Liverpool Exchange by-election, 1897

The Liverpool Exchange by-election, 1897 was a by-election held in England on 10 November 1897 for the House of Commons constituency of Liverpool Exchange.

The Liberal unionist candidate, Charles McArthur held the seat with a very small majority over his Liberal opponent.

The seat had become vacant in October 1897 when the Liberal Unionist Member of Parliament (MP), John Bigham, had been appointed as a judge of the Queen's Bench division of the High Court.

He had held the seat since the 1895 general election, having contested it unsuccessfully in 1892.

Immediately after Bigham's appointment was announced, The Times newspaper reported on Saturday 16 October that the Liberal Unionist candidate was likely to be Charles McArthur, an average adjuster from Liverpool and former chairman of the city's chamber of commerce. Business people in Liverpool welcomed the prospect of McArthur's candidacy, but while the Liberals met that weekend to consider their options, they postponed a decision.

On Monday 18th, the McArthur accepted a formal invitation to be the Unionist candidate, and he accepted the nomination. Some local Unionists felt that this constituency should be represented by a ship-owner, but others noted McArthur was as much involved in shipping as the owners. He told the selection meeting that his main priority would be to protect the commercial and shipping interests of Liverpool, and that he objected to the River Mersey being "made a cesspool for Manchester" through the construction of the Manchester Ship Canal.

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