1903 St Andrews Burghs by-election

UK parliamentary by-election April 2022 St Andrews Burghs, by-election 1903 presidential United Kingdom St Andrews Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)#Elections in the 1900s 1900 St Andrews Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)#Elections in the 1900s 1906 17 September 1903 Ellice 85px Liberal Party (UK) 1,324 50.7% Anstruther-Thomson 85px Liberal Unionist Party 1,288 49.3% 250px MP Subsequent MP Anstruther Liberal Unionist Party Anstruther-Thomson Liberal Unionist Party The 1903 St Andrews Burghs by-election was a Parliamentary by-election held on 17 September 1903.Craig F.W.S. 1987 Chronology of British Parliamentary By-elections 1833–1987 Chichester Parliamentary Research Services 97 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 Henry Torrens Anstruther had been Liberal Unionist MP for the seat of St Andrews Burghs since the 1886 general election. He resigned on taking up the position of a Director of the Suez Canal. Electoral history The seat had been Liberal Unionist since they gained it in 1886. They held the seat at the last election, with a decreased majority; General election January 1900British parliamentary election results 1885-1918 by Craig Liberal Unionist Party Henry Torrens Anstruther 1,148 51.2 -3.3 Liberal Party (UK) James Annand 1,094 48.8 +3.3 54 2.4 -6.6 2,242 76.0 -5.1 Liberal Unionist Party Liberal Party (UK) -3.3 Candidates The local Liberal Unionist Association selected 44-year-old Major William Anstruther-Thomson as their candidate to defend the seat. He served in South Africa from 1901-1902 where he was commandant of the district of Knysna in 1901, and Inspector of Concentration Camps in Transvaal in 1902.Who Was Who The local Liberal Association selected 45-year-old Captain Edward Charles Ellice as their candidate to gain the seat. He was cousin and heir of Edward Ellice, a previous MP for the constituency.Who Was Who Campaign Polling Day was fixed for the 17 September 1903, just days after the previous MP resigned his seat. Ellice, the Liberal candidate, declared himself against Home Rule for Ireland and also declined to support the disestablishment of the church in Scotland, both Liberal policies. This made his campaign less distinguishable from the Liberal Unionists. However, the candidates did differ on the question of trade, Ellice supported the Liberal position of support for Free trade while Thomson supported Tariff Reform as being advocated by leading Unionist Joseph Chamberlain.The Spectator, 19 SEPTEMBER 1903 Result The Liberals gained the seat from the Liberal Unionists; 1903 St Andrews Burghs by-electionBritish parliamentary election results 1885-1918 by CraigThe Constitutional Year Book, 1904, published by Conservative Central Office, page 186 (210 in web page) Liberal Party (UK) Edward Charles Ellice 1,324 50.7 +1.9 Liberal Unionist Party William Anstruther-Thomson 1,288 49.3 -1.9 36 1.4 N/A 2,612 82.6 +6.6 Liberal Party (UK) Liberal Unionist Party +1.9 Aftermath Anstruther-Thomson changed his name in 1904 to Anstruther-Gray. At the following general election, he re-gained the seat, the result was; General election January 1906British parliamentary election results 1885-1918 by Craig Liberal Unionist Party William Anstruther-Gray 1,495 50.4 +1.1 Liberal Party (UK) Edward Charles Ellice 1,472 49.6 -1.1 23 0.8 N/A 2,967 91.4 +8.8 Liberal Unionist Party Liberal Party (UK) +1.1 References St Andrews Burghs by-election St Andrews Burghs by-election Category:1900s elections in Scotland Category:20th century in Fife St Andrews Burghs by-election Category:By-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom in Scottish constituencies Category:Politics of Fife