Winslow History | General election, 1900

General election, 1900

In the 1895 General Election the Conservative, W.W. Carlile of Gayhurst, defeated the Liberal, Herbert Leon of Bletchley Park, by 5,266 votes to 4,830. The 1900 election, the first "Khaki Election" as it took place during the Boer War, resulted in another comfortable Conservative majority, mainly because 163 of their seats were uncontested. That nearly happened in the North Bucks constituency, but Hon. Hubert Beaumont stood belatedly for the Liberals. It was another quiet election in Winslow.

1900: Buckingham Express, 29 Sep
THE ELECTION.- The Conservative sub-agent for this district is Mr. Terry and their committee rooms are at Mr. Russell’s [3 High Street]. The Liberal sub-agent is Mr. E. H. Laurence, of Buckingham, and the committee rooms are at the late Mrs. Hill’s house [not identified].

1900: Bicester Herald, 5 Oct
MR. BEAUMONT’S CANDIDATURE.
MEETING AT WINSLOW.
Mr. Beaumont met with an enthusiastic reception on Saturday night at the Centenary Hall. On the platform were the Rev. H. K. Byard (who took the chair), Rev. A. E. T. Newman, vicar of Grandborough, Mr. Edwin J. French, and a number of ladies, whilst in the body of the hall there was a large attendance, including villagers from Marston, Grandborough, Horwood, East Claydon, etc., as well as a fair number of Conservatives.- The Chairman, in opening the meeting, criticised very severely Mr. Carlile’s election address, and said the constituency were still wanting the fulfilment of the promises made by Mr. Carlile at the last election, asking the working men in the audience if the promise of “better times” had been carried out. The answer was “No.”- Mr. Beaumont made a stirring speech, which was frequently applauded… [after the responses] Mr. Beaumont briefly returned thanks and then left for another meeting at Botolph Claydon.- The Rev. A. E. T. Newman then gave a stirring address asking the meeting to support the Liberal party, which had done in the past and was pledged to do in the future all that it could to lessen the inequalities of social life, to secure for each man not only a large wage but also that he should earn enough to enable him to provide against old age- in short, to make “a Merry England” of it again…

Result:
Carlile (Conservative) 5,101
Beaumont (Liberal) 4,684

1900: Buckingham Advertiser, 13 Oct
THE ELECTION passed off with less excitement than usual, although there was a heavy poll of about 520. Every one seemed good tempered, and beyond a little shouting there was nothing out of the common on Tuesday evening. Conveyances were plentiful on both sides, but many preferred to walk. Mr. Reader was the presiding officer at the polls,assisted by Mr. G. Pass. Mr. Hugh Ray represented the Conservatives and Mr. E. R. Midgley the Liberals.