1919 Widnes by-election

UK Parliamentary by-election August 2019 August 2019 1919 Widnes by-election United Kingdom by-election Popular Widnes (UK Parliament constituency)#Elections in the 1910s 1918 1919 08 30 yes (Polling)1919 09 12 yes (Declaration) Widnes (UK Parliament constituency)#Elections in the 1920s 1922 30,674 71.1% File:Arthur Henderson 1915 to 20 (cropped).jpg Arthur Henderson Labour Party (UK) Liberal Party (UK) 11,404 52.3% 11.9% File:Francis Fisher MP (cropped).jpg Frank Fisher Unionist Party (UK) Coalition 10,417 47.7% 11.9% MP William Walker Unionist Party (UK) Subsequent MP Arthur Henderson Labour Party (UK) The 1919 Widnes by-election was held on 30 August 1919. The by-election was held due to the elevation to the peerage of the incumbent Conservative MP, William Walker. It was won by the Labour candidate Arthur Henderson.May 2021 Background On 18 August 1919, William Walker the Conservative member for the constituency of Widnes since the 1900 general election resigned from Parliament as prelude to being raised to the peerage as Baron Wavertree of Delamere in the County of Chester on 27 October.31624 31 October 1919 13255 Candidates Unionist thumb|120px|Frank Fisher Frank Fisher, tennis player and former member of the New Zealand House of Representatives for Wellington Central (1905–1914) Labour Tom Williamson, Liverpool district delegate of the National Amalgamated Union of Labour and candidate for this seat in 1918 declined to stand again with the Party instead choosing its former Leader Arthur Henderson.Mr Henderson and Widnes https://www-britishnewspaperarchive-co-uk/viewer/bl/0000174/19190818/060/0004 5 May 2026 Morning Post 18 August 1919 4 Arthur Henderson, former Leader of the Labour Party (1908–1910, 1914–1917), Minister without portfolio (1916–1917), Paymaster General (1916), President of the Board of Education (1915–1916) and former member for Barnard Castle (1903–1918)Widnes Election https://www-britishnewspaperarchive-co-uk/viewer/bl/0000174/19190826/131/0007 5 May 2026 Morning Post 26 August 1919 7 Liberal On 23 August the Liberal Association of the Widnes Parliamentary Division released a statement declining put forward their own candidate and opting to support Henderson.Liberals to Support Mr. Henderson https://www-britishnewspaperarchive-co-uk/viewer/bl/0007598/19190823/081/0004 5 May 2026 Wearside Catholic News 23 August 1919 4 NDP John Millar, a local councillor, was announced as the candidate of the National Democratic and Labour Party,Henderson for Widnes https://www-britishnewspaperarchive-co-uk/viewer/bl/0002596/19190822/044/0003 5 May 2026 Cotton Factory Times 22 August 1919 3 however he would withdraw before the close of nominations.Councillor Millar Withdraws https://www-britishnewspaperarchive-co-uk/viewer/bl/0000964/19190822/021/0002 5 May 2026 Runcorn Weekly News 22 August 1919 2 Result Widnes by-election, 30 August 1919 Labour Party (UK) Liberal Party (UK) Arthur Henderson 11,404 52.3 +11.9 Unionist Party (UK) Frank Fisher 10,417 47.7 –11.9 987 4.6 N/A 21,821 71.1 +8.1 30,674 Labour Party (UK) Unionist Party (UK) +11.9 Aftermath Henderson would lose the seat at the next election to industrialist Christopher Clayton. References Widnes Widnes Category:1910s in Lancashire Widnes 1919 Widnes 1919 Widnes 1919 Category:August 1919 in the United Kingdom