1912 Bolton by-election

Bolton returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system.

There had been an arrangement between the Labour and Liberal parties in this seat since the time of the 1906 election when Gill was first returned.

The dominant issue of the campaign was the Unionist policy of Tariff Reform which had never been popular among those involved in the Lancashire cotton industry.

This helped the Liberal Taylor, who was an advocate of Free Trade and against the Unionist Brooks, who supported protectionism.

After the poll, The Times tried to undermine the Liberal victory and explain away the Unionist defeat by stating; “It is probable that this (Trades Council) manifesto had the effect of turning the full tide of the labour vote in favour of the Liberal candidate.