[1] The constituency returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system.

In June 1907 he was knighted in King Edward VII's Birthday Honours List although he did not live to receive the accolade.

He died suddenly in the House of Commons when he collapsed in the 'Aye' lobby while casting his vote on sugar duty legislation, aged 68.

He sought to attract votes from local miners by claiming he supported their campaign for an eight-hour working day.

When in 1909 the Miners Federation of Great Britain voted to affiliate, although a lifelong Liberal,[12] he agreed to seek re-election as a Labour Party candidate.