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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
The '''Combined English Universities by-election, 1937''' was a parliamentary [[by-election]] for the [[British House of Commons]] dual member constituency of the [[Combined English Universities (UK Parliament constituency)|Combined English Universities]] 22 March 1937.
The '''1937 Combined English Universities by-election''' was a parliamentary [[by-election]] for the [[British House of Commons]] dual member constituency of the [[Combined English Universities (UK Parliament constituency)|Combined English Universities]] held on 22 March 1937.


==Vacancy==
==Vacancy==
The by-election was caused by the death of the sitting [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] [[Member of Parliament|MP]], [[Reginald Craddock|Sir Reginald Craddock]] on 10 February 1937. He had been an MP here since winning the seat in 1931.
The by-election was caused by the death of the sitting [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]], [[Reginald Craddock|Sir Reginald Craddock]] on 10 February 1937. He had been an MP for the constituency since 1931.


==Election history==
==Election history==
The Combined English Universities was created as a dual member seat in 1918. As with all University seats, elections were by the [[Single Transferable Vote]] method. The University seats were thought to provide an opportunity for academics, independent of party politics, to gain representation in parliament. However, more often than not, the Conservative Party and latterly, the National government parties had used them as a means to get their own candidates elected. Since 1929, [[Eleanor Rathbone]] had overcome the party machine to sit as an Independent MP for one of the seats. The other seat had been won by a Conservative. The result at the last General Election in 1935 was that Craddock and Rathbone were returned unopposed.
The Combined English Universities was created as a dual member seat in 1918. As with all University seats, general elections were held by the [[Single Transferable Vote]] method; however by-elections were held with [[First Past The Post]]. The university seats were thought to provide an opportunity for academics, independent of party politics, to gain representation in parliament. However, more often than not, the Conservative Party and latterly, the National government parties had used them as a means to get their own candidates elected. Since 1929, [[Eleanor Rathbone]] had overcome the party machine to sit as an Independent MP for one of the seats. The other seat had been won by a Conservative. The result at the last General Election in 1935 was that Craddock and Rathbone were returned unopposed.


==Candidates==
==Candidates==
The University Conservatives selected 65-year-old [[Francis Oswald Lindley|Rt Hon. Sir Francis Oswald Lindley]]. He was a long serving Diplomat who was [[List of Ambassadors from the United Kingdom to Japan|Ambassador to Japan]] 1931&ndash;1934, when he retired.<ref>http://www.ukwhoswho.com</ref>
The University Conservatives selected 65-year-old [[Francis Oswald Lindley|Rt Hon. Sir Francis Oswald Lindley]]. He was a long serving Diplomat who was [[List of Ambassadors from the United Kingdom to Japan|Ambassador to Japan]] 1931–1934, when he retired.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ukwhoswho.com/|title=WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO|website=WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO}}</ref>
A 62-year-old Quaker and former Liberal MP [[Thomas Edmund Harvey|Ted Harvey]] stood, but not as a Liberal candidate. He stood as an [[Independent Progressive]] candidate, saying that contests for the University seats ought to be fought on ideas and not on party political lines. A Liberal candidate had last stood in 1929 and finished as runner-up, ahead of the second Conservative candidate. Harvey had last stood for parliament at those same elections, at [[Leeds North (UK Parliament constituency)|Leeds North]] coming third. He had previously been Liberal MP for [[Leeds West (UK Parliament constituency)|Leeds West]] from 1910–18 and [[Dewsbury (UK Parliament constituency)|Dewsbury]] from 1923-24.
A 62-year-old Quaker and former [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]] MP [[Thomas Edmund Harvey|Ted Harvey]] stood, but not as a Liberal candidate. He stood as an [[Independent Progressive]] candidate, saying that contests for the university seats ought to be fought on ideas and not on party political lines. A Liberal candidate had last stood in 1929 and finished as runner-up, ahead of the second Conservative candidate. Harvey had last stood for parliament at those same elections, at [[Leeds North (UK Parliament constituency)|Leeds North]] coming third. He had previously been Liberal MP for [[Leeds West (UK Parliament constituency)|Leeds West]] from 1910 to 1918 and [[Dewsbury (UK Parliament constituency)|Dewsbury]] from 1923 to 1924.
A third candidate came forward - Sir Henry Brackenbury, who stood as an Independent.
A third candidate came forward - 71 year old [[Henry Britten Brackenbury|Sir Henry Britten Brackenbury]]. He had contested the 1922 general election as Liberal candidate for [[Walthamstow East (UK Parliament constituency)|Walthamstow East]].


==Campaign==
==Campaign==
Polling days weres set for 15–19 March 1937. When nominations closed, it was to reveal a three horse race between Lindley the Conservative, Harvey the Independent Progressive and Brackenbury the Independent.
Polling days were set for 15–19 March 1937. When nominations closed, it was to reveal a three horse race between Lindley the Conservative, Harvey the Independent Progressive and Brackenbury the Independent.


