1919 Widnes by-election

1919 Widnes by-election
30 August 1919 (1919-08-30) (Polling)
12 September 1919 (1919-09-12) (Declaration)
Registered30,674
Turnout71.1%
 
Candidate Arthur Henderson Frank Fisher
Party Labour Unionist
Alliance Liberal Coalition
Popular vote 11,404 10,417
Percentage 52.3% 47.7%
Swing Increase 11.9% Decrease 11.9%
MP before election

William Walker
Unionist

 Subsequent MP

Arthur Henderson
Labour

The 1919 Widnes by-election was held on 30 August 1919. The by-election was held due to the elevation to the peerage of the incumbent Conservative MP, William Walker. It was won by the Labour candidate Arthur Henderson.[1]

Background

On 18 August 1919, William Walker the Conservative member for the constituency of Widnes since the 1900 general election resigned from Parliament as prelude to being raised to the peerage as Baron Wavertree of Delamere in the County of Chester on 27 October.[2]

Candidates

Unionist

Frank Fisher

Labour

Tom Williamson, Liverpool district delegate of the National Amalgamated Union of Labour and candidate for this seat in 1918 declined to stand again with the Party instead choosing its former Leader Arthur Henderson.[3]

Liberal

On 23 August the Liberal Association of the Widnes Parliamentary Division released a statement declining put forward their own candidate and opting to support Henderson.[5]

NDP

Result

Widnes by-election, 30 August 1919
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour (Liberal) Arthur Henderson 11,404 52.3 +11.9
C Unionist Frank Fisher 10,417 47.7 –11.9
Majority 987 4.6 N/A
Turnout 21,821 71.1 +8.1
Registered electors 30,674
Labour gain from Unionist Swing +11.9

Aftermath

Henderson would lose the seat at the next election to industrialist Christopher Clayton.

References

  1. ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs
  2. ↑ "No. 31624". The London Gazette. 31 October 1919. p. 13255.
  3. ↑ "Mr Henderson and Widnes". Morning Post. 18 August 1919. p. 4. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  4. ↑ "Widnes Election". Morning Post. 26 August 1919. p. 7. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  5. ↑ "Liberals to Support Mr. Henderson". Wearside Catholic News. 23 August 1919. p. 4. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  6. ↑ "Henderson for Widnes". Cotton Factory Times. 22 August 1919. p. 3. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  7. ↑ "Councillor Millar Withdraws". Runcorn Weekly News. 22 August 1919. p. 2. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
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