1925 Eastbourne by-election

Vacancy

The by-election was caused by the resignation on 25 May{{cite web |url-status=dead

Election history

The constituency was created in 1885 and had been won by a Unionist candidate at every election apart from 1906, the year of the Liberal landslide when it was won by a Liberal candidate. The result at the last General Election was Electorate 33,318}}

Candidates

• On the 24 May, the Eastbourne Unionist Association chose 55-year-old Vice-Admiral Sir Reginald 'Blinker' Hall as their candidate to defend the seat. He had been the Director of Naval Intelligence (DNI) from 1914 to 1919 and the MP for Liverpool West Derby from 1919 to 1923 when he was defeated by the Liberal candidate. He did not contest the 1924 general election.
• On 29 May, the Eastbourne Liberal Association adopted 30-year-old Harcourt 'Crinks' Johnstone as their candidate to challenge for the seat. He had been MP for Willesden East from 1923 to 1924. He first stood for parliament at Willesden East for the Liberals at the general election of 1922. However the sitting Tory MP, resigned in 1923 causing the 1923 Willesden East by-election. Johnstone was again chosen to contest the seat for the Liberals and won by a majority of 5,176 votes over the Unionist. Johnstone held the seat in the 1923 general election, only to lose it to the Unionist at the 1924 general election.
• The Eastbourne Constituency Labour Party selected 48-year-old Lt-Col. Beauchamp Williams as their candidate to challenge for the seat. He had been MP for Kennington from 1923 to 1924. He was defeated at the next general, election in October 1924 by the Unionist candidate.

All three candidates were former MPs seeking a new seat.

Campaign

Polling Day was set for 17 June 1925. From the outset, the Unionists were expected to hold the seat. The main interest would focus on the battle for second place.

On the eve of poll, Johnstone received a telegram of support from leading Liberal David Lloyd George. Lloyd George had visited the constituency earlier in the campaign to speak for Johnstone.

At the end of the campaign, the Unionist team were predicting a majority of 6,000

Result

Hall managed to hold onto the seat for the Unionists but with a much reduced majority. The Liberals comfortably beat Labour to finish in second place. Electorate 33,318}} After a very disappointing 1924 general election, this was the first sign of a Liberal Party revival in the polls.

Aftermath

Hall was replaced as Unionist candidate for the next General Election which the Unionists retained with a new candidate. In fact all the candidates fighting Eastbourne for the first time. The result at the following General Election; Electorate 48,951}} Johnstone sought entrance to parliament next at the 1927 Westbury by-election again finishing second. Williams did not stand for parliament again.

References

References

1. {{Rayment-hc. e. 1. (March 2012)
2. {{Rayment-hc. s. 4. (March 2012)
3. F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1949
4. {{Rayment-hc. w. 2. (March 2012)
5. Western Daily Press, 30 May 1925
6. F W S Craig, ''British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949''; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow, 1949 p277
7. {{Rayment-hc. k. 1. (March 2012)
8. Craig, page 34
9. Derby Daily Telegraph, 16 June 1925
10. Aberdeen Journal, 18 June 1925
11. F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1949
12. F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1949