1945 Newport by-election

UK parliamentary by-election December 2021 June 2025 November 2021 The 1945 Newport by-election was a parliamentary by-election held on 17 May 1945 for the British House of Commons constituency of Newport in Monmouthshire. It was the last by-election of the 1935–1945 Parliament. The seat had become vacant on the death of the constituency's Conservative Member of Parliament (MP), Sir Reginald Clarry, on 17 January 1945, aged 62. He had held the seat since a 1922 by-election, with a two-year gap after his defeat at the 1929 general election (he was re-elected at the 1931 election). Candidates The Conservative Party selected as its candidate Ronald Bell, an Oxford-educated barrister who had been defeated at the Caerphilly by-election in 1939.Sir Ronald Bell https://members.parliament.uk/member/1060/career live 17 January 2022 UK Parliament https://web.archive.org/web/20220118182445/https://members.parliament.uk/member/1060/career 18 January 2022 In keeping with a war-time electoral pact, the Labour and Liberal parties did not field candidates, and Bell's only opponent was Robert Edwards, the Chairman of the Independent Labour Party (ILP). Result June 2025 On a considerably reduced turnout, Bell held the seat for the Conservatives with a majority of 2,702 votes; Edwards had won 45.5% of the votes, one of the ILP's best results for years. However, Bell's tenure as MP for Newport was brief. The date of the general election was announced on 23 May, and Parliament was dissolved on 15 June. In the Labour Party's landslide victory at general election on 5 July 1945, Bell was heavily defeated by the Labour Party candidate, Peter Freeman. He returned to the House of Commons at the 1950 general election as MP for South Buckinghamshire. 1945 Newport by-electionCraig, F. W. S. (1969). British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 (1 ed.). Glasgow: Political Reference Publications. 0-900178-019. Page 539 Welsh Conservatives Ronald Bell 16,424 54.5 +2.8 Independent Labour Party Bob Edwards 13,722 45.5 N/A 2,702 9.0 +5.6 40,146 50.0 -29.4 60,248 Welsh Conservatives +1.4 See also Newport constituency 1922 Newport by-election 1956 Newport by-election Newport Lists of United Kingdom by-elections United Kingdom by-election records 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 Newport by-election Newport by-election Newport by-election, 1945 Newport, 1945 Category:History of Newport, Wales Category:Politics of Newport, Wales Newport by-election, 1945 Newport by-election, 1945 Newport by-election