Ashton-under-Lyne by-election, 1928
Encyclopedia
The Ashton-under-Lyne by-election was held on 29 October 1928. It was notable for having the highest turnout
of any Parliamentary by-election
in Great Britain.
The election was caused by the bankruptcy
of Conservative Party
Member of Parliament
for Ashton-under-Lyne
Cornelius Homan
. Although Homan had only represented the constituency since the 1924 general election
, Ashton had been represented by Conservatives for many years, and Labour had never taken the seat. However, the Conservatives had never achieved a large majority in the seat, and as both Labour and the Liberal Party
had gained several seats in recent by-elections, it was thought that both would mount a strong challenge. As a result, interest in the by-election was high.
Labour stood Albert Bellamy
, while the Conservatives stood Gordon Touche
, and the Liberals put up W. G. Greenwood.
s to be fired from the roof of the town hall when the result was announced, the colour to correspond to that of the winning party. After the fastest ever count – a record which stands to the present day, he did so. This led to some confusion, as their colour was not obvious to all observers, but it soon became apparent that they were yellow – the local Labour Party colour.
Most unusually, the turnout for the by-election was higher than that for the previous general election
in the seat, at 89.1% of the electorate. The Liberals picked up a few votes, but Labour gained many more, at the expense of the Conservatives who only just avoided falling into third place.
Bellamy held the seat in the 1929 general election
, but he died in 1931, precipitating another by-election
, won by the Conservatives. Labour won the seat back in 1935
and have held it ever since. Touche took the safe Conservative constituency of Reigate
in 1931, and remained an MP for many years.
Voter turnout
Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election . After increasing for many decades, there has been a trend of decreasing voter turnout in most established democracies since the 1960s...
of any Parliamentary by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
in Great Britain.
The election was caused by the bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
of Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Ashton-under-Lyne
Ashton-under-Lyne (UK Parliament constituency)
Ashton-under-Lyne is a constituency centred on the town of Ashton-under-Lyne that is represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
Cornelius Homan
Cornelius Homan
Cornelius William James Homan was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom who served as Member of Parliament for Ashton-under-Lyne from 1924 to 1928....
. Although Homan had only represented the constituency since the 1924 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1924
- Seats summary :- References :* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* - External links :* * *...
, Ashton had been represented by Conservatives for many years, and Labour had never taken the seat. However, the Conservatives had never achieved a large majority in the seat, and as both Labour and the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
had gained several seats in recent by-elections, it was thought that both would mount a strong challenge. As a result, interest in the by-election was high.
Labour stood Albert Bellamy
Albert Bellamy
Albert Bellamy was a British trades unionist and Labour Party politician.Bellamy was born in Wigan, Lancashire and took up employment as an engine-driver for the London and North Western Railway. He became involved in trade union activities, rising to the presidency of the Amalgamated Society of...
, while the Conservatives stood Gordon Touche
Sir Gordon Touche, 1st Baronet
Sir Gordon Cosmo Touche, 1st Baronet was a British Barrister and politician who served as a Conservative Member of Parliament for more than 30 years and became Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons...
, and the Liberals put up W. G. Greenwood.
Results
The Mayor of Ashton arranged for coloured rocketRocket
A rocket is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust from a rocket engine. In all rockets, the exhaust is formed entirely from propellants carried within the rocket before use. Rocket engines work by action and reaction...
s to be fired from the roof of the town hall when the result was announced, the colour to correspond to that of the winning party. After the fastest ever count – a record which stands to the present day, he did so. This led to some confusion, as their colour was not obvious to all observers, but it soon became apparent that they were yellow – the local Labour Party colour.
Most unusually, the turnout for the by-election was higher than that for the previous general election
United Kingdom general election, 1924
- Seats summary :- References :* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* - External links :* * *...
in the seat, at 89.1% of the electorate. The Liberals picked up a few votes, but Labour gained many more, at the expense of the Conservatives who only just avoided falling into third place.
Bellamy held the seat in the 1929 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1929
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
, but he died in 1931, precipitating another by-election
Ashton-under-Lyne by-election, 1931
The Ashton-under-Lyne by-election of 1931 was held on April 30. It was triggered by the death of the town's Labour MP, Albert Bellamy, and resulted in a victory for the Conservative candidate, Col John Broadbent....
, won by the Conservatives. Labour won the seat back in 1935
United Kingdom general election, 1935
The United Kingdom general election held on 14 November 1935 resulted in a large, though reduced, majority for the National Government now led by Conservative Stanley Baldwin. The greatest number of MPs, as before, were Conservative, while the National Liberal vote held steady...
and have held it ever since. Touche took the safe Conservative constituency of Reigate
Reigate (UK Parliament constituency)
Reigate is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
in 1931, and remained an MP for many years.
See also
- Ashton-under-Lyne (UK Parliament constituency)Ashton-under-Lyne (UK Parliament constituency)Ashton-under-Lyne is a constituency centred on the town of Ashton-under-Lyne that is represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
- Ashton-under-Lyne by-election, 1920Ashton-under-Lyne by-election, 1920The Ashton-under-Lyne by-election, 1920 was a by-election held on 31 January 1920 for the British House of Commons constituency of Ashton-under-Lyne....
- Ashton-under-Lyne by-election, 1931Ashton-under-Lyne by-election, 1931The Ashton-under-Lyne by-election of 1931 was held on April 30. It was triggered by the death of the town's Labour MP, Albert Bellamy, and resulted in a victory for the Conservative candidate, Col John Broadbent....
- Ashton-under-Lyne by-election, 1939Ashton-under-Lyne by-election, 1939The Ashton-under-Lyne by-election, 1939 was a by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Ashton-under-Lyne on 28 October 1939. The seat had become vacant on the death of the Labour Member of Parliament Fred Simpson, who had held the seat since the 1935 general election.The...
- Ashton-under-Lyne by-election, 1945Ashton-under-Lyne by-election, 1945The Ashton-under-Lyne by-election, 1945 was a by-election held on 2 October 1945 for the British House of Commons constituency of Ashton-under-Lyne....
- List of United Kingdom by-elections (1918–1931)