Просмотр кода страницы Английская Википедия:1919 Pontefract by-election

{{Английская Википедия/Панель перехода}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2021}}

{{Infobox election
|election_name=1919 Pontefract by-election
|type=presidential
|country=United Kingdom
|previous_election=Pontefract (UK Parliament constituency)#Elections in the 1910s
|previous_year=1918
|next_election=Pontefract (UK Parliament constituency)#Elections in the 1920s
|next_year=1922
|election_date=6 September 1919
|candidate1=[[Walter Forrest|Forrest]]
|image1=[[File:Walter Forrest crop.jpg|80px]]
|party1=Liberal Party (UK)
|popular_vote1='''9,920'''
|percentage1='''54.0%'''
|candidate2=[[Isaac Burns|Burns]]
|image2=
|party2=Labour Party (UK)
|popular_vote2=8,445
|percentage2=46.0%
|map_image=
|map_size=250px
|title=[[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]]
|posttitle=Subsequent MP
|before_election=[[Joseph Compton-Rickett|Compton-Rickett]]
|before_party=Liberal Party (UK)
|after_election=[[Tom Smith (British politician)|Smith]]
|after_party=Labour Party (UK)
}}
The '''1919 Pontefract by-election''' was a parliamentary [[by-election]] held for the [[British House of Commons]] constituency of [[Pontefract (UK Parliament constituency)|Pontefract]]  in [[Yorkshire]] on 6 September 1919.

==Vacancy==
The by-election was caused by the death on 30 July 1919 of the sitting [[Liberal Party (UK)|Coalition Liberal]] [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]], [[Joseph Compton-Rickett|Sir Joseph Compton-Rickett]]. He was 72 years old. He had been an MP in the area since 1906 when he was elected for [[Osgoldcross (UK Parliament constituency)|Osgoldcross]]. He had been Lloyd George's [[Paymaster General]] since 1916.

==Electoral history==
The Pontefract constituency had been Liberal since 1893 and Osgoldcross Liberal since 1885. At the general election in 1918, Compton-Rickett was re-elected with the support of the Coalition Government 'coupon'.
{{Election box begin |
  |title=Pontefract General Election, 1918<ref name="S Craig, p520">F W S Craig, ''British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949''; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow, 1949 p520</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link coalition 1918|
  |party      = Liberal Party (UK)
  |candidate  = [[Joseph Compton-Rickett]]
  |votes      = 8,561
  |percentage = 62.9
  |change     = +12.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Labour Party (UK)
  |candidate  = [[Isaac Burns]]
  |votes      = 5,047
  |percentage = 37.1
  |change     = ''New''
}}
{{Election box majority|
  |votes      = 3514
  |percentage = 25.8
  |change     = +24.2
}}
{{Election box turnout|
  |votes      = 13,608
  |percentage = 45.6
  |change     = -44.7
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
  |winner     = Liberal Party (UK)
  |swing      = 
}}
{{Election box end 1918}}

==Candidates==
The by-election was a straight fight between [[Isaac Burns]] for the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], the nominee of the [[Yorkshire Miners' Association]]<ref name="The Times, 7 August 1919 p7">The Times, 7 August 1919 p7</ref> and 50-year-old [[Walter Forrest]], a woollen manufacturer from [[Pudsey]] for the [[Coalition Government 1916-1922|Coalition Government]] of [[Prime Minister]] [[David Lloyd George]], although the Liberals apparently had some trouble in finding a candidate at first.<ref>The Times, 13 August 1919 p11</ref> The local [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]] endorsed the candidacy of their Coalition partners <ref>The Times, 12 August 1919 p12</ref> and the Independent [[H H Asquith|Asquithian]] Liberals did not bring a forward a candidate.

==Campaign==
===Labour===
The health of the coal mining industry was an issue which Isaac Burns particularly sought to make his own against the background of a coal strike taking place in the area.<ref>The Times, 27 August 1919 p12</ref> He was hampered by the fact that although coal mining was a major industry in the area, the principal colliery towns had been attached to other constituencies in boundary changes <ref>Edith Adelaide Harrison, ''English By-elections Since 1918: A Study of By-elections as an Index to Changes in Political Opinion;'' University of California, May, 1921 p79</ref> and mining was not necessarily decisive as there were many other interests in the constituency. Agriculture dominated around [[Barkston Ash]] and there was shipping and coastal trades around [[Goole]].<ref name="The Times, 7 August 1919 p7"/>  Many in these industries were adversely affected by the coal strike and were unsympathetic to Burns and Labour as a result.<ref name="The Times, 6 September 1919 p12">The Times, 6 September 1919 p12</ref> Burns stated he was in favour of a number of Labour policies including equal adult franchise for both sexes, pensions for mothers and free secondary education for all. He was in favour of widespread nationalisation of industry and a programme of public works to keep down unemployment. He also wanted Home Rule for Ireland and local government for India.<ref name="The Times, 29 August 1919 p10">The Times, 29 August 1919 p10</ref>

===Liberal===
Walter Forrest set out his position on a number of questions at his meetings of both the local Coalition Liberals and [[Conservative Party (UK)|Unionist]] parties.  He was opposed to the nationalisation of the coal mines and conscription, in favour of some relaxation of the liquor laws for the benefit of working men and improved welfare for men disabled in the war; he was also in favour of the full restoration of trade and commerce as soon as conditions allowed, to increase output and living standards.<ref>The Times, 18 August 1919 p7</ref> He also strongly advocated economy and retrenchment  <ref name="The Times, 29 August 1919 p10"/> but one of the Liberal MPs who visited the constituency to speak for him, [[Thomas James Macnamara|Dr T J Macnamara]] the [[Secretary to the Admiralty]], in a speech designed to protect the position of his Department and no doubt appeal to the patriotic feelings of working class and Unionist voters, was keen to point out that national security must take precedence over economy.<ref name="The Times, 6 September 1919 p12"/>

==Result==
Forrest retained the seat for the government but with a reduced majority.
[[File:Walter_Forrest.jpg|thumb|120px|Walter Forrest]]
{{Election box begin |
  |title=Pontefract by-election, 1919<ref name="S Craig, p520">F W S Craig, ''British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949''; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow, 1949 p520</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link coalition 1918|
  |party      = Liberal Party (UK)
  |candidate  = [[Walter Forrest]]
  |votes      = 9,920
  |percentage = 54.0
  |change     = -8.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Labour Party (UK)
  |candidate  = [[Isaac Burns]]
  |votes      = 8,445
  |percentage = 46.0
  |change     = +8.9
}}
{{Election box majority|
  |votes      = 1,475
  |percentage = 8.0
  |change     = -17.8
}}
{{Election box turnout|
  |votes      = 18,365
  |percentage = 61.5
  |change     = +15.9
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
  |winner     = Liberal Party (UK)
  |swing      = -8.9
}}
{{Election box end 1918}}

==See also==
*[[List of United Kingdom by-elections]]
*[[United Kingdom by-election records]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{By-elections to the 31st UK Parliament}}

[[Category:1919 elections in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:By-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom in West Yorkshire constituencies]]
[[Category:1919 in England]]
[[Category:Elections in Wakefield]]
[[Category:Pontefract]]
[[Category:1910s in Yorkshire]]
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