Newmarket by-election, 1903

The Newmarket by-election, 1903 was a parliamentary by-election held on 2 January 1903 to fill a vacancy in the United Kingdom House of Commons for the Eastern or Newmarket Division of Cambridgeshire.

The vacancy occurred with the sudden death of the sitting Conservative member of parliament, Colonel Harry McCalmont on 8 December 1902.[1] McCalmont had been MP for Newmarket since 1895. At the previous election, in 1900, he had been returned with a majority of 1,077 votes.

General Election 1900: Newmarket[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Harry McCalmont 4,295 57.2 +5.1
Liberal Charles Day Rose 3,218 42.8 −5.1
Majority 1,077 14.4
Turnout 7,513 79.3 −3.6
Conservative hold Swing +5.1

The candidates and campaign

Nominations for the election were made on 26 December 1902. There were two candidates: Leonard Brassey for the Conservatives, and Charles Day Rose for the Liberals. Rose had also contested the seat in 1900. Both candidates were involved in the horse racing industry, the major employer in and around the town of Newmarket.

An important factor in the election was the religious beliefs of the candidates. The Church Association, an evangelical Protestant organisation, interrogated both of the men. Rose stated that he strenuously supported Protestant principles and opposed any legislation that would undermine the ascendency of Protestantism. This satisfied the Association, and was probably responsible for a large number of Evangelical Christian voters switching allegiance from the Conservatives to the Liberals. [3]

Polling and result

The election took place on Friday 2 January 1903. The poll was heavy and motor cars were widely used to bring voters to the polls.[4]

The result of the election was announced on Saturday 3 January at Cambridge Shire Hall. Rose managed to win the seat for the Liberals by a majority of 507 votes.[5]

Charles Rose
Newmarket by-election, 1903
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Charles Day Rose 4,414 53.0 +9.8
Conservative Henry Leonard Campbell Brassey 3,907 47.0 -9.8
Majority 507 6.0
Liberal gain from Conservative

Aftermath

Rose held the seat at the ensuing election in 1906.

General Election 1906: Newmarket[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Charles Day Rose 4,666 54.6 +1.6
Conservative George Henry Verrall 3,883 45.4 −1.6
Majority 783 9.2
Turnout 8,549 86.1 −0.1
Liberal hold Swing +1.6

Brassey subsequently became MP for North Northamptonshire in 1910.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Obituary: Colonel Harry McCalmont C.B. M.P.". The Times. 9 December 1902. p. 10.
  2. 1 2 F. W. S. Craig (1989), British Parliamentary Election Results, 1885-1918. Aldershot: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 228
  3. ↑ "Election Intelligence: Cambridgeshire (Newmarket Division)". The Times. 18 December 1902. p. 8.
  4. ↑ "Election Intelligence: Cambridgeshire (Newmarket Division)". The Times. 3 January 1903. p. 9.
  5. ↑ "Election Intelligence: Cambridgeshire (Newmarket Division)". The Times. 5 January 1903. p. 9.
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