The 1920 Dartford by-election was held on 27 March 1920. The by-election was held due to the death of the incumbent Coalition Liberal MP, James Rowlands. It was won by the Labour candidate John Edmund Mills.
Background The incumbent member James Rowlands had been first elected in 1906 as a Lib–Lab candidate, before becoming a Coalition Liberal on the 1916 formation of the Coalition Government. He had substantially increased his majority in 1918 defeating Labour Candidate William Ling by 42.8%. He died on 1 March 1920 and the writs for the by election were issues on 12 March.
Candidates Coalition Liberal The Coalition Liberals opted not the defend the seat, instead backing the Unionist candidate.
Labour John Mills, engineer and member of Woolwich Borough Council
Liberal Thomas Wing, member for Houghton-le-Spring (1913–1918) and Great Grimsby (1910)
Conservative Richard Meller, barrister and member of Surrey County Council
National Reginald Applin, Lieutenant colonel in the British Army
Other Frank Emil Fehr, businessman and underwriter
Result
Aftermath Mills would lose the seat to back to the National Liberals in 1922.
References