The 1917 Southampton by-election was a by-election held on 19 December 1917 for the House of Commons constituency of Southampton, a two-member seat.

Vacancy

The election was caused by the appointment of one of the sitting Liberal MPs, William Dudley Ward as Vice-Chamberlain of the Household, one of the government whips. Under the Parliamentary rules of the day, Ward was obliged to resign his seat and fight a by-election.[1] The writ for the by-election was moved in Parliament on 10 December 1917.[2]

Candidates

The Liberals re-selected Ward. Being their partners in the coalition government of David Lloyd George, the Unionists were not expected to oppose Ward’s re-election but there was a possibility he would be challenged by a member of Southampton Town Council, Mr Tommy Lewis, the President of the British Seafarers' Union.[3] However, in the event no other candidates came forward to oppose Ward and he was returned unopposed.[4]

The result

Southampton by-election, December 1917: Southampton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Liberal William Dudley Ward Unopposed N/A N/A
National Liberal hold

See also

References

  1. ↑ The Times, 10 December 1917 p9
  2. ↑ The Times, 11 December 1917 p10
  3. ↑ The Times, 12 December 1917 p5
  4. ↑ The Times House of Commons 1919 ; Politico’s Publishing 2004 p39
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