 months later.

General election December 1910: Tower Hamlets, St. George[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Wedgwood Benn 1,401 57.8 -1.7
Conservative Douglas Clifton Brown 1,022 42.2 +1.7
Majority 379 15.6 -3.4
Turnout 2,423
Liberal hold Swing -1.7

References
  1. Craig, F.W.S. (1974). British parliamentary election results 1885-1918 (1 ed.). London: Macmillan.
  2. Craig, F.W.S. (1974). British parliamentary election results 1885-1918 (1 ed.). London: Macmillan.
  3. Craig, F.W.S. (1974). British parliamentary election results 1885-1918 (1 ed.). London: Macmillan.
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