BRITISH POLITICS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 378, 28 April 1908, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS.

Winston Churchill Defeated. London, April 25. Mr Winston Churchill (recently appointed President of the Board of Trade) was defeated by Mr Joyuson Hicks (Unionist) at the Manchester by-election. The voting resulted : Hicks, 5417 ; Churchill 4988 ; Irving (Labour), 276. The total of 11,914 electors on the roll included 503 new electors. The chief surprise was the smallness of the Socialist vote. The Unionist-Freetraders, excepting a small handful, voted solid for Churchill. Remarkable scenes were witnessed at Manchester, Liverpool, London and other cities in connection with Mr Churchill’s defeat and the excitement equalled that of last general election. Mr Churchill admitted it was a heavy, hitter and crushing blow for Freetrade, and it carried disastrous consequences to Lancashire interests. He left Manchester without a spark of hatred. There was great cheering over the result in Loudon music halls and theatres. A notable fact was that Mr Asquith sent Mr Churchill no letter of encouragement during the election. This is interpreted to mean that he did not wish to be identified with some of Mr Churchill’s pledges. Fighty-nine per cent, of the electors voted. This is a record. The Times says the victory is signal and significant. Even Home Rule was subordinated to Tariff Reform. The Manchester Guardian says the business centre of Manchester has struck a damaging blow to Free-trade, which must have wide and far-reaching effects. Mr Hicks admits that many supported him who disagreed with his fiscal views. The Liberals of Dundee have invited Mr Churchill to stand for that seat.