==Result==
==Result==


{{Election box begin |
{{Election box begin |
|title=Combined English Universities by-election, 1937 <ref>F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1949</ref>
|title=Combined English Universities by-election, 1937 <ref>[[F W S Craig]], ''British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949''; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1949</ref>
Electorate 28,808
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Independent Progressive
|party = Independent Progressive
|candidate = '''[[Thomas Edmund Harvey]]'''
|candidate = [[Edmund Harvey (social reformer)|Edmund Harvey]]
|votes = 6,596
|votes = 6,596
|percentage = 47.4
|percentage = 47.4
|change = ''N/A''
|change = ''New''
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Francis Oswald Lindley|Rt Hon. Sir Francis Lindley]]
|candidate = [[Francis Oswald Lindley]]
|votes = 4,952
|votes = 4,952
|percentage = 35.6
|percentage = 35.6
Line 36: Line 36:
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent (politics)
|party = Independent Liberal
|candidate = Sir Henry Brackenbury
|candidate = Henry Britten Brackenbury
|votes = 2,373
|votes = 2,373
|percentage = 17.0
|percentage = 17.0
|change = ''N/A''
|change = ''New''
}}
}}
{{Election box majority|
{{Election box majority|
Line 58: Line 58:
}}
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box end}}
The Liberal party leader Sir Archie Sinclair, Ramsay Muir and the Liberal Party Organisation all sent messages of congratulation to Harvey when he won the by-election.<ref>The Times, 23 March 1937 p16</ref>
The Liberal party leader Sir [[Archie Sinclair]], [[Ramsay Muir]] and the Liberal Party Organisation all sent messages of congratulation to Harvey when he won the by-election.<ref>''The Times'', 23 March 1937 p16</ref>


==Aftermath==
==Aftermath==
Harvey chose to retire. The result at the following General election;
Harvey chose to retire. The result at the following General election;
{{STV Election box begin2
{{STV Election box begin2
|title = [[United Kingdom general election, 1945|General Election 1945]]: Combined English Universities (2 seats)
|title = [[1945 United Kingdom general election|General Election 1945]]: Combined English Universities (2 seats)
|numcounts = 5
|numcounts = 5
}}
}}
{{STV Election box candidate2
{{STV Election box candidate2
|candidate = '''[[Eleanor Florence Rathbone]]'''
|candidate = '''[[Eleanor Rathbone]]'''
|party = Independent (politician)
|party = Independent (politician)
|percentage = 53.3
|percentage = '''53.3'''
|count1 = '''11,176'''
|count1 = '''11,176'''
|count2 = &nbsp;
|count2 = &nbsp;
Line 77: Line 77:
}}
}}
{{STV Election box candidate2
{{STV Election box candidate2
|candidate = '''[[Kenneth Martin Lindsay]]'''
|candidate = '''[[Kenneth Lindsay]]'''
|party = Independent (politician)
|party = Independent (politician)
|percentage = 9.2
|percentage = 9.2

Latest revision as of 02:30, 30 September 2023

The 1937 Combined English Universities by-election was a parliamentary by-election for the British House of Commons dual member constituency of the Combined English Universities held on 22 March 1937.

Vacancy

[edit]

The by-election was caused by the death of the sitting Conservative MP, Sir Reginald Craddock on 10 February 1937. He had been an MP for the constituency since 1931.

Election history

[edit]

The Combined English Universities was created as a dual member seat in 1918. As with all University seats, general elections were held by the Single Transferable Vote method; however by-elections were held with First Past The Post. The university seats were thought to provide an opportunity for academics, independent of party politics, to gain representation in parliament. However, more often than not, the Conservative Party and latterly, the National government parties had used them as a means to get their own candidates elected. Since 1929, Eleanor Rathbone had overcome the party machine to sit as an Independent MP for one of the seats. The other seat had been won by a Conservative. The result at the last General Election in 1935 was that Craddock and Rathbone were returned unopposed.

Candidates

[edit]

The University Conservatives selected 65-year-old Rt Hon. Sir Francis Oswald Lindley. He was a long serving Diplomat who was Ambassador to Japan 1931–1934, when he retired.[1] A 62-year-old Quaker and former Liberal MP Ted Harvey stood, but not as a Liberal candidate. He stood as an Independent Progressive candidate, saying that contests for the university seats ought to be fought on ideas and not on party political lines. A Liberal candidate had last stood in 1929 and finished as runner-up, ahead of the second Conservative candidate. Harvey had last stood for parliament at those same elections, at Leeds North coming third. He had previously been Liberal MP for Leeds West from 1910 to 1918 and Dewsbury from 1923 to 1924. A third candidate came forward - 71 year old Sir Henry Britten Brackenbury. He had contested the 1922 general election as Liberal candidate for Walthamstow East.

Campaign

[edit]

Polling days were set for 15–19 March 1937. When nominations closed, it was to reveal a three horse race between Lindley the Conservative, Harvey the Independent Progressive and Brackenbury the Independent.

Result

[edit]
Combined English Universities by-election, 1937 [2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Progressive Edmund Harvey 6,596 47.4 New
Conservative Francis Oswald Lindley 4,952 35.6 N/A
Independent Liberal Henry Britten Brackenbury 2,373 17.0 New
Majority 1,644 11.8 N/A
Turnout 13,921 48.3 N/A
Independent Progressive gain from Conservative Swing N/A

The Liberal party leader Sir Archie Sinclair, Ramsay Muir and the Liberal Party Organisation all sent messages of congratulation to Harvey when he won the by-election.[3]

Aftermath

[edit]

Harvey chose to retire. The result at the following General election;

General Election 1945: Combined English Universities (2 seats)
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5
Independent Eleanor Rathbone 53.3 11,176        
Independent Kenneth Lindsay 9.2 1,923 3,503 3,856 4,528 5,826
Independent Labour Stanley Wormald 15.3 3,212 3,973 4,081 4,473 4,675
National Eric Cuthbert Arden 11.6 2,433 3,073 3,389 3,829 eliminated
Independent John Henry Richardson 5.3 1,124 1,995 2,341 eliminated  
Independent A.R. Foxall 5.3 1,105 1,437 eliminated    
Electorate: 41,976   Valid: 20,973   Quota: 6,992   Turnout: 50.0%  

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO". WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO.
  2. ^ F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1949
  3. ^ The Times, 23 March 1937 p16
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