The Leominster by-election was a by-election held on 15 February 1876 for the British House of Commons constituency of Leominster in Herefordshire.
The by-election was caused by the resignation on 8 February 1876 of the serving Conservative Party Member of Parliament (MP), Richard Arkwright.[1] After a close-fought campaign, the result was a gain for the Liberal candidate, Thomas Blake, with a majority of 85 over the Conservative, Charles Spencer Bateman Hanbury Kincaid-Lennox,[2] brother of Lord Bateman. This came as something of a surprise as no Liberal had been elected to the constituency for the previous 25 years. [2]
Leominster by-election, 1876 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
Liberal | Thomas Blake | 434 | 55.4 | ||
Conservative | Charles Spencer Bateman Hanbury Kincaid-Lennox | 349 | 44.6 | ||
Majority | 85 | 10.9 | |||
Turnout | 783 | 84.3 | |||
Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing |