War-time electoral pact

The war-time electoral pact was an electoral pact established by the members of the UK coalition governments in the First World War and re-established in the Second World War that meant that during parliamentary by-elections only the party which previously held the seat would contest the election and the other coalition parties would stand aside.

This led to a number of unopposed by-elections as well as strong showings and surprise victories by third party candidates.

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