List of ministerial by-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom


Ministerial by-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom at Westminster were held from 1801 to the 1920s when a Member of Parliament 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. 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. 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. The Re-Election of Ministers Act 1919 ended the necessity to seek re-election within nine months of a general election, and the Re-Election of Ministers Act Amendment Act 1926 ended the practice in all other cases.

Ministerial by-elections

30th Parliament (December 1910 – July 1914)

!By-election !! Date !! Incumbent !! colspan=2 | Party !! Winner !! colspan=2 | Party !! Position

29th Parliament (January 1910 – December 1910)

!By-election !! Date !! Incumbent !! colspan=2 | Party !! Winner !! colspan=2 | Party !! Position

28th Parliament (1906 – January 1910)

!By-election !! Date !! Incumbent !! colspan=2 | Party !! Winner !! colspan=2 | Party !! Position

27th Parliament (1900–1906)

!By-election !! Date !! Incumbent !! colspan=2 | Party !! Winner !! colspan=2 | Party !! Position

26th Parliament (1895–1900)

!By-election !! Date !! Incumbent !! colspan=2 | Party !! Winner !! colspan=2 | Party !! Position

25th Parliament (1892–1895)

!By-election !! Date !! Incumbent !! colspan=2 | Party !! Winner !! colspan=2 | Party !! Position

24th Parliament (1886–1892)

!By-election !! Date !! Incumbent !! colspan=2 | Party !! Winner !! colspan=2 | Party !! Position

23rd Parliament (1885–1886)

!By-election !! Date !! Incumbent !! colspan=2 | Party !! Winner !! colspan=2 | Party !! Position

22nd Parliament (1880–1885)

!By-election !! Date !! Former incumbent !! colspan=2 | Party !! Winner !! colspan=2 | Party !! Position

21st Parliament (1874–1880)

!By-election !! Date !! Former incumbent !! colspan=2 | Party !! Winner !! colspan=2 | Party !! Position

20th Parliament (1868–1874)

!By-election !! Date !! Former incumbent !! colspan=2 | Party !! Winner !! colspan=2 | Party !! Position

19th Parliament (1865–1868)

!By-election !! Date !! Former incumbent !! colspan=2 | Party !! Winner !! colspan=2 | Party !! Position

18th Parliament (1859–1865)

!By-election !! Date !! Former incumbent !! colspan=2 | Party !! Winner !! colspan=2 | Party !! Position

17th Parliament (1857–1859)

!By-election !! Date !! Former incumbent !! colspan=2 | Party !! Winner !! colspan=2 | Party !! Position

16th Parliament (1852–1857)

!By-election !! Date !! Former incumbent !! colspan=2 | Party !! Winner !! colspan=2 | Party !! Position

15th Parliament (1847–1852)

!By-election !! Date !! Former incumbent !! colspan=2 | Party !! Winner !! colspan=2 | Party !! Position

14th Parliament (1841–1847)

!By-election !! Date !! Former incumbent !! colspan=2 | Party !! Winner !! colspan=2 | Party !! Position

13th Parliament (1837–1841)

!By-election !! Date !! Former incumbent !! colspan=2 | Party !! Winner !! colspan=2 | Party !! Position

12th Parliament (1835–1837)

!By-election !! Date !! Former incumbent !! colspan=2 | Party !! Winner !! colspan=2 | Party !! Position

11th Parliament (1832–1834)

!By-election !! Date !! Former incumbent !! colspan=2 | Party !! Winner !! colspan=2 | Party !! Position