1902 Clitheroe by-election

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The 1902

elevated to the House of Lords. The Labour Representation Committee candidate David Shackleton
won the by-election unopposed.

Background

The incumbent Liberal MP Sir Ughtred Kay-Shuttleworth was among the new peers in the 1902 Coronation Honours announced on 26 June. He was elevated to the House of Lords as Baron Shuttleworth the following month,[1] and thus had to resign his seat in the House of Commons.

Candidates

The barrister Augustine Birrell was mentioned as a possible candidate for the Liberal Party, but withdrew his candidature early; as he found the constituency too far away from London to be able to give it adequate time to contest the seat.[2] Philip Stanhope, a former Liberal MP for Wednesbury and for Burnley was adopted as a candidate in early July,[3] and considered running, but stated in an interview that he wanted an alliance between the Liberals and Labour.[4]

The Conservatives considered several candidates, including Colonel John William Robinson Parker, of Browsholme Hall, who had just returned from the Second Boer War in South Africa.[2]

Philip Snowden, who had been considered by the Independent Labour Party
, withdrew from the race. The Liberals and Conservatives also withdrew, sensing Shackleton's strong lead.

Results

Shackleton was the only nominated candidate, and was elected unopposed at a meeting at Clitheroe Town Hall on 1 August.[5][6][7] He became the third MP for the Labour Representation Committee (which would later become the Labour Party) and the first to win at a by-election. The textile workers' unions affiliated to the Labour Representative Committee shortly afterwards. Shackleton served as Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party for a period.

References

  1. ^ "No. 27455". The London Gazette. 18 July 1902. p. 4587.
  2. ^ a b "Election intelligence". The Times. No. 36809. London. 2 July 1902. p. 10.
  3. ^ "Election intelligence". The Times. No. 36811. London. 4 July 1902. p. 8.
  4. ^ "Election intelligence". The Times. No. 36810. London. 3 July 1902. p. 8.
  5. ^ "Election intelligence". The Times. No. 36836. London. 2 August 1902. p. 10.
  6. Conservative Central Office
    , page 146 (170 in web page), Lancashire North East
  7. ISBN 978-0853239345
    .
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