1909 Taunton by-election

1909 Taunton by-election

23 February 1909

Candidate Peel Smith Party Conservative Labour Popular vote 1,976 1,085 Percentage 64.6% 35.4%

MP before election Sir Edward Boyle Conservative Subsequent MP William Peel Conservative

The 1909 Taunton by-election was held on 23 February 1909. The by-election was held due to the ill health of the incumbent Conservative MP, Edward Boyle. It was won by the Conservative candidate William Peel, previously the MP for Manchester South. Peel was the son of Arthur Peel, 1st Viscount Peel, a former Liberal MP and Speaker of the House of Commons, and the grandson of former Prime Minister Robert Peel.

Peel

Taunton by-election, 1909

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	William Peel	1,976	64.6	+9.5
	Labour	Frank Smith	1,085	35.4	New
Majority			891	29.2	+19.0
Turnout			3,061	80.4	-12.8
	Conservative hold		Swing	N/A