1905 Elgin Burghs by-election

TheElgin Burghsby-electionwas aParliamentary by-electionheld on 8 September 1905.The constituency returned oneMember of Parliament(MP) to theHouse of Commons of the United Kingdom,elected by thefirst past the postvoting system.

Vacancy

Alexander Asherhad been Liberal MP for the seat ofElgin Burghssince the1881 Elgin Burghs by-election.He died on 5 August 1905, causing a by-election.

Electoral history

The seat had been Liberal since the party was founded in 1859. They easily held the seat at the last election, with a comfortable majority;

Alexander Asher

General election 1900:Elgin Burghs Electorate 4,535

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Alexander Asher	1,744	59.5	−2.0
	Conservative	John Moffat	1,187	40.5	+2.0
Majority			557	19.0	−4.0
Turnout			2,931	64.6	−3.3
	Liberalhold		Swing

Candidates

• On 17 August the local Liberal Association selected 51-year-oldJohn Sutherlandas their candidate to defend the seat.He had not stood for Parliament before. He was born in nearbyLossiemouth.He was educated atAberdeen University.He was a partner in the firm of J & P Sutherland, fish curers ofPortsoy.
• The local Conservative Association selected 52-year-oldPatrick Rose-Innesas their candidate to gain the seat.He also had not stood for Parliament before. He was born in Aberdeenshire and educated atAberdeen University.He had been a barrister since 1878.

Campaign

Polling day was fixed for 8 September 1905, 34 days after the death of the previous MP.

Result

There was a large swing of over 11% to the Liberals who comfortably held the seat:

Elgin Burghs by-election, 1905 Electorate 4,748

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	John Sutherland	2,474	70.8	+11.3
	Conservative	Patrick Rose-Innes	1,021	29.2	−11.3
Majority			1,458	41.6	+22.6
Turnout			3,495	73.6	+9.0
	Liberalhold		Swing	+11.3

The result was the biggest victory that the Liberals had ever had in the constituency.

Aftermath

Sutherland was re-elected at the following General Election. The result was:

General election 1906:Elgin Burghs Electorate 4,867

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	John Sutherland	2,742	77.7	+6.9
	Conservative	E.N.B. Mackenzie	786	22.3	−6.9
Majority			1,956	55.4	+13.8
Turnout			3,528	72.5	−1.1
	Liberalhold		Swing	+6.9

Rose-Innes was not his opponent and instead contestedWest Lothianin 1906, the1907 Jarrow by-electionandMiddletonin 1910 without success. Sutherland remained as the MP until his death in 1918.