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The '''[[Chelmsford (UK Parliament constituency)|Chelmsford]] by-election''' was a [[UK Parliamentary by-elections|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.
{{Use British English|date=September 2013}}
⚫
The '''[[Chelmsford (UK Parliament constituency)|Chelmsford]] by-election''' was a [[UK Parliamentary by-elections|Parliamentary by-election]] held on 1 December 1908.<ref>{{cite book |last=Craig |first=F.W.S. |date=1987 |title=Chronology of British Parliamentary By-elections 1833–1987 |location=Chichester |publisher=Parliamentary Research Services |page=102}}</ref> The constituency returned one [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) to the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom]], elected by the [[first past the post]] voting system.


==Vacancy==
==Vacancy==
[[Carne Rasch|Sir Carne Rasch]] had been Conservative MP for the seat of [[Chelmsford (UK Parliament constituency)|Chelmsford]] since the 1900 General Election. His resignation came at the age of 61.
[[Carne Rasch|Sir Carne Rasch]] had been Conservative MP for the seat of [[Chelmsford (UK Parliament constituency)|Chelmsford]] since the 1900 general election. His resignation came at the age of 61.


==Electoral history==
==Electoral history==
The seat had been Conservative since its creation in 1885. They held the seat at the last election, with a vastly reduced majority;
The seat had been Conservative since its creation in 1885. They held the seat at the last election, with a vastly reduced majority;
{{Election box begin | title=[[UK general election, 1906|General Election January 1906]]<ref>British parliamentary election results 1885-1918</ref>
{{Election box begin | title=[[1906 United Kingdom general election|General election January 1906]]<ref>British parliamentary election results 1885-1918</ref>
Electorate 11,767}}
Electorate 11,767}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate =[[Carne Rasch|Sir Frederic Carne Rasch]]
|candidate =[[Carne Rasch]]
|votes =4,915
|votes =4,915
|percentage =52.4
|percentage =52.4
Line 28: Line 30:
}}
}}
{{Election box turnout|
{{Election box turnout|
|votes =
|votes = 9,376
|percentage =79.7
|percentage = 79.7
|change =
|change =
}}
}}
Line 39: Line 41:


==Candidates==
==Candidates==
The Conservatives selected 48 year-old [[E. G. Pretyman]] as their candidate. He had been MP for [[Woodbridge (UK Parliament constituency)|Woodbridge]] in Suffolk until his defeat to the Liberals in 1906. He was [[Civil Lord of the Admiralty]] from 1900–1903 and [[Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty]] from 1903–1906.
The Conservatives selected 48-year-old [[E. G. Pretyman]] as their candidate. He had been MP for [[Woodbridge (UK Parliament constituency)|Woodbridge]] in Suffolk until his defeat to the Liberals in 1906. He was [[Civil Lord of the Admiralty]] from 1900–1903 and [[Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty]] from 1903–1906.
The local Liberal Association re-selected A.H. Dence to attack the seat. Dence had been defeated at Chelmsford by Sir Carne Rasch in January 1906. His slogan: 'Don't be rash, Vote for Dence' was countered by the successful Conservative's 'Don't be dense, Vote for Rasch.'<ref>A Liberal Chronicle: Journals and Papers of J.A. Pease</ref>
The local Liberal Association re-selected A.H. Dence to attack the seat. Dence had been defeated at Chelmsford by Sir Carne Rasch in January 1906. His slogan: 'Don't be rash, Vote for Dence' was countered by the successful Conservative's 'Don't be dense, Vote for Rasch.'<ref>A Liberal Chronicle: Journals and Papers of J.A. Pease</ref>


==Campaign==
==Campaign==
Polling Day was fixed for the 1st December 1908.
Polling Day was fixed for 1 December 1908.


