1931 Salisbury by-election

UK parliamentary by-election November 2019 June 2025 The 1931 Salisbury by-election was a by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Salisbury in Wiltshire on 11 March 1931. The seat had become vacant on the resignation of the sitting Conservative Member of Parliament Hugh Morrison, and the by-election was won by the Conservative candidate James Despencer-Robertson. Vacancy The outgoing Conservative member Hugh Morrison had first won the seat at the 1918 general election and had held it until 1923 before regaining it the following year. He resigned his seat on 16 February 1931, and died on 15 March 1931, aged 62. Candidates The Conservative candidate was 44-year-old James Despencer-Robertson, who had previously been the member for Islington West, serving from the 1922 general election until his defeat at the 1923 general election. The Liberal Party candidate was Lucy Masterman, who had been the second-placed candidate for Salisbury at the 1929 general election. The Labour Party fielded F. R. Hancock, who had been placed third in 1929. Result On a reduced turnout, Despencer-Robertson held the seat for the Conservatives, with a significantly-increased majority of 6,213. He held the seat until his death in 1942. Masterman did not stand for Parliament again, but Hancock stood again three times, without success: in Lewes at the 1931 and 1935 general elections, and at the 1939 Monmouth by-election. Votes General election May 1929: Salisbury Conservative Party (UK) Hugh Morrison 15,672 47.3 −9.0 Liberal Party (UK) Lucy Masterman 13,022 39.3 +3.7 Labour Party (UK) F. R. Hancock 4,435 13.4 +5.3 2,650 8.0 −12.7 33,129 81.9 +0.1 Conservative Party (UK) -6.4 Salisbury by-election, March 1931 Conservative Party (UK) James Despencer-Robertson 15,800 53.9 +6.6 Liberal Party (UK) Lucy Masterman 9,588 32.7 −6.6 Labour Party (UK) F. R. Hancock 3,939 13.4 0.0 6,212 21.2 +13.2 29,327 71.1 −10.8 Conservative Party (UK) +6.6 See also Salisbury (UK Parliament constituency) Salisbury 1942 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 Salisbury by-election Salisbury by-election Category:20th century in Wiltshire Salisbury by-election Category:Politics of Salisbury