Clapham by-election, 1918
Encyclopedia
The Clapham by-election, 1918 was a by-election
held on 21 June 1918 for the British House of Commons
constituency
of Clapham
in South London
.
The by-election was triggered by the elevation to the peerage of the serving Conservative Party
Member of Parliament
(MP), George Faber.
The Unionist
(Conservative) candidate was Harry Greer
. With the wartime coalition
still in office, there was no other candidate from the major parties. However, Henry Hamilton Beamish
, a member of the extremist Vigilante Society, ran as an independent with the support of the right-wing MP Noel Pemberton Billing
.
The main issue in the by-election was Beamish's demand for the denaturalization and internment of all citizens of enemy countries in the United Kingdom, the closure of all foreign banks, and the wearing of a badge by all foreign aliens. Greer expressed the view that 'stronger measures were necessary' and published a letter from the Prime Minister, who said he was 'determined to take whatever action is shown to be necessary'. The Times reported unexpected support for Beamish in areas which were normally predominantly Conservative. The result was a substantial but not huge majority for Greer.
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
held on 21 June 1918 for the British House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
constituency
United Kingdom constituencies
In the United Kingdom , each of the electoral areas or divisions called constituencies elects one or more members to a parliament or assembly.Within the United Kingdom there are now five bodies with members elected by constituencies:...
of Clapham
Clapham (UK Parliament constituency)
Clapham was a borough constituency in South London which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
in South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
.
The by-election was triggered by the elevation to the peerage of the serving Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP), George Faber.
The Unionist
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
(Conservative) candidate was Harry Greer
Harry Greer
Sir Harry Greer was a British businessman and Conservative politician.He was elected Member of Parliament for Clapham in a by-election in 1918. However, in the general election of that year he contested, and won, the constituency of Wells. He held the seat until the next election in 1922...
. With the wartime coalition
Coalition Government 1916-1922
The Coalition Government of David Lloyd George came to power in the United Kingdom in December 1916, replacing the earlier wartime coalition under H.H. Asquith, which had been held responsible for reverses during the Great War. Those Liberals who continued to support Asquith served as the Opposition...
still in office, there was no other candidate from the major parties. However, Henry Hamilton Beamish
Henry Hamilton Beamish
Henry Hamilton Beamish was a leading British antisemite and the founder of The Britons.The son of an admiral who had served as an A.D.C...
, a member of the extremist Vigilante Society, ran as an independent with the support of the right-wing MP Noel Pemberton Billing
Noel Pemberton Billing
Noel Pemberton Billing was an English aviator, inventor, publisher, and Member of Parliament. He founded the firm that became Supermarine and promoted air power, but he held a strong antipathy towards the Royal Aircraft Factory and its products...
.
The main issue in the by-election was Beamish's demand for the denaturalization and internment of all citizens of enemy countries in the United Kingdom, the closure of all foreign banks, and the wearing of a badge by all foreign aliens. Greer expressed the view that 'stronger measures were necessary' and published a letter from the Prime Minister, who said he was 'determined to take whatever action is shown to be necessary'. The Times reported unexpected support for Beamish in areas which were normally predominantly Conservative. The result was a substantial but not huge majority for Greer.
Votes
See also
- List of United Kingdom by-elections
- Clapham constituencyClapham (UK Parliament constituency)Clapham was a borough constituency in South London which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...