1907 Banffshire by-election

The 1907 Banffshire by-election was a Parliamentary by-election held on 16 February 1907.[1] 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

[edit]

The by-election was held due to the death of the incumbent Liberal MP, Alexander William Black on 29 December 1906. He died from injuries received in the Elliot Junction rail accident,[2] forcing a by-election early in 1907.[3]

## Electoral history

[edit]

Black had been Liberal MP for the seat of Banffshire since the 1900 General Election. The seat had been Liberal since they gained it in 1837. They had easily held the seat at the last election, with an increased majority;

Alexander Black General Election 1906: Banffshire[4] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Alexander William Black | 4,101  | 68.3  | +15.5
| Conservative | James Augustus Grant | 1,901  | 31.7  | −15.5
Majority  | 2,200  | 36.6  | +31.0
Turnout | 6,002  | 73.9  | +9.7
| Liberal hold | Swing | +15.5  |

## Candidates

[edit]

The local Liberal Association selected 31-year-old Walter Waring to defend the seat. Waring was the son of Charles Waring, former Liberal Member of Parliament for Poole. He was unsuccessful Liberal candidate in Wigtonshire in the 1906 general election. The Conservatives chose 39-year-old William Whitelaw as their candidate. Whitelaw was elected at the 1892 general election as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Perth, but lost his seat at the 1895 general election and was defeated when he stood again in 1900.[3] He was a director of the Highland Railway (HR) since 1898,[5] and Chairman of the HR since 1902.

## Campaign

[edit]

Polling Day was fixed for 16 February 1907.

## Result

[edit]

The Liberals held the seat with a slightly reduced majority;

Walter Waring 1907 Banffshire by-election[6] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Walter Waring | 3,901  | 67.3  | −1.0
| Conservative | William Whitelaw | 1,892  | 32.7  | +1.0
Majority  | 2,009  | 34.6  | −2.0
Turnout | 5,793  | 70.8  | −3.1
| Liberal hold | Swing | -1.0  |

The Liberal vote share of 67.3%, though less than in 1906, was higher than any other Liberal vote share since before 1885.

## Aftermath

[edit]

Waring was re-elected at the following general election against a new Conservative opponent;

General Election Jan 1910: Banffshire  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Walter Waring | 4,066  | 66.4  | −1.9
| Conservative | James Crabb Watt  | 2,053  | 33.6  | +1.9
Majority  | 2,013  | 32.8  | −3.8
Turnout | 6,119  | 74.8  | +0.9
| Liberal hold | Swing | -1.9  |

Whitelaw did not stand for parliament again.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Craig, F.W.S. (1987). Chronology of British Parliamentary By-elections 1833–1987. Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 101.
2. ^ "Election Intelligence. Banffshire". The Times. London. 31 December 1906. p. 9.
3. ^ a b Craig, F. W. S. (1989) [1974]. British parliamentary election results 1885–1918 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 518\. ISBN 0-900178-27-2.
4. ^ Whitaker's Almanack, 1907
5. ^ Hughes, Geoffrey (1987) [1986]. LNER. London: Guild Publishing/Book Club Associates. p. 14\. CN 1455.
6. ^ The Times, 19 Feb 1907

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