1903 Newmarket by-election

The 1903 Newmarket by-election 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.

Vacancy

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.

Electoral history

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 Rose	3,218	42.8	−5.1
Majority			1,077	14.4	+10.2
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 Rose for the Liberals.^[3] 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. ^[4]

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.^[5]

The result of the election was announced on Saturday 3 January at Cambridge Shire Hall. Rose won the seat for the Liberals by a majority of 507 votes.^[6]

Charles Rose

Newmarket by-election, 1903
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Charles Rose	4,414	53.0	+10.2
	Conservative	Leonard Brassey	3,907	47.0	−10.2
Majority			507	6.0	N/A
Turnout			8,321	86.2	+6.9
	Liberal gain from Conservative		Swing	+10.2

Aftermath

Rose held the seat at the ensuing election in 1906.

General election 1906: Newmarket^[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Charles Rose	4,666	54.6	+1.6
	Conservative	George Henry Verrall	3,883	45.4	−1.6
Majority			783	9.2	+3.2
Turnout			8,549	86.1	−0.1
	Liberal hold		Swing	+1.6

Brassey subsequently became MP for North Northamptonshire in 1910.

References

^ "Obituary: Colonel Harry McCalmont C.B. M.P.". The Times. 9 December 1902. p. 10.
^ ^a ^b F. W. S. Craig (1989), British Parliamentary Election Results, 1885-1918. Aldershot: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 228
^ "Election Intelligence". The Times. No. 36962. London. 27 December 1902. p. 6.
^ "Election Intelligence: Cambridgeshire (Newmarket Division)". The Times. 18 December 1902. p. 8.
^ "Election Intelligence: Cambridgeshire (Newmarket Division)". The Times. 3 January 1903. p. 9.
^ "Election Intelligence: Cambridgeshire (Newmarket Division)". The Times. 5 January 1903. p. 9.

[1] "Obituary: Colonel Harry McCalmont C.B. M.P.". The Times. 9 December 1902. p. 10.

[craig-2] F. W. S. Craig (1989), British Parliamentary Election Results, 1885-1918. Aldershot: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 228

[3] "Election Intelligence". The Times. No. 36962. London. 27 December 1902. p. 6.

[4] "Election Intelligence: Cambridgeshire (Newmarket Division)". The Times. 18 December 1902. p. 8.

[5] "Election Intelligence: Cambridgeshire (Newmarket Division)". The Times. 3 January 1903. p. 9.

[6] "Election Intelligence: Cambridgeshire (Newmarket Division)". The Times. 5 January 1903. p. 9.

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