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Ministerial by-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom at Westminster were held from 1801 to the 1920s when a Member of Parliament (MP) was appointed as a minister in the government. Unlike most Westminster by-elections, ministerial by-elections were often a formality, uncontested by opposition parties. Re-election was required under the Succession to the Crown Act 1707.[1] This was in line with the principle established in 1624 that accepting an office of profit from the Crown would precipitate resignation from the House, with the option of standing for re-election.[2] Typically a minister sought re-election in the constituency he had just vacated, but occasionally contested another seat which was also vacant. In 1910 The Times newspaper noted that the relevant Act had been passed in the reign of Queen Anne "to prevent the Court from swamping the House of Commons with placemen and pensioners", and described the process as "anomalous" and "indefensible" in the 20th century.[3] The Re-Election of Ministers Act 1919 ended the necessity to seek re-election within nine months of a general election,[2] and the Re-Election of Ministers Act (1919) Amendment Act 1926 ended the practice in all other cases.[1][2]

Ministerial by-elections

34th Parliament (1924–1929)


31st Parliament (1919–1922)

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Uncontested

30th Parliament (August 1914 – 1918)

10th Parliament (1831–1832)

9th Parliament (1830–1831)

8th Parliament (1826–1830)

  1. ^ Lamb sought re-election at Bletchingley
  2. ^ Canning sought re-election at Seaford
  3. ^ Wetherell sought re-election at Plympton Erle

7th Parliament (1820–1826)

  1. ^ Canning sought re-election at Harwich

6th Parliament (1818–1820)

5th Parliament (1812–1818)

  1. ^ George Henry Rose sought re-election at Christchurch
  2. ^ Lowther sought re-election at Westmorland

4th Parliament (1807–1812)

  1. ^ Bathurst sought re-election at Bodmin
  2. ^ Vansittart sought re-election at East Grinstead
  3. ^ Richard Wellesley sought re-election at East Grinstead
  4. ^ Yorke sought re-election at St Germans

3rd Parliament (1806–1807)

  1. ^ Stopford sought re-election at Marlborough

2nd Parliament (1802–1806)

  1. ^ Petty sought re-election at Cambridge University
  2. ^ Dallas sought re-election at the Dysart Burghs
  3. ^ FitzHarris sought re-election at Horsham

1st Parliament (1801–1802)

See also

  • List of ministerial by-elections to the Parliament of Great Britain (pre-1801)

References

  1. ^ a b Boothroyd, David. "Causes of Byelections since the 'Reform Act'". United Kingdom Election Results. demon.co.uk. Archived from the original on 8 August 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  2. ^ a b c Sandford, Mark (18 July 2013). "SN/PC/06395 : Resignation from the House of Commons" (PDF). House of Commons Background Papers. Parliament and Constitution Centre. pp. 1, 4. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  3. ^ "Election Intelligence. Walthamstow., The Osborne Judgment". The Times. 12 October 1910. p. 10. Retrieved 30 August 2012.(subscription required)