1913 Kendal by-election


The 1913 Kendal by-election was a Parliamentary by-election held on 18 March 1913. The constituency returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system.

Vacancy

Josceline Bagot was twice returned as Conservative MP for Kendal, He died on 1 March 1913.

Candidates

John Weston was selected by the Unionists to defend the seat.
The Liberals chose local man William Somervell who had stood here last time.

Result

Somervell explained his defeat, and the doubling of the Unionist majority, by claiming that Weston had been elected because he was a ‘semi-Liberal’ and a popular local man.

Aftermath

Somervell was to enter parliament at a by-election in May 1918, holding a Liberal seat.
Following boundary changes, Kendal was merged into the new Westmorland seat for the 1918 elections.