1946 Combined Scottish Universities by-election

UK parliamentary by-election 1946 Combined Scottish Universities by-election parliamentary United Kingdom Constituency of Combined Scottish Universities no 1945 United Kingdom general election 1945 22–27 November 1946 Walter Elliot x160px Unionist Party (Scotland) 22,152 68.2% C. E. M. Joad Lab Labour Party (UK) 3,731 11.5% Lib Liberal Party (UK) 2,593 8.0% Ind. Independent (politician) 2,080 6.4% LNP Liberal National Party (UK, 1931) 1,938 5.9% MP Subsequent MP John Boyd Orr Independent (politician) Walter Elliot Unionist Party (Scotland) 50.7% (0.9%) J. G. Jameson John Bannerman R. S. StevensonMay 2020 November 2013 The 1946 Combined Scottish Universities by-election was a by-election held from 22 to 27 November 1946 for the Combined Scottish Universities, a university constituency of the British House of Commons. It was the last election for a university constituency of the UK Parliament; the Combined Scottish Universities was abolished along with the other university seats for the 1950 general election. Vacancy The seat had become vacant on 16 October 1946 when the independent Member of Parliament (MP) Sir John Boyd Orr had resigned by the procedural device of accepting the post of Steward and Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds, a notional 'office of profit under the crown' which is used as a procedural device to enable MPs to resign from the Commons. After his resignation, Boyd took up the position of Director-General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. He had held the seat he was first elected at a by-election in 1945. Candidates Five candidates contested the by-election, none of whom had stood in 1945. The Unionist candidate was Walter Elliot, who had been MP for Glasgow Kelvingrove for more than 20 years, until his narrow defeat at the 1945 general election. He had been Secretary of State for Scotland from 1936 to 1938. The Labour Party candidate was the philosopher and broadcaster C. E. M. Joad. The Liberal Party fielded J. M. Bannerman, who had contested Argyll in 1945, and the Liberal National Party nominated Dr R. S. Stevenson, who had stood in West Fife in 1945. The fifth candidate was J. G. Jameson, a member of the Federal Union who stood as an advocate of the policies of the Federal Union, although the union did not endorse his candidacy. Result The result was a clear victory for the Unionist candidate, Walter Elliot, who won over 68% of the votes, and a majority of more than 50% over the second-placed Labour candidate. Elliot held the seat until the university constituencies were abolished for the 1950 general election. Votes Combined Scottish Universities by-election, 22-27 November 1946http://www.by-elections.co.uk/46.html https://web.archive.org/web/20131105224145/http://www.by-elections.co.uk/46.html 1946 By Election Results 2013-11-05 dead 2015-08-12 Unionist Party (Scotland) Walter Elliot 22,152 68.2 +64.0 Labour Party (UK) C. E. M. Joad 3,731 11.5 +2.8 Liberal Party (UK) John Bannerman 2,593 8.0 +2.3 Independent (politics) J. G. Jameson 2,080 6.4 N/A Liberal National Party (UK, 1931) R. S. Stevenson 1,938 5.9 N/A 18,421 56.7 N/A 32,494 50.7 −0.9 Unionist Party (Scotland) National Government (United Kingdom) See also Combined Scottish Universities (UK Parliament constituency) 1927 Combined Scottish Universities by-election 1934 Combined Scottish Universities by-election 1935 Combined Scottish Universities by-election 1936 Combined Scottish Universities by-election 1938 Combined Scottish Universities by-election 1945 Combined Scottish Universities by-election 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 March 2012 Tony Judge, Radio Philosopher - The Radical Life of Cyril Joad (Charleston SC Alphahouse Books 2012)) 9781469957128 Category:1946 in Scotland Category:1940s elections in Scotland Category:1946 elections in the United Kingdom Category:By-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom in the Combined Scottish Universities Category:Higher education in Scotland