1913 Kendal by-election

The 1913 Kendal by-election was a Parliamentary by-election held on 18 March 1913. The constituency returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system.

Vacancy

Josceline Bagot was twice returned as Conservative MP for Kendal (1892–1906 and 1910–1913), He died on 1 March 1913.

Previous result

General election December 1910 Electorate 6,546

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Josceline Bagot	3,041	52.7	−1.5
	Liberal	William Somervell	2,733	47.3	+1.5
Majority			308	5.4	−3.0
Turnout			5,774	88.2	−2.8
	Conservative hold		Swing	-1.5

Candidates

Somervell

John Weston was selected by the Unionists to defend the seat. The Liberals chose local man William Somervell who had stood here last time.

Result

Kendal by-election, 1913 Electorate

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Ind. Unionist	John Weston	3,261	54.9	+2.2
	Liberal	William Somervell	2,680	45.1	−2.2
Majority			581	9.8	+4.4
Turnout			5,941	90.4	+2.2
	Ind. Unionist gain from Unionist		Swing	+2.2

Somervell explained his defeat, and the doubling of the Unionist majority, by claiming that Weston (who stood as an Independent Unionist) had been elected because he was a ‘semi-Liberal’ and a popular local man.

Aftermath

Somervell was to enter parliament at a by-election in May 1918, holding a Liberal seat. Following boundary changes, Kendal was merged into the new Westmorland seat for the 1918 elections.

General election 14 December 1918: Westmorland Electorate 30,516

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Unionist	*John Weston	Unopposed	N/A	N/A
	Unionist win (new seat)

• Weston was endorsed by the Coalition Government.

References

• Craig, F. W. S. (1974). British parliamentary election results 1885-1918 (1 ed.). London: Macmillan.
• Who's Who: www.ukwhoswho.com
• Debrett's House of Commons 1916