Monmouth by-election, 1939

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The Monmouth by-election, 1939 was a by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Monmouth in South Wales on 25 July 1939. The by-election was won by the Conservative candidate Leslie Pym.

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[edit] Vacancy

The Conservative MP John Arthur Herbert had resigned his seat on 1 July 1939, having been appointed as Governor of Bengal.[1] Herbert had held the seat since a by-election in 1934.

[edit] Candidates

The Conservative candidate was 55-year-old Leslie Pym, who had not had previously contested a parliamentary election.

The Labour Party candidate at the 1935 general election had been 22-year-old Michael Foot, who later became Leader of the Labour Party. Foot did not contest the by-election, when the Labour candidate was F.R. Hancock, who had been unsuccessful in Salisbury at the 1929 general election and at a by-election in 1931. He had also been an unsuccessful candidate in Lewes at the 1931 and 1935 general elections.[1]

[edit] Result

On a slightly reduced turnout, Pym held the seat for the Conservatives, with a reduced but still large majority of 5,815. He was re-elected at the 1945 general election, but died five days later.

[edit] Votes

Monmouth by-election, 1939
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Leslie Pym 17,358 60.1 −3.3
Labour F. R. Hancock 11,543 39.9 +3.3
Majority 5,815 20.2 −6.6
Turnout 28,901 58.2 −18.6
Conservative hold Swing −3.3
General Election 1935: Monmouth
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Arthur Herbert 23,262 63.4 −1.6
Labour Michael Foot 13,454 36.6 +1.6
Majority 9,808 26.8 −3.2
Turnout 76.8 +7.4
Conservative hold Swing −1.6

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Craig, F. W. S. [1969] (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918-1949, 3rd edition, Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X. 

[edit] References