James Kiley

James Daniel Kiley (1865 – 12 September 1953)[1] was a British businessman and Liberal Party politician who served in the House of Commons from 1916 to 1922 as a Member of Parliament (MP) for constituencies in the Whitechapel area[1] of the East End of London.[2]

A director of a warehouse company in Houndsditch, he entered politics in 1910, when he was elected to Stepney Borough Council, becoming an alderman in 1913 and serving as the borough's mayor in 1915.[2][3] He was also a member of the Metropolitan Water Board from 1914 to 1922, and a justice of the peace from 1913.[2][3]

During the First World War there was a political truce between the parties, who agreed not to contest any by-elections caused by death or resignations of sitting members of parliament. When a vacancy occurred with the resignation of the Liberal MP Sir Stuart Samuel, Bt in December 1916, Kiley was elected unopposed as the MP for the Whitechapel division of Stepney.[4][5][6] The Whitechapel constituency was abolished in boundary changes for the 1918 general election, and Kiley was elected for the new Whitechapel and St Georges division of Stepney.[7] He held the seat despite his Conservative Party opponent having received the coalition coupon, but with both Labour and Conservative candidates winning over 28% of the votes, Kiley's victory was obtained with only 35% of the votes.[8] (The fourth candidate, an independent won 7%).[8]

However, at the 1922 general election, when he faced only Labour and Conservative opponents, Kiley lost the seat to the Labour Party candidate Charles Mathew by a majority of 2.8%.[8] He stood again at the by-election in February 1923 after Mathew's death, but lost by a wider margin,[8][9] and was unsuccessful again at the general election in December 1923.[8] He did not stand for Parliament again.[8]

He continued in business, eventually becoming chairman of Whyte Ridsdale and Company Limited, a leading firm of fancy goods and toy merchants. He was a forceful proponent of free trade both in politics and business, opposing tariffs or other restrictions.[2]

References
  1. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "W" (part 3)
  2. "Obituary: Mr J. D. Kiley". The Times. 17 September 1953. p. 10.
  3. Hesilridge, Arthur G. M. (1922). Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench 1922. London: Dean & Son.
  4. "New Member For Whitechapel". The Times. 29 December 1916. p. 3.
  5. "No. 29888". The London Gazette. 2 January 1917. p. 99.
  6. Craig, F. W. S. (1989) [1974]. British parliamentary election results 1885–1918 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 57. ISBN 0-900178-27-2.
  7. "No. 31147". The London Gazette. 28 January 1919. p. 1363.
  8. Craig, F. W. S. (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 53. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
  9. "Whitechapel Held By Labour. Majority Of 2,200". The Times. 9 February 1923. p. 10.
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