1908 Stirling Burghs by-election


The Stirling Burghs by-election was a Parliamentary by-election. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system. The by-election was caused by the death of the former Liberal Prime Minister, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman

Vacancy

Sir Henry had been a Liberal MP for the seat of Stirling Burghs since the 1868 general election. Following a series of heart attacks, he resigned as Prime Minister on 3 April 1908. He died on 22 April 1908 at the age of 72.

Electoral history

The seat was safe for the Liberals. Sir Henry had not been opposed at the last election. The last contested election was the election before when his majority had been halved;

Candidates

Polling Day was fixed for the 22 May 1908, one month after the death of Sir Henry.
All the newspapers dwelt on the court connections of Ponsonby's father and brother, and of his having been a page to Queen Victoria. The electors were fascinated by an advanced radical with such an impeccable upper class, not to say royal, background.

Result

The Liberals held the seat and managed a slightly increased majority;
Ponsonby derived some benefit from the general atmosphere of a miniature general election that surrounded the by-elections of Asquith's new ministers.

Aftermath