1918 Flinders by-election

A by-election was held for the Australian House of Representatives seat of Flinders on 11 May 1918. This was triggered by the resignation of Nationalist MP Sir William Irvine to become Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria.

1918 Flinders by-election

11 May 1918
  First party Second party
 
ALP
Candidate Stanley Bruce Gordon Holmes
Party Nationalist Labor
Popular vote 14,455 7,740
Percentage 64.0% 34.3%
Swing Increase2.8pp Decrease4.5pp

MP before election

William Irvine
Nationalist

Elected MP

Stanley Baldwin
Nationalist

The Victorian Farmers' Union withdrew their candidate after extracting a promise from the Nationalist government to introduce preferential voting, although his name remained on the ballot paper.[1] The by-election was won by Nationalist candidate and future Prime Minister Stanley Bruce.

Results

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Flinders by-election, 1918[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nationalist Stanley Bruce 14,445 64.0 +2.8
Labor Gordon Holmes 7,740 34.3 −4.5
Victorian Farmers John Hall 382 1.7 +1.7
Total formal votes 22,567 99.1
Informal votes 203 0.9
Turnout 22,770 56.6
Nationalist hold Swing +3.7

References

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  1. ^ "MR. HALL RETIRES". The Argus. Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 11 May 1918. p. 16. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  2. ^ "By-Elections 1917-1919". Psephos.