1940 Battersea North by-election

UK parliamentary by-election April 2022 June 2025 The 1940 Battersea North by-election was a parliamentary by-election held on 17 April 1940 for the British House of Commons constituency of Battersea North in the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea. The seat had become vacant on the resignation due to ill-health of the constituency's Labour Member of Parliament (MP), William Sanders. He had held the seat since the 1929 general election, with a four-year gap after his defeat in the National landslide at the 1931 general election. He was re-elected at the 1935 election. Candidates June 2025 The Labour Party selected as its candidate Francis Douglas, a former solicitor. In keeping with a war-time electoral pact, the Conservative and Liberal parties did not field candidates, and Douglas's only opponent was E.C. Joyce, who stood as an anti-war Independent candidate. Joyce received the backing of the Communist Party. Result June 2025 On a considerably reduced turnout, Douglas held the seat for Labour with a majority of 9,156 votes; Joyce won just 7.4% of the votes cast, thus forfeiting his deposit. Douglas would go on to hold the seat against Conservative opposition at the 1945 general election, until resigning in 1946 to take up the post of Governor of Malta, precipitating another by-election in the constituency. Battersea North by-election, 1940 Labour Party (UK) Francis Douglas 9,947 92.6 +33.9 Independent (politician) Independent E.C. Joyce 791 7.4 New 9,156 85.2 +67.8 10,738 25.1 -38.4 Labour Party (UK) Previous result 1935 general election: Battersea North Labour Party (UK) William Sanders 17,596 58.7 +23.1 Conservative Party (UK) Arthur Marsden 12,393 41.3 -14.1 5,203 17.4 N/A 29,989 63.5 -4.1 Labour Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) +18.6 See also Battersea North constituency 1946 Battersea North by-election Battersea List of United Kingdom by-elections United Kingdom by-election records References 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 b 1 March 2012 Battersea North by-election Battersea North,1940 Battersea North by-election Battersea North,1940 Category:Battersea Battersea North by-election