1910 Tower Hamlets St George by-election

1910 Tower Hamlets St George

1 March 1910

Candidate Benn Simmons Party Liberal Conservative Popular vote 1,598 1,089 Percentage 59.5 40.5

MP before election Wedgwood Benn Liberal Subsequent MP Wedgwood Benn Liberal

The Tower Hamlets St George by-election was a 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. It was held on 1 March 1910.

Vacancy

The by-election was caused due to the incumbent Liberal MP, William Wedgwood Benn, becoming a Commissioner of the Treasury, requiring him to seek re-election.

Electoral history

The seat had been Liberal since Benn gained it in 1906. Benn easily held the seat at the January 1910 election, with a reduced majority;

General election January 1910: Tower Hamlets, St. George

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	William Wedgwood Benn	1,568	58.0	-3.3
	Conservative	Percy Coleman Simmons	1,134	42.0	+3.3
Majority			434	16.0	-6.6
Turnout			2,702
	Liberal hold		Swing	-3.3

Candidates

• The local Liberal Association re-selected 33-year-old Wedgwood Benn to defend the seat.
• The Conservatives retained Percy Coleman Simmons as their candidate.

Campaign

Polling Day was fixed for the 1 March 1910.

Result

The Liberals held the seat and managed a slightly increased majority;

Tower Hamlets St George by-election, 1910

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	William Wedgwood Benn	1,598	59.5	+1.5
	Conservative	Percy Coleman Simmons	1,089	40.5	-1.5
Majority			509	19.0	+3.0
Turnout			2,687
	Liberal hold		Swing	+1.5

Aftermath

Benn was re-elected at the general election 9 months later.

General election December 1910: Tower Hamlets, St. George

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	William Wedgwood Benn	1,401	57.8	-1.7
	Conservative	Douglas Clifton Brown	1,022	42.2	+1.7
Majority			379	15.6	-3.4
Turnout			2,423
	Liberal hold		Swing	-1.7