War-time electoral pact facts for kids

The war-time electoral pact was a special agreement made by political parties in the United Kingdom. This happened during big wars, like World War I and World War II. The main idea was to work together instead of fighting each other in elections while the country was at war.

What Was the War-Time Electoral Pact?

The war-time electoral pact was an agreement between the main political parties. These parties were part of the government at the time, which was a "coalition government." A coalition government is when different political parties join together to rule, especially during a crisis like a war.

How the Pact Worked

The pact was mostly about special elections called by-elections. A by-election happens when a Member of Parliament (MP) leaves their job before the next general election. This could be because they retired, resigned, or for other reasons.

Under the pact, if a by-election happened, only the political party that already held that seat in Parliament would put forward a candidate. The other parties in the coalition government would agree not to put forward their own candidates. This meant that the by-election would often have only one candidate, or at least fewer candidates from the main parties.

Why Have a Pact During War?

The main reason for this pact was to keep the country united during wartime. Political parties wanted to focus on winning the war, not on fighting each other in elections. It helped show that the government was strong and working together.

Impact of the Pact

This agreement had some interesting effects on elections.

Unopposed Elections

Because the main parties stood aside, many by-elections had only one candidate. When there's only one candidate, they win automatically without anyone voting. These are called unopposed by-elections. It meant less campaigning and less political fighting during a difficult time for the country.

Rise of Third Parties

Sometimes, the pact also led to surprising wins for smaller parties. Since the big parties weren't running against each other, smaller parties or independent candidates (people not part of a big party) had a better chance. They could sometimes win seats that they normally wouldn't. This showed that even with the pact, people still had choices, and new voices could be heard.

When the Pact Ended

The agreement was very strong during both World War I and World War II. However, it didn't last forever.

Breaking the Truce in World War I

In June 1918, near the end of World War I, the Labour Party decided to stop following the pact. They felt it was time for them to start putting forward their own candidates again. Even though they broke the agreement, no Labour candidates actually ran in by-elections before the big general election later that year.

The war-time electoral pact was an important part of how British politics worked during two major global conflicts. It showed how parties could put aside their differences to focus on a national goal.