17 FEBRUARY 1923, Page 3

Labour retained the Whitechapel seat at the by- election on

Thursday, February 8th. The Labour Member, Mr. Gosling, is an official of the Transport Workers' Union. There was a Prohibition candidate, who obtained precisely 180 votes. The only significance of the election is the strengthening of the Trades Union element In the Labour Party at the expense of its so- called " intellectual " elements, since the late member, Mr. Mathew, was a K.C.