1910 Govan by-election

The 1910 Govan by-election was a parliamentary by-election held for the House of Commons constituency of the Govan Division of Lanarkshire on 28 April 1910.

Vacancy

The by-election was caused by the appointment of the sitting Liberal Member of Parliament (MP), William Hunter KC as Solicitor General for Scotland.[1] Under the Parliamentary rules applicable at the time if Hunter wished to remain an MP he had to resign and fight a by-election.

Candidates

The Govan Liberals re-selected Hunter to try to retain his seat which he had held since the January 1910 general election when he obtained a majority of 1,429 votes and gained the seat from the Unionists.[2]

It was reported that the Unionists were not eager to contest a by-election and that "as a matter of courtesy" Hunter might be allowed a walkover. An added consideration was that it seemed likely a new general election would be called within a few months.[3] Representatives of the Conservatives and Liberal Unionists met on 21 April to discuss the by-election and decided not to put up a candidate.[4]

Despite having contested the constituency at the previous general election, the Labour Party[5] also chose not to oppose Hunter.

The result

There being no other candidates putting themselves forward, Hunter was returned unopposed.[6]

Govan by-election, 1910
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Hunter Unopposed N/A N/A
Liberal hold Swing N/A

See also

References
  1. The Times, 19 April 1910 p13
  2. The Times House of Commons 1910; Politico’s Publishing, 2004 p101
  3. The Times, 19 April 1910 p9
  4. The Times, 22 April 1910 p12
  5. The Times House of Commons 1910; Politico’s Publishing, 2004 p101
  6. The Times, 29 April 1910 p11
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