North Cornwall by-election, 1932

The North Cornwall constituency showing 1932 boundaries within Cornwall and Devon

The North Cornwall by-election, 1932 was a parliamentary by-election held on 22 July 1932 for the British House of Commons constituency of North Cornwall.

Vacancy

The seat had become vacant when the constituency's Liberal Member of Parliament (MP), the Rt Hon. Sir Donald Maclean died on 15 June 1932. He had been MP here since 1929. Maclean joined the National Government, a coalition. He served as President of the Board of Education from 1931 to 1932, when he died from cardiovascular disease at the age of sixty-eight.

Electoral history

The seat was a traditional Liberal/Conservative marginal. At the last election, despite Maclean being a senior member of the National Government he was opposed by a Conservative;

1931 general election: North Cornwall

Electorate 40,020

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Sir Donald Maclean 16,867 49.1 -0.6
Conservative Alfred Martyn Williams 16,526 45.3 +3.0
Labour A. Bennett 1,907 5.6 -2.4
Majority 1,341 3.8 -3.6
Turnout 35,300 85.7 -0.4
Liberal hold Swing

Candidates

Campaign

Polling day was fixed for 22 July 1932, 37 days after the death of Maclean.

The main issue that divided the Conservatives and Liberals in the National Government was that of Free Trade v. Protection. Both parties were keen to take their dispute to the by-election hustings. Conservative leader, Stanley Baldwin, spent much time in the constituency speaking in support of the Conservative candidate and many other Conservative MPs toured the constituency. The Conservative's sought to argue that the Liberals, who were a minor partner in Government, were being disloyal to it by arguing for free trade.[1]

Result

The Liberals held the seat and increased their share of the vote.

22 July 1932 by-election: North Cornwall

Electorate 40,020

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Sir Francis Dyke Acland 16,933 52.4 +3.3
Conservative Alfred Martyn Williams 15,387 47.6 +2.3
Majority 1,546 4.8 +1.0
Turnout 32,320 80.8 -4.9
Liberal hold Swing

Aftermath

Despite the Liberal delight at their increased majority, the Labour Prime Minister Ramsay Macdonald, still chose to replace the Liberal Maclean at the Board of Education, with a Conservative, further weakening the Liberal voice in Cabinet.[2]

See also

References

  1. Liberal Crusader by Gerard de Groot
  2. Liberal Crusader by Gerard de Groot
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