1919 Pontefract by-election

By-election in Pontefract, Yorkshire, England November 2019 July 2021 1919 Pontefract by-election United Kingdom by-election Popular Pontefract (UK Parliament constituency)#Elections in the 1910s 1918 1919 09 06 yes Pontefract (UK Parliament constituency)#Elections in the 1920s 1922 29,841 61.5% File:Walter Forrest (cropped).jpg Walter Forrest Coalition Liberal Coalition 9,920 54.0% 8.9% Labour Party (UK) Isaac Burns Labour Party (UK) 8,445 46.0% 8.9% MP Joseph Compton-Rickett Coalition Liberal Subsequent MP Walter Forrest Coalition Liberal The 1919 Pontefract by-election was a parliamentary by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Pontefract in Yorkshire on 6 September 1919. Background The by-election was caused by the death on 30 July 1919 of the sitting Coalition Liberal Member of Parliament, Sir Joseph Compton-Rickett. He was 72 years old. He had been an MP in the area since 1906 when he was elected for Osgoldcross. He had been Lloyd George's Paymaster General since 1916. Electoral history The Pontefract constituency had been Liberal since 1893 and Osgoldcross Liberal since 1885. At the general election in 1918, Compton-Rickett was re-elected with the support of the Coalition Government 'coupon'. Pontefract General Election, 1918F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow, 1949 p520 Coalition Liberal Joseph Compton-Rickett 8,561 62.9 Labour Party (UK) Isaac Burns 5,047 37.1 3,514 25.8 13,608 45.6 29,841 Coalition Liberal Candidates Coalition Liberal The Coalition Liberals of Prime Minister David Lloyd George, apparently had some trouble in finding a candidate at first.The Times, 13 August 1919 p11 Walter Forrest, member of West Riding County Council and woollen manufacturer from Pudsey Labour Isaac Burns, nominee of the Yorkshire Miners' Association, trade unionist and candidate for this seat in 1918.The Times, 7 August 1919 p7 Conservative The local Conservatives endorsed the candidacy of their Coalition partners The Times, 12 August 1919 p12 Campaign Coalition Liberal Walter Forrest set out his position on a number of questions at his meetings of both the local Coalition Liberals and Unionist parties. He was opposed to the nationalisation of the coal mines and conscription, in favour of some relaxation of the liquor laws for the benefit of working men and improved welfare for men disabled in the war; he was also in favour of the full restoration of trade and commerce as soon as conditions allowed, to increase output and living standards.The Times, 18 August 1919 p7 He also strongly advocated economy and retrenchment but one of the Liberal MPs who visited the constituency to speak for him, Dr T J Macnamara the Secretary to the Admiralty, in a speech designed to protect the position of his Department and no doubt appeal to the patriotic feelings of working class and Unionist voters, was keen to point out that national security must take precedence over economy. Labour The health of the coal mining industry was an issue which Isaac Burns particularly sought to make his own against the background of a coal strike taking place in the area.The Times, 27 August 1919 p12 He was hampered by the fact that although coal mining was a major industry in the area, the principal colliery towns had been attached to other constituencies in boundary changes Edith Adelaide Harrison, English By-elections Since 1918: A Study of By-elections as an Index to Changes in Political Opinion; University of California, May, 1921 p79 and mining was not necessarily decisive as there were many other interests in the constituency. Agriculture dominated around Barkston Ash and there was shipping and coastal trades around Goole. Many in these industries were adversely affected by the coal strike and were unsympathetic to Burns and Labour as a result.The Times, 6 September 1919 p12 Burns stated he was in favour of a number of Labour policies including equal adult franchise for both sexes, pensions for mothers and free secondary education for all. He was in favour of widespread nationalisation of industry and a programme of public works to keep down unemployment. He also wanted Home Rule for Ireland and local government for India.The Times, 29 August 1919 p10 Result Forrest retained the seat for the government but with a reduced majority. Pontefract by-election, 1919F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow, 1949 p520 Coalition Liberal Walter Forrest 9,920 54.0 –8.9 Labour Party (UK) Isaac Burns 8,445 46.0 +8.9 1,475 8.0 –17.8 18,365 61.5 +15.9 29,841 Coalition Liberal –8.9 See also List of United Kingdom by-elections United Kingdom by-election records References Category:1919 elections in the United Kingdom Category:By-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom in West Yorkshire constituencies Category:1919 in England Category:Elections in Wakefield Category:Pontefract Category:1910s in Yorkshire Category:September 1919 in the United Kingdom