1905 Hampstead by-election

UK parliamentary by-election April 2022 1905 Hampstead by-election presidential United Kingdom 1902 Hampstead by-election 1902 Hampstead (UK Parliament constituency)#Elections in the 1900s 1906 26 October 1905 Fletcher 85px Conservative Party (UK) 4,228 52.6% Rowe 85px Liberal Party (UK) 3,803 47.4% Hampstead1885.png 250px MP Subsequent MP Thomas Milvain Conservative Party (UK) John Fletcher Conservative Party (UK) The 1905 Hampstead by-election was a Parliamentary by-election held on 26 October 1905.Craig F.W.S. 1987 Chronology of British Parliamentary By-elections 1833–1987 Chichester Parliamentary Research Services 99 The constituency returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system. Vacancy Thomas Milvain had been Conservative MP for the seat of Hampstead since the 1902 Hampstead by-election. Milvain resigned the seat when he was appointed Judge Advocate General.Judge-Advocate-General 15 538 Electoral history The seat had been Conservative since it was created in 1885. They easily held the seat at the last election; 1902 Hampstead by-electionBritish parliamentary election results 1885-1918, FWS Craig Conservative Party (UK) Thomas Milvain 3,843 64.5 N/A Liberal Party (UK) George Frederic Rowe 2,118 35.5 N/A 1,725 29.0 N/A 5,961 58.0 N/A Conservative Party (UK) N/A Candidates The local Conservative Association selected 63-year-old John Fletcher as their candidate to defend the seat. Fletcher had good local connections. He was a member of the Hampstead Board of Guardians from 1876 to 1898. Who is Who 1914 Adam & Charles Black London 66th 1914 718 He was an elected member of the London County Council representing Hampstead for the Conservative backed Municipal Reform Party from 1889 to 1904. He served as one of the Council's deputy chairmen from 1900 to 1904.Debrett's The local Liberal Association selected George Frederic Rowe as their candidate to gain the seat. Rowe had been the Liberal candidate in the 1902 by-election. Campaign Rowe launched his campaign on 11 October with a public meeting at Hampstead Town Hall, sharing a platform with the London Liberal MP, Thomas Macnamara."Election Intelligence." Times [London,] 12 Oct. 1905: 8. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 19 Feb. 2014. On 13 October he held his second public meeting at Brondesbury Hall. Fletcher's campaign, slower off the mark, sought to build upon his strong local links. He supported the Unionist government in its policy positions. He advocated the reduction in Irish representation in the UK parliament."Election Intelligence." Times [London] 14 Oct. 1905: 7. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 19 Feb. 2014. The Hampstead Temperance Council had invited both candidates to address their meeting, but Fletcher chose not to attend. The HTC gave its support to Rowe and Fletcher responded by seeking the support of local licensed victuallers. Rowe's third public meeting at West Hampstead Town Hall featured Leo Chiozza Money the Liberal candidate for neighbouring Paddington. Fletcher's first public meeting in Haverstock Hill, had him sharing a platform with Nottingham MP, Edward Bond and Keighley candidate William Mitchell Acworth."Election Intelligence." Times [London,] 17 Oct. 1905: 11. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 19 Feb. 2014. Polling Day was fixed for the 26 October 1905. As Fletcher was a supporter of protectionism, Rowe received the endorsement of the Hampstead Free Trade League."Election Intelligence." Times [London] 20 Oct. 1905: 6. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 19 Feb. 2014 On 23 October Winston Churchill who had left the Conservatives and joined the Liberals primarily because of the free trade v protectionism issue, addressed a public meeting organised by the Hampstead Free Trade League."Speech By Mr. Churchill." Times [London] 24 Oct. 1905: 10. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 19 Feb. 2014. Result The Liberals massively reduced the majority of the Conservatives, thanks to a swing of 11.9%: 1905 Hampstead by-electionBritish parliamentary election results 1885–1918, F. W. S. Craig Conservative Party (UK) John Fletcher 4,228 52.6 -11.9 Liberal Party (UK) George Frederic Rowe 3,803 47.4 +11.9 425 5.2 -23.8 8,028 71.1 +13.1 Conservative Party (UK) -11.9 The result should have been a good indicator to Unionist Prime Minister Arthur Balfour that the mood in the country was swinging behind the Liberals. He soon chose to resign as Prime Minister. Aftermath At the following General Election the result was similar: General election January 1906British parliamentary election results 1885-1918, FWS Craig Conservative Party (UK) John Fletcher 4,934 52.5 -0.1 Liberal Party (UK) George Frederic Rowe 4,461 47.5 +0.1 473 5.0 -0.2 9,395 81.9 +10.8 Conservative Party (UK) References Hampstead by-election Hampstead by-election Hampstead,1905 Hampstead,1905