Greenock by-election, 1936

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The Greenock by-election, 1936 was a by-election held on 26 November 1936 for the House of Commons constituency of Greenock in Renfrewshire, Scotland.

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[edit] Vacancy

The seat had become vacant on 13 October 1936 when the the Secretary of State for Scotland, Sir Godfrey Collins had died at the age of 61. A National Liberal Member of Parliament (MP), he had held the seat since the January 1910 general election.

[edit] Candidates

The National Liberal candidate was V. E. Cornelius, who had not previously contested a parliamentary election.

His only opponent was the Labour Party candidate, 50-year-old Robert Gibson. Gibson had unsuccessfully contested one by-election and three general elections most recently at Dundee in 1935.

[edit] Result

On a high turnout, the result was a victory for Gibson, who won the seat with a swing of nearly 8%. He held the seat until his resignation in 1941.

[edit] Votes

Greenock by-election, 26 November 1936
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Robert Gibson 20,594 53.4 +9.4
National Liberal V. E. Cornelius 17,990 46.6 −6.1
Majority 2,604 6.8 N/A
Turnout 38,584 83.3 −1.1
Labour hold Swing 7.85
General Election, November 1935: Greenock
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Liberal Sir Godfrey Collins 20,299 52.7 +1.6
Labour T. Irwin 16,945 44.0 +13.3
Scottish National Party J. L. Kinloch 1,286 3.3 N/A
Majority 3,354 8.7 −15.7
Turnout 38,530 84.4 +4.1
National Liberal hold Swing −5.9

[edit] See also

[edit] Sources