1905 Hampstead by-election

The Hampstead by-election was a Parliamentary by-election held on 26 October 1905. 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.

1905 Hampstead by-election

26 October 1905

Candidate Fletcher Rowe Party Conservative Liberal Popular vote 4,228 3,803 Percentage 52.6% 47.4%

MP before election Thomas Milvain Conservative Subsequent MP John Fletcher Conservative

Vacancy

Thomas Milvain had been Conservative MP for the seat of Hampstead since the 1902 Hampstead by-election. Milvain resigned the seat when he was appointed Judge Advocate General.

Electoral history

The seat had been Conservative since it was created in 1885. They easily held the seat at the last election;

1902 Hampstead by-election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Thomas Milvain	3,843	64.5
	Liberal	George Frederic Rowe	2,118	35.5
Majority			1,725	29.0
Turnout			10,280	58.0
	Conservative hold		Swing

Candidates

The local Conservative Association selected 63-year-old John Fletcher as their candidate to defend the seat. Fletcher had good local connections. He was a member of the Hampstead Board of Guardians from 1876 to 1898. He was an elected member of the London County Council representing Hampstead for the Conservative backed Municipal Reform Party from 1889 to 1904. He served as one of the Council's deputy chairmen from 1900 to 1904.

The local Liberal Association selected George Frederic Rowe as their candidate to gain the seat. Rowe had been the Liberal candidate in the 1902 by-election.

Campaign

Rowe launched his campaign on 11 October with a public meeting at Hampstead Town Hall, sharing a platform with the London Liberal MP, Thomas Macnamara. On 13 October he held his second public meeting at Brondesbury Hall. Fletcher's campaign, slower off the mark, sought to build upon his strong local links. He supported the Unionist government in its policy positions. He advocated the reduction in Irish representation in the UK parliament. The Hampstead Temperance Council had invited both candidates to address their meeting, but Fletcher chose not to attend. The HTC gave its support to Rowe and Fletcher responded by seeking the support of local licensed victuallers. Rowe's third public meeting at West Hampstead Town Hall featured Leo Chiozza Money the Liberal candidate for neighbouring Paddington. Fletcher's first public meeting in Haverstock Hill, had him sharing a platform with Nottingham MP, Edward Bond and Keighley candidate William Mitchell Acworth. Polling Day was fixed for the 26 October 1905. As Fletcher was a supporter of protectionism, Rowe received the endorsement of the Hampstead Free Trade League. On 23 October Winston Churchill who had left the Conservatives and joined the Liberals primarily because of the free trade v protectionism issue, addressed a public meeting organised by the Hampstead Free Trade League.

Result

The Liberals massively reduced the majority of the Conservatives, thanks to a swing of 11.9%:

1905 Hampstead by-election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	John Fletcher	4,228	52.6	−11.9
	Liberal	George Frederic Rowe	3,803	47.4	+11.9
Majority			425	5.2	−23.8
Turnout			11,301	71.1	+13.1
	Conservative hold		Swing	-11.9

The result should have been a good indicator to Unionist Prime Minister Arthur Balfour that the mood in the country was swinging behind the Liberals. He soon chose to resign as Prime Minister.

Aftermath

At the following General Election the result was similar:

General election January 1906

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	John Fletcher	4,934	52.5	−0.1
	Liberal	George Frederic Rowe	4,461	47.5	+0.1
Majority			473	5.0	−0.2
Turnout			11,467	81.9	+10.8
	Conservative hold		Swing