Stourbridge by-election, 1927

This was a parliamentary by-election for the British House of Commons constituency of Stourbridge. Stourbridge was one of the Worcestershire constituencies, bordering Bewdley, where the Conservative Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin sat.

Vacancy

Douglas Pielou who had been the Unionist MP here since 1922, died on 9 January 1927, at the age of 39, causing the by-election.

Electoral history

Pielou had gained the seat in 1922 from the Liberals. Since then, Labour had emerged as the main challenger, finishing a close second at the last General election in 1924;

General Election, 29 October 1924: Stourbridge[1]

Electorate: 48,466

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Douglas Percival Pielou 16,023 39.5
Labour Wilfred Wellock 14,113 34.8
Liberal Geoffrey Le Measurer Mander 10,418 25.7
Majority 1,910
Turnout
Unionist hold Swing

Candidates

Henry Hogbin

Campaign

Polling day was set for 23 February 1927, forty-five days after the death of Pielou, allowing for a reasonably lengthy campaign.

Result

Labour gained the seat from the Unionists;

Stourbridge by-election, 23 February 1927[2]

Electorate: 49,587

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Wilfred Wellock 16,561 41.9 +7.1
Unionist Henry Cairn Hogbin 13,462 34.0 -5.5
Liberal Aneurin John Glyn Edwards 9,535 24.1 -1.6
Majority 3,099
Turnout
Labour gain from Unionist Swing

Aftermath

Wellock stood again here at the next General Election and was re-elected. Hogbin did not stand again. Edwards contested Burnley and finished third.

General Election, 30 May 1929: Stourbridge[3]

Electorate: 66,145

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Wilfred Wellock 21,343 38.4 -3.5
Unionist Sir Herbert Stanley Reed 17,675 31.8 -2.2
Liberal Donald Leslie Finnemore 16,537 29.8 +5.7
Majority 3,668
Turnout
Labour hold Swing

References

  1. British parliamentary election results 1918-1949, Craig, F.W.S.
  2. British parliamentary election results 1918-1949, Craig, F.W.S.
  3. British parliamentary election results 1918-1949, Craig, F.W.S.