1887 Liverpool Exchange by-election

The 1887 Liverpool Exchange by-election was held on 26 January 1887 after the death of the incumbent Liberal MP David Duncan. It was retained by the Liberal candidate Ralph Neville, with a narrow majority of 7 votes.

Goschen was Chancellor of the Exchequer. He had voted against Gladstone's Home Rule Bill in 1886 and became a Liberal Unionist. He subsequently lost his seat at Edinburgh East at the 1886 general election.[1]

Lord Randolph Churchill resigned as Chancellor of the Exchequer on 22 December 1886. The Marquess of Salisbury appointed Goschen to the post on 14 January 1887.[2][3] He became the sole Liberal Unionist in an otherwise Conservative government.

Goschen was therefore Chancellor outside the House of Commons and contested the by-election to return to the House.[4]

Liverpool Exchange by-election, 1887[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Ralph Neville 3,217 50.1 −1.4
Liberal Unionist George Goschen 3,210 49.9 +1.4
Majority 7 0.2 −2.8
Turnout 6,427 81.2 +11.8
Liberal hold Swing -1.4

References

edit
  1. ^ Elliot, Arthur D. (1911). The life of George Joachim Goschen, first Viscount Goschen. Vol. II. London: Longmans, Green and Co.
  2. ^ "Past Chancellors of the Exchequer". gov.uk. Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  3. ^ Cook, Chris; Keith, Brendan (1975). British Historical Facts: 1830–1900. Palgrave Macmillan UK. p. 40. ISBN 978-1-349-01348-7.
  4. ^ Otte, T. G.; Readman, Paul, eds. (2013). By-elections in British Politics, 1832-1914. Woodbridge: The Boydell Press. p. 182. ISBN 978-1-84383-780-0.
  5. ^ The Constitutional Year Book, 1904, published by Conservative Central Office, page 170 (194 in web page)