
Journal of Liberal History
For the discussion and research of Liberal, Liberal Democrat and SDP history
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Liberals and Trade Unions: The General Strike of 1926
June 29, 2026 / 18:00
On This Day
01 July 1912
Jack Seeley wins the Ilkeston by-election
Seeley defeated his Conservative opponent by 1,211 votes. The election was caused by Seeley’s appointment as Secretary of State for War which, under the rules of the time, required him to resign and seek re-election. He faced the same Conservative rival, W M Freeman, as he had in December 1910 when he achieved a majority of 4,044 reflecting the fading popularity of the Liberal administration which had been in office since 1905. Seeley was a former Tory, friends with Winston Churchill, and they both defected to the Liberals in 1904. He had to resign as War Secretary in 1914 over the Curragh Mutiny but saw active service throughout the Great War winning several medals and five mentions in despatches.
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