The 1906 Basingstoke by-election was a Parliamentary by-election held on 12 March 1906. 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.
The 1906 Basingstoke By-Election
The 1906 Basingstoke by-election took place on 12 March 1906. This parliamentary by-election was conducted to elect one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, utilizing the first past the post voting system.
Reason for Vacancy
The by-election was necessitated by the death of the sitting Conservative MP, Arthur Frederick Jeffreys. Jeffreys had served as the MP since the 1887 Basingstoke by-election and passed away on 14 February 1906 at the age of 57, shortly after being re-elected during the 1906 general election.
Electoral History
The Basingstoke seat had consistently been held by the Conservative Party since its establishment in 1885. At the most recent election prior to the by-election, the Conservatives secured the seat with a very slender majority.
Candidates
The Conservative Party selected barrister Arthur Salter KC as their candidate. The local Liberal Association re-selected Harry Verney, a 24-year-old who had previously contested the seat but was unsuccessful at the general election. Additionally, a third candidate, Ernest Polden, emerged, identifying himself as an Independent Liberal.
Campaign
Polling Day was scheduled for 12 March 1906.
Election Result
The Conservative Party successfully retained the seat, increasing their majority slightly. The presence of the Independent Liberal candidate was significant, as he attracted enough votes from the Liberal candidate, enabling the Conservatives to maintain their hold on the constituency.
Aftermath
Four years later, during the general election, Salter secured the seat once again for the Conservatives against a new Liberal challenger. Verney, on the other hand, moved to contest the seat in Buckingham, where he was elected in December 1910.
References
The 1906 Basingstoke By-Election
The 1906 Basingstoke by-election took place on 12 March 1906. This parliamentary by-election was conducted to elect one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, utilizing the first past the post voting system.
Reason for Vacancy
The by-election was necessitated by the death of the sitting Conservative MP, Arthur Frederick Jeffreys. Jeffreys had served as the MP since the 1887 Basingstoke by-election and passed away on 14 February 1906 at the age of 57, shortly after being re-elected during the 1906 general election.
Electoral History
The Basingstoke seat had consistently been held by the Conservative Party since its establishment in 1885. At the most recent election prior to the by-election, the Conservatives secured the seat with a very slender majority.
Candidates
The Conservative Party selected barrister Arthur Salter KC as their candidate. The local Liberal Association re-selected Harry Verney, a 24-year-old who had previously contested the seat but was unsuccessful at the general election. Additionally, a third candidate, Ernest Polden, emerged, identifying himself as an Independent Liberal.
Campaign
Polling Day was scheduled for 12 March 1906.
Election Result
The Conservative Party successfully retained the seat, increasing their majority slightly. The presence of the Independent Liberal candidate was significant, as he attracted enough votes from the Liberal candidate, enabling the Conservatives to maintain their hold on the constituency.
Aftermath
Four years later, during the general election, Salter secured the seat once again for the Conservatives against a new Liberal challenger. Verney, on the other hand, moved to contest the seat in Buckingham, where he was elected in December 1910.
References
