List of ministerial by-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Ministerial by-elections to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom at Westminster were held from 1801 to the 1920s when a Member of Parliament (MP) was appointed as a minister in the government. Unlike most Westminster by-elections, ministerial by-elections were often a formality, uncontested by opposition parties. Re-election was required under the Succession to the Crown Act 1707.[1] This was in line with the principle established in 1624 that accepting an office of profit from the Crown would precipitate resignation from the House, with the option of standing for re-election.[2] Typically a minister sought re-election in the constituency he had just vacated, but occasionally contested another seat which was also vacant. In 1910 The Times newspaper noted that the relevant Act had been passed in the reign of Queen Anne "to prevent the Court from swamping the House of Commons with placemen and pensioners", and described the process as "anomalous" and "indefensible" in the 20th century.[3] The Re-Election of Ministers Act 1919 ended the necessity to seek re-election within nine months of a general election,[2] and the Re-Election of Ministers Act (1919) Amendment Act 1926 ended the practice in all other cases.[1][2]
Ministerial by-elections
34th Parliament (1924–1929)
| By-election | Date | Incumbent | Party | Winner | Party | Position | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Renfrewshire | 29 January 1926 | Alexander Munro MacRobert | Conservative | Alexander Munro MacRobert | Conservative | Solicitor General for Scotland | ||
| Bury St Edmunds | 1 December 1925 | Walter Guinness | Conservative | Walter Guinness | Conservative | Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries | ||
31st Parliament (1919–1922)
30th Parliament (August 1914 – 1918)
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Uncontested
- ^ Walker owned a stud of thoroughbred horses. When he was given a contract to supply horses to the Army, questions were raised as to whether this contract disqualified him from the House of Commons, so Walker sought re-election in order to remove doubts as to his position.
30th Parliament (December 1910 – July 1914)
29th Parliament (January 1910 – December 1910)
| By-election | Date | Incumbent | Party | Winner | Party | Position | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walthamstow | 1 November 1910 | John Simon | Liberal | Sir John Simon | Liberal | Solicitor General for England and Wales[29 1] | ||
| Govan | 28 April 1910 | William Hunter | Liberal | William Hunter | Liberal | Solicitor General for Scotland[29 1] | ||
| Reading | 12 March 1910[29 2] | Rufus Isaacs | Liberal | Rufus Isaacs | Liberal | Solicitor General for England and Wales[29 1] | ||
| Shipley | 10 March 1910[29 2] | Percy Illingworth | Liberal | Percy Illingworth | Liberal | Commissioner of the Treasury[29 1] | ||
| Barnstaple | 2 March 1910[29 2] | Ernest Soares | Liberal | Ernest Soares | Liberal | Commissioner of the Treasury[29 1] | ||
| Tower Hamlets St George | 1 March 1910 | William Wedgwood Benn | Liberal | William Wedgwood Benn | Liberal | Commissioner of the Treasury[29 1] | ||
| Swansea District | 28 February 1910[29 2] | Sir David Brynmor Jones | Liberal | Sir David Brynmor Jones | Liberal | Recorder of Merthyr Tydvil | ||
28th Parliament (1906 – January 1910)
27th Parliament (1900–1906)
26th Parliament (1895–1900)
| By-election | Date | Incumbent | Party | Winner | Party | Position | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin University | 16 May 1900[26 1] | Edward Carson | Irish Unionist | Edward Carson | Irish Unionist | Solicitor General[26 2] | ||
| Oxford | 4 November 1898[26 1] | Arthur Annesley | Conservative | Arthur Annesley | Conservative | Comptroller of the Household[26 2] | ||
| Mid Armagh | 21 January 1898[26 1] | Dunbar Barton | Irish Unionist | Dunbar Barton | Irish Unionist | Solicitor General for Ireland[26 2] | ||
| Wycombe | 21 February 1896[26 1] | Richard Curzon | Conservative | Richard Curzon | Conservative | Treasurer of the Household[26 2] | ||
| Harrow | 30 November 1895[26 1] | William Ambrose | Conservative | William Ambrose | Conservative | Attorney-General of the Duchy of Lancaster[26 2] | ||
| Dublin St Stephen's Green | 2 September 1895 | William Kenny | Liberal Unionist | William Kenny | Liberal Unionist | Solicitor General for Ireland[26 2] | ||
| Inverness Burghs | 31 August 1895[26 1] | Robert Finlay | Liberal Unionist | Robert Finlay | Liberal Unionist | Solicitor General[26 2] | ||
25th Parliament (1892–1895)
24th Parliament (1886–1892)
23rd Parliament (1885–1886)
22nd Parliament (1880–1885)
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar Uncontested
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd Seat vacated on appointment to the office noted.
