election election held april somerset following succession incumbent death father 2nd baron lord brothers stood candidate elected majority votes considered election area conservative stronghold liberals decided order generate discussion issue home rule ireland agreement conservative policy maintain governmental control ireland pass acts reduce country lost previous elections favour powers ireland background vacancy nominations general election held seat parliament unopposed april father 1st baron died result succeeded entering house_of_lords peer left parliamentary consistency vacant offered brother commonly known chance contest vacancy initially reported contest seat conservative candidate meeting local executive reach consensus believed area strongly conservative large loss damaging party wanted generate debate home rule despite executive selecting preferred candidate town mayor declared stand conservatives led concern party split votes result liberal candidate elected later withdrew candidacy leaving conservative sole representative initial uncertainty liberals opted electorate opportunity views home rule chose london candidate candidates alfred seventh youngest son 1st baron time election resident accompanied brother time office occasionally represented town noted dinner great impression breadth view indicated speech partner bass largest brewers world commonly born devon second son previously stood general election south king election year losing described candidate elaborated past election performances commented accustomed acting political home rule home rule key issue british politics late 1880s debate revolved granting ireland powers govern liberal prime minister proposed home rule bill april aiming power ireland conservatives opposed bill joined number liberal members defeating bill caused split creation fresh general election year general election conservatives entered government lord prime minister formed majority election campaign meeting formally nominated party candidate situation ireland called people disapproved murders common ireland prepared hand crimes government island initially campaign heavily father leave stating support conservative government position administration ireland noted views mirrored brother previous campaigning drew parallels bill introduced proposed opposed accused claimed support home rule understand meant spoke hope crimes bill passed belief end misery distress ireland nomination liberal candidate spoke entire proposals meeting shortly resolution raised fellow liberal member protesting attempt impose ireland highlighted corrupt practices act appealed party members avoid engaging corruption remain honourable times spoke length virtues described sad history ireland english rule following monday travelled london demonstrations election drew close issued statement deposited local bank split rewards people presented evidence corruption election led conviction set aside possible petition election result sides adopted election conservatives called people vote liberty liberals vote cartoons distributed liberals illustrating recent ireland reaction conservatives posted pictures brutal recently committed country result vote held saturday april open hours morning seven polling stations busy market day reported party colours sides display conservative blue tri colour liberals campaigning continued day conducted civil manner hours voting announced constituency voted conservatives declared leading ratio bad weather middle day caused voting polls busy afternoon weather cleared town worked half day based polling day conservatives continued claim victory afternoon votes counted results announced quarter past evening received votes granting majority spoke briefly praise returning officer called speech speech thanked people gently mocked money banked case corruption aftermath despite initial suggestions petition lodged result including strong assertion mall gazette petition eventually abandoned entered parliament 18th new member parliament elected general election served member general election
Taunton by-election, 1887