The 1924 Dover by-election was held on 12 March 1924, but only one candidate, the incumbent Conservative MP, John Jacob Astor, was nominated and so was returned unopposed.
Astor had been most recently elected to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom in the general election on 6 December 1923 but had not yet taken the oath of allegiance, required by the Parliamentary Oaths Act 1866 to be taken after each election. Speaking or voting in the House before taking the oath meant that not only would the Member be fined £500, their seat would also be vacated "as if he were dead", so prompting a by-election. On 4 March, as Astor explained in a letter to his local newspaper, he inadvertently walked through the division lobby to vote whilst engaged in conversation with fellow MPs. Accordingly, the Speaker issued a warrant for a writ for a new election on 6 March.
The by-election was held on 12 March as only one candidate, Astor, was nominated. Astor took the oath the next day. This was the most recent time a by-election has been caused by a Member speaking or voting before taking the oath.
References
- ^ Michael Everett; Danielle Nash (26 February 2016). "The Parliamentary Oath (CBP7515)" (PDF). House of Commons Library.
- "Prospects of a Dover Election". Parliament. The Times. London. 7 March 1924. col G, p. 7.
- HC Deb, 6 March 1924 c1563
- Cook, Dr Chris; Cook, Chris; Ramsden, John (5 November 2013). By-Elections in British Politics. Taylor & Francis. p. 58. ISBN 9781134225491 – via Google books.
- "13th March". Journal of the House of Commons. 179: 89. 1924.
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- 1924 in England
- History of Dover, Kent
- 1924 elections in the United Kingdom
- By-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom in Kent constituencies
- Unopposed by-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom (need citation)
- 1920s in Kent
- By-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom in English constituency stubs