1904 Norwich by-election

The 1904 Norwich by-election was a Parliamentary by-election held on 15 January 1904.^[1] The constituency returned two Members of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system.

Vacancy

Bullard

Sir Harry Bullard had been Conservative MP for the seat of Norwich since the 1895 general election. He died on 26 December 1903 at the age of 62.

Electoral history

The seat had been Conservative since they gained it in 1895. They held the seats at the last election, unopposed.

Candidates

The local Conservative Association selected 35-year-old Ernest Wild as their candidate to defend the seat. He was born in Norwich and attended Norwich School. He was a Barrister who had been called to Bar at Middle Temple in 1893. He had been Judge of the Norwich Guildhall Court of Record since 1897.^[2]

The local Liberal Association selected 39-year-old Norfolk born, Norwich solicitor Louis Tillett as their candidate to gain the seat.^[2]

The local Independent Labour Party selected 36-year-old Norfolk born George Roberts as their candidate. He had joined the Independent Labour Party in 1886. He was elected to the Norwich School Board in 1889. He was Secretary of the Typographical Association and President of Norwich Trades Council.^[2]

Campaign

election card

Polling Day was fixed for the 15 January 1904, just 20 days after the previous MP died.

Result

The Liberals gained the seat from the Conservatives;

1904 Norwich by-election^[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Louis Tillett	8,576	48.3	*New*
	Conservative	Ernest Wild	6,756	38.0	N/A
	Ind. Labour Party	George Roberts	2,440	13.7	New
Majority			1,820	10.3	N/A
Turnout			1,820	90.1	N/A
	Liberal gain from Conservative		Swing

The Spectator magazine, known for its Conservative sympathies felt that "There can be little doubt that the election was fought mainly on the fiscal issue, and the result is all the more encouraging to the opponents of Protectionism in that—to quote from the Times—" both the Liberal and the Labour candidates were free traders, their united votes showing a majority of more than four thousand against the advocate of fiscal reform."^[4]

Aftermath

At the following General Election the Conservatives also lost the other seat, the result was;

General election January 1906^[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour Repr. Cmte.	YGeorge Roberts	11,059	37.5	*N/A*
	Liberal	YLouis Tillett	10,972	37.2	*N/A*
	Conservative	Ernest Wild	7,460	25.3	N/A
	Labour Repr. Cmte. gain from Conservative
Majority			3,599	12.2	N/A
	Liberal hold
Majority			3,512	11.9	N/A
Turnout			29,491	91.6	N/A

References

^ Craig, F.W.S. (1987). Chronology of British Parliamentary By-elections 1833–1987. Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 98.
^ ^a ^b ^c 'WILD, Sir Ernest (Edward)', Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2007; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2007 accessed 6 March 2014
^ ^a ^b British parliamentary election results 1885-1918 by Craig
^ The Spectator, 23 January 1904

[1] Craig, F.W.S. (1987). Chronology of British Parliamentary By-elections 1833–1987. Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 98.

[WhoWasWho-2] 'WILD, Sir Ernest (Edward)', Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2007; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2007 accessed 6 March 2014

[Craig-3] British parliamentary election results 1885-1918 by Craig

[4] The Spectator, 23 January 1904

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