1910 Tower Hamlets St George by-election

The 1910 Tower Hamlets St George by-election was a Parliamentary by-election. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system. It was held on 1 March 1910.

1910 Tower Hamlets St George

1 March 1910

Candidate Benn Simmons Party Liberal Conservative Popular vote 1,598 1,089 Percentage 59.5% 40.5%

MP before election Wedgwood Benn Liberal Subsequent MP Wedgwood Benn Liberal

Vacancy

The by-election was caused due to the incumbent Liberal MP, William Wedgwood Benn, becoming a Commissioner of the Treasury, requiring him to seek re-election.

Electoral history

The seat had been Liberal since Benn gained it in 1906. Benn easily held the seat at the January 1910 election, with a reduced majority;

General election January 1910: Tower Hamlets, St. George

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	William Wedgwood Benn	1,568	58.0	-3.3
	Conservative	Percy Coleman Simmons	1,134	42.0	+3.3
Majority			434	16.0	-6.6
Turnout			2,702
	Liberal hold		Swing	-3.3

Candidates

• The local Liberal Association re-selected 33-year-old Wedgwood Benn to defend the seat.
• The Conservatives retained Percy Coleman Simmons as their candidate.

Campaign

Polling Day was fixed for the 1 March 1910.

Result

The Liberals held the seat and managed a slightly increased majority;

1910 Tower Hamlets St George by-election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	William Wedgwood Benn	1,598	59.5	+1.5
	Conservative	Percy Coleman Simmons	1,089	40.5	-1.5
Majority			509	19.0	+3.0
Turnout			2,687
	Liberal hold		Swing	+1.5

Aftermath

Benn was re-elected at the general election 9 months later.

General election December 1910: Tower Hamlets, St. George

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	William Wedgwood Benn	1,401	57.8	-1.7
	Conservative	Douglas Clifton Brown	1,022	42.2	+1.7
Majority			379	15.6	-3.4
Turnout			2,423
	Liberal hold		Swing	-1.7