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Whitechapel (UK Parliament constituency) facts for kids

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Whitechapel was a special area in East London that had its own representative in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. This area was called a parliamentary constituency. From 1885 to 1918, people living in Whitechapel voted for one person to be their Member of Parliament (MP). This MP would then go to the House of Commons to speak for the people of Whitechapel.

Understanding Whitechapel's Place in Parliament

This special voting area was created by a law called the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885. It started in 1885 for the general election that year. It stopped being a separate voting area in 1918, just before the general election of 1918.

Where Was Whitechapel Located?

Whitechapel is a historic part of Middlesex, a county in England. It was located in the far east of this county, right on the north side of the River Thames.

The Whitechapel voting area was surrounded by other similar areas:

From 1889, Whitechapel became part of the larger administrative area known as the County of London. Then, in 1900, it became part of the Metropolitan Borough of Stepney. When the voting areas were changed again in 1918, Whitechapel joined with another area to form a new constituency called Whitechapel and St George's.

Who Represented Whitechapel?

The people who represented Whitechapel in Parliament were called Members of Parliament (MPs). They were elected by the voters in the Whitechapel constituency.

Here are the MPs who represented Whitechapel:

Election Member Party
1885 Sir Samuel Montagu, Bt Liberal
1900 Sir Stuart Samuel, Bt Liberal
1916 by-election James Kiley Liberal
1918 constituency abolished: see Whitechapel and St George's

Election Results for Whitechapel

Decades:

During its time, the Whitechapel constituency was mainly represented by the Liberal Party. They won most of the elections held here.

Elections in the 1880s

The first election for Whitechapel was in 1885. Samuel Montagu won for the Liberal Party. He won again in 1886.

General election 1885: Whitechapel
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Samuel Montagu 2,353 54.4
Conservative Phineas Cowan 1,972 45.6
Majority 381 8.8
Turnout 4,325 70.4
Registered electors 6,140
Liberal win (new seat)
General election 1886: Whitechapel
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Samuel Montagu 2,179 57.8 +3.4
Conservative William Le Poer Trench 1,592 42.2 -3.4
Majority 587 15.6 +6.8
Turnout 3,771 61.4 -9.0
Registered electors 6,140
Liberal hold Swing +3.4

Elections in the 1890s

Samuel Montagu continued to win elections for Whitechapel in the 1890s.

General election 1892: Whitechapel
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Samuel Montagu 2,327 56.4 -1.4
Conservative William Le Poer Trench 1,800 43.6 +1.4
Majority 527 12.8 -2.8
Turnout 4,127 71.0 +9.6
Registered electors 5,813
Liberal hold Swing -1.4
General election 1895: Whitechapel
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Samuel Montagu 2,009 50.4 -6.0
Conservative Sir William Henry Porter, 2nd Baronet 1,977 49.6 +6.0
Majority 32 0.8 -12.0
Turnout 3,986 68.0 -3.0
Registered electors 5,864
Liberal hold Swing -6.0

Elections in the 1900s

In 1900, Stuart Samuel took over as the Liberal MP for Whitechapel. He also won the election in 1906.

General election 1900: Whitechapel
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Stuart Samuel 1,679 51.1 +0.7
Conservative David Hope Kyd 1,608 48.9 -0.7
Majority 71 2.2 +1.4
Turnout 3,287 65.7 -2.3
Registered electors 5,004
Liberal hold Swing +0.7
General election 1906: Whitechapel
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Stuart Samuel 1,925 55.1 +4.0
Conservative David Hope Kyd 1,569 44.9 -4.0
Majority 356 10.2 +8.0
Turnout 3,494 81.7 +16.0
Registered electors 4,279
Liberal hold Swing +4.0

Elections in the 1910s

Stuart Samuel continued to represent Whitechapel in the early 1910s. In 1916, James Kiley became the MP in a special election called a by-election. This was the last MP for Whitechapel before the constituency was changed.

General election January 1910: Whitechapel
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Stuart Samuel 1,963 58.3 +3.2
Conservative Weir Greenlees 1,402 41.7 -3.2
Majority 561 16.6 +6.4
Turnout 3,365
Liberal hold Swing +3.2
General election December 1910: Whitechapel
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Stuart Samuel 1,731 59.2 +0.9
Conservative Edgar Monteagle Browne 1,191 40.8 -0.9
Majority 540 18.4 +1.8
Turnout 2,922
Liberal hold Swing +0.9
1913 Whitechapel by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Stuart Samuel 1,722 52.5 -6.7
Unionist Edgar Monteagle Browne 1,556 47.5 +6.7
Majority 166 5.0 -13.4
Turnout 3,278
Liberal hold Swing -6.7

General Election 1914–15:

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by the autumn of 1914, the following candidates had been selected;

  • Liberal: Stuart Samuel
  • Unionist:
1916 Whitechapel by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James Kiley Unopposed
Liberal hold

Images for kids

  • Sir Samuel Montagu

    Samuel Montagu, the first MP for Whitechapel.

  • Stuart Samuel

    Stuart Samuel, who also served as Whitechapel's MP.

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