- ^ Gain not retained at the 1885 general election.
- ^ Former MP assassinated after the writ was moved.
- ^ Constituency abolished November 1885, so gain was not retained.
- ^ a b By-election voided and writ suspended
21st Parliament (1874–1880)
20th Parliament (1868–1874)
19th Parliament (1865–1868)
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as Uncontested
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay Seat vacated on appointment to the office noted.
18th Parliament (1859–1865)
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap Uncontested
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax Seat vacated on appointment to the office noted.
- ^ According to the writ of election the by-election cause was Castlerosse being appointed Treasurer of the Household. However according to the London Gazette he does not appear to have actually been appointed to that office but was instead appointed Vice-Chamberlain of the Household.
- ^ According to the writ of election the by-election cause was Bury being appointed Comptroller of the Household. However according to the London Gazette he does not appear to have actually been appointed to that office but was instead appointed Treasurer of the Household.
17th Parliament (1857–1859)
16th Parliament (1852–1857)
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay Uncontested
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg Seat vacated on appointment to the office noted.
15th Parliament (1847–1852)
14th Parliament (1841–1847)
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc Seat vacated on appointment to the office noted.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs Uncontested
- ^ Gladstone did not stand for re-election as he had lost the support of his borough's patron. Gladstone did not stand again until the 1847 general election where he was successful at regaining a seat.
- ^ Thesiger sought re-election at Abingdon.
- ^ Jackson sought re-election at Dublin University.
- ^ MP appointed Serjeant-At-Arms of the House of Lords before writ moved.
13th Parliament (1837–1841)
12th Parliament (1835–1837)
11th Parliament (1832–1834)
10th Parliament (1831–1832)
| Date | Constituency | c/u | Former incumbent | Winner | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 July 1832 | Winchelsea | u | James Brougham | James Brougham | Clerk of Patents and Registrar of Affidavits at the Court of Chancery |
| 16 June 1832 | Cricklade | u | Robert Gordon | Robert Gordon | Commissioner of the Board of Control |
| 13 June 1832 | Calne | u | Thomas Babington Macaulay | Thomas Babington Macaulay | Commissioner of the Board of Control |
| 12 June 1832 | Taunton | u | Henry Labouchere | Henry Labouchere | Civil Lord of the Admiralty |
| 5 March 1832 | Ayr Burghs | u | Thomas Francis Kennedy | Thomas Francis Kennedy | Clerk of the Ordnance |
| 8 February 1832 | Westminster | u | Sir John Hobhouse | Sir John Hobhouse | Secretary at War |
9th Parliament (1830–1831)
8th Parliament (1826–1830)
7th Parliament (1820–1826)
- ^ Canning sought re-election at Harwich
6th Parliament (1818–1820)
5th Parliament (1812–1818)
4th Parliament (1807–1812)
3rd Parliament (1806–1807)
- ^ Stopford sought re-election at Marlborough
2nd Parliament (1802–1806)
1st Parliament (1801–1802)
See also
References
- ^ a b Boothroyd, David. "Causes of Byelections since the 'Reform Act'". United Kingdom Election Results. Demon Internet. Archived from the original on 8 August 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- ^ a b c Sandford, Mark (18 July 2013). "SN/PC/06395 : Resignation from the House of Commons" (PDF). House of Commons Background Papers. Parliament and Constitution Centre. pp. 1, 4. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- ^ "Election Intelligence. Walthamstow., The Osborne Judgment". The Times. 12 October 1910. p. 10. Retrieved 30 August 2012.