1914 North West Durham by-election

It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system.

Given the large number of miners and iron-workers among the electorate, issues affecting those voters were expected to feature.

[6] On 20 January 1914, the Liberal candidate, Aneurin Williams declared that he advocated Irish Home Rule, religious equality in Wales, the abolition of Plural voting, further reform of the House of Lords, land and housing reform and popular control over licences.

[7] Other issues to feature in his campaign included a defence of National Insurance and improvements to the conditions of agricultural labourers.

A combination of the Unionist Party, the Irish Nationalists and a minority of Liberals had defeated the measure earlier in the parliament.

[16] The Labour campaign focused on a handful of English trade unionists who had been deported from South Africa for trying to organise a General Strike.

[17] On 29 January 1914, the eve of poll, Williams received a telegram of support from David Lloyd George in which he stated "Looking forward to the pleasure of welcoming you back as a member of the House Commons.

[21] Following the announcement of the result, cheering Liberal supporters carried Williams shoulder high to his car from where he started a tour of the constituency to thank the voters.

The Socialist candidate, Stuart-Bunning stated that he would only return to fight the seat again if the executive of the Postal Federation were prepared to fund his campaign.

In 1916 Williams was appointed to the Speaker's Conference to discuss giving women the vote and helped to steer through the change implemented in 1918.