1925 Ripon by-election

Vacancy

The by-election was a consequence of the sitting MP Edward Wood – later the 3rd Viscount Halifax and the 1st Earl of Halifax – being elevated to the peerage as Baron Irwin in order to serve as Viceroy of India.

Election history

Wood had served Ripon as a Conservative since 1910; he had been returned unopposed at every election since 1918.

Candidates

Two candidates were nominated. The Conservative candidate was John Waller Hills, who had represented the City of Durham until he was defeated in the 1922 general election. He was opposed in the by-election by the Liberal candidate John Murray, another former MP who had lost his seat in the 1923 general election in Leeds West. Murray had subsequently fought unsuccessfully in the Kirkcaldy Burghs constituency in the 1924 general election. There was no Labour candidate.

Main issues and campaign

During the campaign Murray openly disagreed with his own leader Lloyd George's plans for nationalization of land and the coal industry.

Result

The Conservatives held the seat; Electorate 37,338}}

Aftermath

Murray did not again stand for parliament, while Hills sought to defend Ripon at the following general election. The result at the following general election: Electorate 55,191}} Hills was to remain MP for Ripon until his death in 1939.

References

1. (1986). "A Ripon record 1887-1986". Philimore.
2. B W Clapp, ''John Murray'' in ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', OUP 2004-09
3. F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1949
4. F W S Craig, ''British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949'', Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1949