1922 Chertsey by-election

Vacancy

The by-election was caused by the death of the sitting Unionist MP, Sir Donald Macmaster on 3 March 1922. He had been MP here since winning the seat in January 1910.

Election history

Chertsey had returned Conservative or Unionist candidates at every election since the constituency was created in 1885, apart from the Liberal landslide of 1906. The result at the last general election was:

Candidates

• The Unionist's chose first time candidate Philip Richardson, who had won a silver medal at the 1908 London Olympics, for Shooting. He was a Shipbuilder who ran his business from Wallsend.
• The Labour Party, who had run a candidate in 1918 left the field and the Liberal Party, who had not run a candidate in 1918, intervened. The Liberals also chose a first time candidate in Sir Hubert Gough, who had commanded the British Fifth Army during the Great War and had recently retired from the Army.

Result

The Unionists held onto the seat with a greatly reduced majority.

Aftermath

Philip Richardson continued as the MP until retiring in 1931. Sir Hubert Gough did not stand for election again. The Liberal Party never managed to mount as strong a challenge again as Chertsey remained a safe Conservative seat throughout its history. The result at the following general election;

References

• Who's Who: www.ukwhoswho.com
• Debrett's House of Commons 1922
• By-Elections in British Politics by Cook and Ramsden

References

1. F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1949
2. F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1949
3. F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1949