1932 Croydon South by-election

UK parliamentary by-election April 2022 June 2025 The 1932 Croydon South by-election was a by-election held on 9 February 1932 for the British House of Commons constituency of Croydon South in Surrey. Vacancy The seat had become vacant when the Conservative Member of Parliament (MP), Sir William Mitchell-Thomson had been elevated to the peerage as Baron Selsdon. He had held the seat since the 1923 general election. Candidates The Conservative candidate was Herbert Williams, who had been MP for Reading until his defeat at the 1929 general election. His only opponent was the Labour Party candidate, Rudolph Putnam Messel, who had contested South Molton in 1929 and 1931. The local Liberal association, who had polled a strong third in 1929 but had not stood in 1931 selected barrister Alun Llewellyn to run as their candidate.Western Morning News Devon, 14 Jan 1932 However, a week later, Llewellyn decided to withdraw.Dundee Courier Angus, 21 Jan 1932 He did contest the seat at the subsequent general election. Result On a low turnout, the result was a victory for Williams: a swing of 12.8% to Labour merely reduced the Conservative majority from huge to large. He was re-elected in 1935, but defeated at the 1945 general election. Croydon South by-election, 9 February 1932 Conservative Party (UK) Herbert Williams 19,126 67.5 −12.8 Labour Party (UK) Rudolph Putnam Messel 9,189 32.5 +12.8 9,937 35.0 −25.6 28,315 38.2 −30.1 Conservative Party (UK) −12.8 See also Croydon South constituency 1919 Croydon South by-election Croydon List of United Kingdom by-elections (1931–1950) References Sources Craig F. W. S. F. W. S. Craig British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 1969 3rd 1983 Parliamentary Research Services Chichester 0-900178-06-X c 6 March 2012 Croydon South,1932 Croydon South,1932 Croydon South by-election Croydon South by-election 1932 Croydon South by-election Croydon South,1932