1910 Ilkeston by-election

The Ilkeston 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. The by-election was held on 7 March 1910.

Vacancy

The by-election was held due to the incumbent Liberal MP, Walter Foster, becoming Baron Ilkeston and taking a seat in the House of Lords. Foster had been Liberal MP for the seat of Ilkeston since the 1887 Ilkeston by-election.

Electoral history

The seat had been Liberal since it was created in 1885. They easily held the seat at the last election, with a reduced majority;

Sir Walter Foster

General election January 1910: Ilkeston [1][2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Walter Foster	10,632	62.3	-2.0
	Conservative	Forbes St John Morrow	6,432	37.7	+2.0
Majority			4,200	24.6	-4.0
Turnout			17,064	87.7	+0.5
	Liberal hold		Swing	-2.0

Candidates

• The local Liberal Association selected 42-year-old Rt Hon. Jack Seely to defend the seat.

Campaign

Polling Day was fixed for the 7 March 1910.

Result

The Liberals held the seat and managed a slightly reduced majority;

Seely

Ilkeston by-election, 1910[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	J. E. B. Seely	10,204	59.7	-2.6
	Conservative	Henry FitzHerbert Wright	6,871	40.3	+2.6
Majority			3,333	19.4	-5.2
Turnout			17,075
	Liberal hold		Swing

Aftermath

General election December 1910: Ilkeston[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	J. E. B. Seely	9,990	62.7	+2.9
	Conservative	William Marshall Freeman	5,946	37.3	-2.9
Majority			4,044	25.4	+5.8
Turnout			15,936	81.9	-5.8
	Liberal hold		Swing	+2.9

References

1. Debretts House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
2. British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, FWS Craig
3. Debretts House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
4. British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, FWS Craig