1920 Ilford by-election

Last updated April 28, 2025

The Ilford by-election of 25 September 1920 was held after the death of the Coalition Unionist Member of Parliament Sir William Peter Griggs.^[1] The Coalition retained the seat in the by-election.^[1]

Candidates

Fredric Wise, a stockbroker, was the Coalition Unionist candidate.^[2]
Joseph King was the Labour candidate. He was a former Liberal MP for North Somerset.^[2]
Major John William Howard Thompson was the Liberal candidate. He was a former MP for East Somerset.^[2]

British Pathe has newsreel footage of the three candidates standing outside their election count. http://www.britishpathe.com/video/election-at-ilford/query/election

Result

Ilford by-election, 1920^[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
C	Unionist	Fredric Wise	15,612	54.38	−12.4
	Labour	Joseph King	6,577	22.91	+3.4
	Liberal	John Thompson	6,515	22.69	+8.9
Majority			9,035	31.47
Turnout			28,704
	Unionist hold		Swing
Cindicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

Aftermath

Wise was re-elected at the following General Election when Thompson again stood, but this time, beat the Labour candidate into third place.

1922 general election^[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Unionist	Fredric Wise	14,071	44.4	−10.0
	Liberal	John Thompson	7,625	24.0	+1.3
	Labour	Augustus West	5,414	17.1	−5.8
	Ind. Unionist	Frederick C. Bramston	4,610	14.5	New
Majority			6,446	20.4	−11.1
Turnout			31,720	70.5
	Unionist hold		Swing	-5.6

References

1 2 3 "Ilford Retained - Large Coalition Majority". News. The Times. No. 42537. London. 9 October 1920. col F, p. 10.
1 2 3 "Ilford By-Election - Unionist Candidate Chosen". News. The Times. No. 42497. London. 24 August 1920. col C, p. 7.
↑ F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1949

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[Times42537-1] 1 2 3 "Ilford Retained - Large Coalition Majority". News. The Times. No. 42537. London. 9 October 1920. col F, p. 10.

[Times42497-2] 1 2 3 "Ilford By-Election - Unionist Candidate Chosen". News. The Times. No. 42497. London. 24 August 1920. col C, p. 7.

[3] F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1949

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[2]

[3]

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1920 Ilford by-election

Contents

Candidates

Result

Aftermath

See also

References