Kendal by-election, 1913
The Kendal by-election was a Parliamentary by-election. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system.
Vacancy
Josceline Bagot was twice returned as Conservative MP for Kendal (1892–1906 and 1910–1913),[1] He died on 1 March 1913.
Previous result
| General Election December 1910
Electorate 6,546 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Conservative | Josceline Fitzroy Bagot | 3,041 | 52.7 | ||
| Liberal | William Henry Somervell | 2,733 | 47.3 | ||
| Majority | |||||
| Turnout | |||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Candidates
John Weston was selected by the Unionists to defend the seat. The Liberals chose local man William Somervell who had stood here last time.
Campaign
Result
| Kendal by-election, 1913
Electorate | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Independent Unionist | John Wakefield Weston | 3,261 | 54.9 | +2.2 | |
| Liberal | William Henry Somervell | 2,680 | 45.1 | -2.2 | |
| Majority | |||||
| Turnout | |||||
| Unionist hold | Swing | +2.2 | |||
Somervell explained his defeat, and the doubling of the Unionist majority, by claiming that Weston (who stood as an Independent Unionist) had been elected because he was a ‘semi-Liberal’ and a popular local man.[2]
Aftermath
Somervell was to enter parliament at a by-election in May 1918, holding a Liberal seat. Following boundary changes, Kendal was merged into the new Westmorland seat for the 1918 elections.
| General Election 14 December 1918: Westmorland
Electorate 30,516 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Unionist | unopposed | ||||
| Unionist hold | Swing | ||||
- Weston was endorsed by the Coalition Government.
References
- ↑ http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-josceline-bagot
- ↑ The Times, 20 March 1913 p6
- Craig, F. W. S. (1974). British parliamentary election results 1885-1918 (1 ed.). London: Macmillan.
- Who's Who: www.ukwhoswho.com
- Debrett's House of Commons 1916