Mid Ulster by-election, 1955
Encyclopedia
The by-election
held in Mid Ulster
on 11 August 1955 was called as a result of a vote in the British parliament on 18 July 1955 which voted 197 votes to 63 to nullify the result of the previous 1955 UK General Election
in the constituency. At that election, Sinn Féin
candidate Tom Mitchell took the seat.
In the by-election, Mitchell managed to retain the seat with an increase in the number of votes.
In the aftermath of the election, the defeated Unionist candidate successfully lodged a petition to have Mitchell, a convicted felon, removed as Member of Parliament
(MP). The seat was subsequently given to Charles Beattie
. However, as Beattie was at the time of his appointment a member of an appeals tribunal, considered "offices of profit under the Crown", the British House of Commons
ruled that this disqualified him from the office of MP.
This led to the Mid Ulster by-election, 1956
.
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
held in Mid Ulster
Mid Ulster (UK Parliament constituency)
Mid Ulster is a Parliamentary Constituency in the British House of Commons.-Boundaries:The constituency was created in 1950 when the old two-seat constituency of Fermanagh and Tyrone was abolished as part of the final move to single member seats...
on 11 August 1955 was called as a result of a vote in the British parliament on 18 July 1955 which voted 197 votes to 63 to nullify the result of the previous 1955 UK General Election
United Kingdom general election, 1955
The 1955 United Kingdom general election was held on 26 May 1955, four years after the previous general election. It resulted in a substantially increased majority of 60 for the Conservative government under new leader and prime minister Sir Anthony Eden against Labour Party, now in their 20th year...
in the constituency. At that election, Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
candidate Tom Mitchell took the seat.
In the by-election, Mitchell managed to retain the seat with an increase in the number of votes.
In the aftermath of the election, the defeated Unionist candidate successfully lodged a petition to have Mitchell, a convicted felon, removed as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP). The seat was subsequently given to Charles Beattie
Charles Beattie
Charles Beattie was a Northern Irish farmer and auctioneer. Active in the Ulster Farmers' Union and in Unionist associations, he achieved senior office in the Orange Order and the Royal Black Institution and served on Omagh Rural District Council from 1952 until his death...
. However, as Beattie was at the time of his appointment a member of an appeals tribunal, considered "offices of profit under the Crown", the British House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
ruled that this disqualified him from the office of MP.
This led to the Mid Ulster by-election, 1956
Mid Ulster by-election, 1956
The by-election held in Mid Ulster on 8 May 1956 was called because both candidates in the Mid Ulster by-election, 1955 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...
.