1897 Deptford by-election

The 1897 Deptford by-election was held on 15 November 1897 following the appointment of the incumbent Conservative MP, Charles Darling as a judge of the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice.

Candidates

The Conservative Party candidate was Arthur Henry Aylmer Morton. Morton was the London County Council member for Rotherhithe and had contested Manchester North at the previous general election.

The Liberal Party candidate was John Benn. Benn was the London County Council member for Kennington, and had previously served on the council for Finsbury East.^[1] He had also served as Member of Parliament for Tower Hamlets, St George from 1892 to his defeat in 1895.

Result

1897 Deptford by-election^[2]^[3]^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Arthur Henry Aylmer Morton	5,317	51.6	−4.5
	Liberal	John Benn	4,993	48.4	+4.5
Majority			324	3.2	−9.0
Turnout			10,310	74.3	+1.3
Registered electors			13,868
	Conservative hold		Swing	−4.5

References

1. Willis, Alan; Woollard, John (2000). Twentieth Century Local Election Results Volume 1: Election Results For the London County Council (1889–1961) and London Metropolitan Boroughs (1900–1928). Plymouth: Local Government Chronicle Elections Centre.
2. Craig, F.W.S. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918. London and Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 12. ISBN 978-1-349-02300-4.
3. The Liberal Year Book for 1908. London: The Liberal Publication Department. 1908. pp. 240–241.
4. The Constitutional Year Book for 1919. London: National Unionist Association. 1919. p. 281.