24 JANUARY 1903, Page 3

The result of the poll at West Derby was announced

on Tuesday. Mr. Rutherford, the Unionist candidate, carried the seat by a majority of 2,204. In 1895 the Unionist majority was 2,936, and on a much smaller vote. Mr. Ruther- ford was an extremely strong candidate. He was Lord Mayor of Derby when the vacancy occurred, but resigned that office in order to contest the constituency. His political views were of a distinctly popular and democratic kind. Those who think the Education Bill has ruined the Government in the great popular constituencies will be able to draw very little support for their theories from the case of West Derby.