1956 Mid Ulster by-election

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The 1956 by-election held in Mid Ulster on 8 May 1956 [1] was called because both candidates in the 1955 Mid Ulster by-election were disqualified. Tom Mitchell was disqualified from assuming office because he was a convicted felon. Charles Beattie was awarded the seat but he was also disqualified because he held an office of profit under the Crown. [2] The by-election was won by the Independent Unionist candidate George Forrest. [3]

Contents

Background

In the aftermath of the 1955 Mid Ulster by-election, the defeated Unionist candidate Charles Beattie successfully lodged an election petition to have the winner Tom Mitchell removed as MP for being ineligible due to being a convicted felon serving a prison sentence. The seat was subsequently given to Beattie with the votes for Mitchell being treated as been "thrown away". [4] However, it later emerged that at the time of the election, Beattie was a member of an appeals tribunal, considered an "office of profit under the Crown". As a result, the House of Commons voted in favour of the Attorney-General for Northern Ireland's motion that this disqualified him from the office of MP and vacated the seat. [2] As a result, another by-election was called for Mid Ulster in 1956. [5]

Campaign

George Forrest stood as an Independent Unionist Candidate. Sinn Fein announced that Mitchell would be contesting the seat again. The Irish Anti-Partition League stood Michael O'Neill as their candidate for the election. This had the effect of splitting the Nationalist vote, which resulted in Forrest being elected as the MP for Mid Ulster. [6]

Result

1956 Mid Ulster by-election [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Ind. Unionist George Forrest 28,605 48.36 New
Sinn Féin Tom Mitchell 24,12440.78−9.92
Anti-Partition Michael O'Neill 6,42110.86New
Majority 4,4817.58N/A
Turnout 59,15088.43−0.17
Registered electors 66,891
Ind. Unionist gain from Sinn Féin Swing

Aftermath

Forrest would retain the Mid Ulster seat at each subsequent election until 1968 when he died. [3]

References

  1. "1956 By Election Results". Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Elections, Mid-Ulster". Hansard. 7 February 1956. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Mr George Forrest, former MP, Mid-Ulster". TheyWorkForYou. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  4. "Election Petition Trials, Northern Ireland". Hansard. 25 October 1955. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  5. "Mid-Ulster 1950-1970". Ark. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  6. Edmonds, Sean (1971). The Gun, the Law, and the Irish People. Anvil Press. p. 187. ISBN   9780900068171.
  7. "1956 By Election Results". Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2015.