The Liberal government had introduced the Small Holdings and Allotments Act of 1907 which sought to limit the degree to which fixtures and improvements remained the property of landlords, and to increase the number of small farmers. This new measure was expected to have a strong appeal to voters in rural constituencies like Chelmsford.<ref>By-Elections in British Politics, 1832-1914</ref>
The Liberal government had introduced the Small Holdings and Allotments Act of 1907 which sought to limit the degree to which fixtures and improvements remained the property of landlords, and to increase the number of small farmers. This new measure was expected to have a strong appeal to voters in rural constituencies like Chelmsford.<ref>By-Elections in British Politics, 1832-1914</ref>
Line 53: Line 55:
{{Election box begin | title=Chelmsford by-election, 1908<ref>British parliamentary election results 1885-1918</ref>
{{Election box begin | title=Chelmsford by-election, 1908<ref>British parliamentary election results 1885-1918</ref>
Electorate 12,539}}
Electorate 12,539}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate =[[E. G. Pretyman|Ernest George Pretyman]]
|candidate =[[E. G. Pretyman]]
|votes =6,152
|votes =6,152
|percentage =63.2
|percentage =63.2
|change =
|change = +10.8
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link|
Line 65: Line 67:
|votes =3,587
|votes =3,587
|percentage =36.8
|percentage =36.8
|change =
|change = -10.8
}}
}}
{{Election box majority|
{{Election box majority|
|votes =2,565
|votes = 2,565
|percentage =26.4
|percentage = 26.4
|change =
|change = +21.6
}}
}}
{{Election box turnout|
{{Election box turnout|
|votes =
|votes = 9,739
|percentage =77.7
|percentage = 77.7
|change =
|change = -2.0
}}
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
{{Election box hold with party link|
Line 85: Line 87:
==Aftermath==
==Aftermath==
Pretyman was re-elected at the next General Election and Dence did not stand again.
Pretyman was re-elected at the next General Election and Dence did not stand again.
{{Election box begin | title=[[UK general election, January 1910|General Election January 1910]]<ref>British parliamentary election results 1885-1918</ref>
{{Election box begin | title=[[January 1910 United Kingdom general election|General election January 1910]]<ref>British parliamentary election results 1885-1918</ref>
Electorate 13,314}}
Electorate 13,314}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate =[[E. G. Pretyman|Ernest George Pretyman]]
|candidate =[[E. G. Pretyman]]
|votes =6,816
|votes =6,816
|percentage =61.5
|percentage =61.5
Line 107: Line 109:
}}
}}
{{Election box turnout|
{{Election box turnout|
|votes =
|votes = 11,087
|percentage =83.3
|percentage = 83.3
|change =+5.6
|change = +5.6
}}
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Conservative Party (UK)
|winner = Conservative Party (UK)
|loser =
|swing =-1.7
|swing =-1.7
}}
}}
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{{By-elections to the 28th UK Parliament}}
{{By-elections to the 28th UK Parliament}}


[[Category:History of Essex]]
[[Category:1908 in England|Chelmsford by-election]]
[[Category:1908 in England]]
[[Category:1908 elections in the United Kingdom|Chelmsford by-election]]
[[Category:1908 elections in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:December 1908 events|Chelmsford by-election]]
[[Category:Politics of Chelmsford]]
[[Category:Politics of the City of Chelmsford]]
[[Category:Elections in Essex]]
[[Category:By-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom in Essex constituencies]]
[[Category:1900s in Essex]]

Latest revision as of 16:40, 17 December 2023

The Chelmsford by-election was a Parliamentary by-election held on 1 December 1908.[1] The constituency returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system.

Vacancy

[edit]

Sir Carne Rasch had been Conservative MP for the seat of Chelmsford since the 1900 general election. His resignation came at the age of 61.

Electoral history

[edit]

The seat had been Conservative since its creation in 1885. They held the seat at the last election, with a vastly reduced majority;

General election January 1906[2] Electorate 11,767
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Carne Rasch 4,915 52.4 −20.5
Liberal A.H. Dence 4,461 47.6 +20.5
Majority 454 4.8
Turnout 9,376 79.7
Conservative hold Swing +20.5

Candidates

[edit]

The Conservatives selected 48-year-old E. G. Pretyman as their candidate. He had been MP for Woodbridge in Suffolk until his defeat to the Liberals in 1906. He was Civil Lord of the Admiralty from 1900–1903 and Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty from 1903–1906. The local Liberal Association re-selected A.H. Dence to attack the seat. Dence had been defeated at Chelmsford by Sir Carne Rasch in January 1906. His slogan: 'Don't be rash, Vote for Dence' was countered by the successful Conservative's 'Don't be dense, Vote for Rasch.'[3]

Campaign

[edit]

Polling Day was fixed for 1 December 1908.

The Liberal government had introduced the Small Holdings and Allotments Act of 1907 which sought to limit the degree to which fixtures and improvements remained the property of landlords, and to increase the number of small farmers. This new measure was expected to have a strong appeal to voters in rural constituencies like Chelmsford.[4]

The Conservative campaign was assisted by the presence of immigrant Presbyterian farmers from Ayrshire, and some prominent Quaker Conservatives. The contest was embittered, leading to a full day's work for magistrates dealing with summonses.[5]

Result

[edit]

Pretyman increased the Conservative share of the poll by over ten per cent ;

Chelmsford by-election, 1908[6] Electorate 12,539
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative E. G. Pretyman 6,152 63.2 +10.8
Liberal A.H. Dence 3,587 36.8 −10.8
Majority 2,565 26.4 +21.6
Turnout 9,739 77.7 −2.0
Conservative hold Swing

Aftermath

[edit]

Pretyman was re-elected at the next General Election and Dence did not stand again.

General election January 1910[7] Electorate 13,314
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative E. G. Pretyman 6,816 61.5 −1.7
Liberal T.Cuthbertson 4,271 38.5 +1.7
Majority 2,545 23.0 −3.4
Turnout 11,087 83.3 +5.6
Conservative hold Swing -1.7

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Craig, F.W.S. (1987). Chronology of British Parliamentary By-elections 1833–1987. Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 102.
  2. ^ British parliamentary election results 1885-1918
  3. ^ A Liberal Chronicle: Journals and Papers of J.A. Pease
  4. ^ By-Elections in British Politics, 1832-1914
  5. ^ A Liberal Chronicle: Journals and Papers of J.A. Pease
  6. ^ British parliamentary election results 1885-1918
  7. ^ British parliamentary election results 1885-1918
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