1942 Salisbury by-election

1942 UK parliamentary by-election June 2025 November 2019 The 1942 Salisbury by-election was a by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Salisbury in Wiltshire on 8 July 1942. It was won by the Conservative Party candidate John Morrison, later Baron Margadale. Vacancy The seat had become vacant on the death of the 55-year-old sitting Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) James Despencer-Robertson. He had won the seat at a by-election in 1931, having previously been MP for Islington West from 1922 to 1923. Candidates The Conservative candidate was 36-year-old John Morrison. During World War II, most by-elections were unopposed, since the major parties had agreed not to contest by-elections when vacancies arose in seats held by the other parties; contests occurred only when independent candidates or minor parties chose to stand, and the Common Wealth Party was formed with the specific aim of contesting war-time by-elections. In Salisbury, there were two independent candidates: William Reginald Hipwell, editor of Reveille, a " barrack room newspaper for the fighting forces",Investigation into the affairs of W.R. Hipwell of "The Reveille" http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=716113&CATLN=6&accessmethod=5 The National Archives 4 September 2012 stood as an Independent Progressive and J. D. Monro as an "Independent Democrat". Result On a greatly reduced turnout, Morrison held the seat for the Conservatives, with more than two-thirds of the votes and a majority of 8,858. He held the seat until his elevation to the peerage in 1965. Votes Salisbury by-election, July 1942 Conservative Party (UK) John Morrison 12,076 67.8 −3.7 Independent Progressive William Reginald Hipwell 3,218 18.1 New Independent Democrat J. D. Monro 2,519 14.1 New 8,858 49.7 +6.7 17,813 39.7 −26.5 Conservative Party (UK) Previous election General election May 1935: Salisbury Conservative Party (UK) James Despencer-Robertson 20,707 71.5 −5.4 Labour Party (UK) E. J. Plaisted 8,259 28.5 +5.4 12,448 43.0 −10.8 28,966 66.2 −5.7 Conservative Party (UK) −5.4 See also Salisbury (UK Parliament constituency) Salisbury 1931 Salisbury by-election 1965 Salisbury by-election List of United Kingdom by-elections 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 March 2012 Category:By-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom in Wiltshire constituencies Category:1942 in England Salisbury Category:Politics of Salisbury Category:20th century in Wiltshire Category:July 1942 in the United Kingdom