List of ministerial by-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Ministerial by-elections to the Parliament 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)
- Uncontested
30th Parliament (August 1914 – 1918)
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)
6th Parliament (1818–1820)
5th Parliament (1812–1818)
4th Parliament (1807–1812)
3rd Parliament (1806–1807)
2nd Parliament (1802–1806)
1st Parliament (1801–1802)
See also
References
- Boothroyd, David. "Causes of Byelections since the 'Reform Act'". United Kingdom Election Results. demon.co.uk. Archived from the original on 8 August 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- 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.(subscription required)
- Lamb sought re-election at Bletchingley
- Canning sought re-election at Seaford
- Wetherell sought re-election at Plympton Erle
- Canning sought re-election at Harwich
- George Henry Rose sought re-election at Christchurch
- Lowther sought re-election at Westmorland
- Bathurst sought re-election at Bodmin
- Vansittart sought re-election at East Grinstead
- Richard Wellesley sought re-election at East Grinstead
- Yorke sought re-election at St Germans
- Stopford sought re-election at Marlborough
- Petty sought re-election at Cambridge University
- Dallas sought re-election at the Dysart Burghs
- FitzHarris sought re-election at Horsham