1912 Glasgow St Rollox by-election

1912 Glasgow St Rollox by-election

26 February 1912
Registered	20,079
Turnout	82.63% ( 1.04%)
First party Second party   x160px LUP Candidate McKinnon Wood Frederick Alexander Macquisten Party Liberal Liberal Unionist Alliance Labour British Socialist Popular vote 8,530 8,061 Percentage 51.41% 48.59% Swing 4.34% 4.34%
MP before election McKinnon Wood Liberal Subsequent MP McKinnon Wood Liberal

The Glasgow St Rollox by-election was a Parliamentary by-election held on 26 February 1912. 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.

Previous result

General election December 1910: Glasgow St Rollox Electorate 19,918

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	McKinnon Wood	9,291	55.7	-3.7
	Liberal Unionist	Arthur Robert Chamberlayne	7,374	44.2	+3.7
Majority			1,917	11.5	-7.5
Turnout			16,665	82.6	-2.3
	Liberal hold		Swing	-3.7

Campaign

The British Socialist Party who were unable to organise themselves a candidate to contest the election, decided nevertheless to campaign in the constituency. They issued a leaflet and toured the various works, lecturing the voters. They were critical of the electoral alliance between the Liberal and Labour parties and called on the electors to vote for the Unionist Party candidate.

Result

1912 Glasgow St Rollox by-election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Thomas Wood	8,530	51.41	−4.34
	Liberal Unionist	Frederick Alexander Macquisten	8,061	48.59	+4.34
Majority			469	2.82	−8.68
Turnout			16,591	82.63	−1.04
Registered electors			20,079
	Liberal hold		Swing	−4.34

Aftermath

A General Election was due to take place by the end of 1915. By the autumn of 1914, the following candidates had been adopted to contest that election. Due to the outbreak of war, the election never took place

General Election 1914/15: Glasgow St Rollox Electorate 24,387

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	McKinnon Wood
	Unionist

General election 1918: St Rollox

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
C	Unionist	Gideon Oliphant-Murray	10,844	58.58	+14.33
	Labour	James Stewart	6,147	33.21	New
	Liberal	Thomas McKinnon Wood	1,521	8.22	−47.53
Majority			4,697	25.37	N/A
Turnout			18,512	48.16	−35.51
Registered electors			38,439
	Unionist gain from Liberal		Swing
C indicates candidate 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