1920 Edinburgh North by-election

UK parliamentary by-election February 2017 February 2017 1920 Edinburgh North by-election United Kingdom by-election Popular Edinburgh North (UK Parliament constituency)#Elections in the 1910s 1918 1920 04 09 yes (Polling)1920 04 22 yes (Declaration) Edinburgh North (UK Parliament constituency)#Elections in the 1920s 1922 35,663 62.3% File:Patrick Ford.jpg Patrick Ford Unionist Party (Scotland) Coalition 9,944 44.8% 18.2% File:Walter Runciman crop.jpg Walter Runciman Liberal Party (UK) 8,469 38.1% 1.1% File:David Pole (cropped).jpg David Pole Labour Party (UK) 3,808 17.1% New MP James Clyde Unionist Party (Scotland) Subsequent MP Patrick Ford Unionist Party (Scotland) The 1920 Edinburgh North by-election was held on 9 April 1920. The by-election was held due to the resignation of the incumbent Coalition Conservative MP, James Avon Clyde after he was appointed to the bench as Lord Justice General and Lord President of the Court of Session. 13588 20 April 1920 1119 Edinburgh It was won by the Coalition Conservative candidate Patrick FordMay 2021 Background James Avon Clyde had held Edinburgh North since it was formed from Edinburgh East for the 1918 election and previously had held Edinburgh West since 1909. Candidates Unionist Patrick Ford, advocate, candidate for Edinburgh East in 1909 & January 1910 and Inverness Burghs in 1918. Liberal Walter Runciman, President of the Board of Trade (1914–1916), President of the Board of Agriculture (1911–1914), President of the Board of Education (1908–1911), member for Oldham (1899–1900) and for Dewsbury (1902–1918) Labour David Pole, solicitor and candidate for East Grinstead in 1918NORTH EDINBURGH https://www-britishnewspaperarchive-co-uk/viewer/bl/0000038/19200329/152/0007 7 May 2026 Belfast News-Letter 29 March 1920 7 The original Labour candidate was James Maxton, a Glasgow school teacher and candidate for Glasgow Bridgeton in 1918, however he would be replaced by Pole. Coalition Liberal There were initial suggestions that the Coalition Liberals were planning on running former Lord Provost of Edinburgh John MacLeod as their candidate, however they opted to back the Unionists.NORTH EDINBURGH. COALITION BREACH AVERTED https://www-britishnewspaperarchive-co-uk/viewer/bl/0003187/19200324/130/0006 7 May 2026 Evening Mail 24 March 1920 6 Result Edinburgh North by-election, 1920Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. 0-900178-06-X. Unionist Party (Scotland) Patrick Ford 9,944 44.8 –18.2 Liberal Party (UK) Walter Runciman 8,469 38.1 +1.1 Labour Party (UK) David Pole 3,808 17.1 New 1,475 6.7 –19.3 22,221 62.3 +9.3 35,663 Unionist Party (Scotland) –9.7 Aftermath All three candidates would end up in Parliament with Runciman winning Swansea West in 1924 and Pole winning South Derbyshire in 1929. References Edinburgh North by-election Edinburgh North by-election Edinburgh North by-election, 1924 North by-election, 1924 Edinburgh North by-election North, 1920