1887 Liverpool Exchange by-election

The 1887 Liverpool Exchange by-election was held on 26 January 1887 after the death of the incumbent Liberal MP David Duncan. It was retained by the Liberal candidate Ralph Neville, with a narrow majority of 7 votes.

Goschen was Chancellor of the Exchequer. He had voted against Gladstone's Home Rule Bill in 1886 and became a Liberal Unionist. He subsequently lost his seat at Edinburgh East at the 1886 general election.^[1]

Lord Randolph Churchill resigned as Chancellor of the Exchequer on 22 December 1886. The Marquess of Salisbury appointed Goschen to the post on 14 January 1887.^[2][3] He became the sole Liberal Unionist in an otherwise Conservative government.

Goschen was therefore Chancellor outside the House of Commons and contested the by-election to return to the House.^[4]

Liverpool Exchange by-election, 1887^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Ralph Neville	3,217	50.1	−1.4
	Liberal Unionist	George Goschen	3,210	49.9	+1.4
Majority			7	0.2	−2.8
Turnout			6,427	81.2	+11.8
	Liberal hold		Swing	-1.4