1912 Manchester South by-election

The Manchester South by-election was a Parliamentary by-election. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system.

Vacancy

The Liberal MP for Manchester South, Sir Arthur Haworth was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury. In keeping with the times he was required to seek re-election in a by-election.

Electoral history

Haworth had gained the seat from the Conservatives at the 1906 general election, and held it since. The previous General Election in December 1910 saw Haworth returned unopposed. The last contested election was the previous General Election;

Arthur Haworth

[1]

15 January 1910: Manchester South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Arthur Haworth 8,121 58.9
Conservative Charles Ward-Jackson 5,669 41.1
Majority 2,452 17.8
Turnout 13,790 88.4
Liberal hold Swing

Candidates

The Liberal candidate, 47-year-old Arthur Haworth was a Manchester businessman fully established in the community. Haworth again faced just one opponent, the Conservative Philip Glazebrook. Thirty-two-year-old Glazebrook was a Captain in the Cheshire Yeomanry and also involved in business in Manchester. He had not stood for parliament before, though in December 1910 he was chosen as Conservative candidate to contest the constituency of Manchester South at the general election. However, due to an error by his election agent, he arrived at Manchester Town Hall six minutes after nominations had closed, resulting in the unopposed election of Haworth.

Campaign

Polling day was set for 5 March. A vigorous campaign was held, with the main issues being woman suffrage with the Parliamentary Franchise (Women) Bill soon to be debated, Irish Home Rule (the Third Home Rule Bill was currently being debated in parliament) and National Insurance, which had been introduced by the Liberal Government the year before.[2]

Result

The Conservatives gained the seat from the Liberals. The details below, with percentage changes are a change from January 1910.

[3]

By-Election: Manchester South Electorate 16,105
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Philip Glazebrook 7,051 52.1 +11.0
Liberal Arthur Haworth 6,472 47.9 -11.0
Majority 579 4.2 N/A
Turnout 13,523 84.0 -4.4
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +11.0

Aftermath

In parliament, Glazebrook recorded his vote against the Parliamentary Franchise (Women) Bill. A General Election was due to take place by the end of 1915. By the autumn of 1914, the following candidates had been adopted to contest that election. Unionist Party: Philip Glazebrook, Liberal Party: Sir Arthur Haworth. Due to the outbreak of war, the election never took place. In early 1918 Philip Glazebrook was killed in action. Unionist, Robert Burdon Stoker was returned unopposed in the following by-election. At the 1918 general election, Haworth was Liberal candidate for Manchester Exchange but failed to make a return to parliament.

References
  1. Craig, F. W. S. (1974). British parliamentary election results 1885-1918 (1 ed.). London: Macmillan.
  2. "The Unionist Victory in Manchester". The Times. 7 March 1912. p. 8.
  3. Craig, F. W. S. (1974). British parliamentary election results 1885-1918 (1 ed.). London: Macmillan.
  • Who's Who: www.ukwhoswho.com
  • Debrett's House of Commons 1916
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