1919 Croydon South by-election

By-election for the House of Commons April 2022 1919 Croydon South by-election United Kingdom by-election Popular Croydon South (UK Parliament constituency)#Elections in the 1910s 1918 1919 11 14 yes Croydon South (UK Parliament constituency)#Elections in the 1920s 1922 45.5% Unionist Party (UK) Allan Smith Unionist Party (UK) Coalition 11,777 55.2% 16.6% File:Howard Houlder.jpg Howard Houlder Liberal Party (UK) 9,573 44.8% New MP Ian Malcolm Unionist Party (UK) Subsequent MP Allan Smith Unionist Party (UK) The 1919 Croydon South by-election was a parliamentary by-election for the British House of Commons constituency of Croydon South on 14 November 1919. Vacancy The by-election was caused by the resignation of the sitting Unionist MP, Sir Ian Malcolm on 28 October 1919. He had been the MP for Croydon since December 1910. Electoral history Croydon was a traditionally strong area for the Unionists. The Croydon constituency was created in 1885 and won by the Unionists at every election. In 1918, it was divided into two seats, and its MP, Ian Malcolm, was elected for the new Croydon South seat. He was helped by the absence of a Liberal opponent and the official support of the Coalition government; 1918 general election: Croydon South F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1949 Unionist Party (UK) Ian Malcolm 17,813 71.8 Labour Party (UK) H. T. MuggeridgeDebrett's House of Commons 1922 7,006 28.2 10,807 43.6 24,819 55.0 Unionist Party (UK) Candidates The Unionists selected 49-year-old Sir Allan Smith to defend the seat. He was a solicitor and Chairman of the Management Board of the Engineering and Allied Employers’ National Federation.‘SMITH, Sir Allan (Macgregor)’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2007; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2012; online edn, Oct 2012 accessed 16 Dec 2013 On 30 October, the Croydon Liberal and Radical Association unanimously adopted 60-year-old Alderman Howard Houlder to challenge for the seat.Aberdeen Journal, 31 Oct 1919 He had not stood for parliament before but been elected to Croydon Council. He served as Mayor of Croydon from 1916 to 1919. He worked for the family shipping business.‘HOULDER, Howard’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2007; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2007 accessed 16 Dec 2013 The Labour Party did not run a candidate this time. Campaign Polling Day was set for 14 November, just 17 days after the resignation of Malcolm. Close of Nominations occurred on 4 November to reveal a two cornered contest. Smith received official backing from the Coalition Government, while Houlder's candidacy was backed by the Liberal opposition. Result There was a big drop in the Unionist majority. 1919 Croydon South by-electionF W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1949 Unionist Party (UK) Allan Smith 11,777 55.2 –16.6 Liberal Party (UK) Howard Houlder 9,573 44.8 New 2,204 10.4 -33.2 21,359 45.5 -9.5 Unionist Party (UK) Sir Allan Smith thought the result "was a victory for the forces of unity".Hull Daily Mail, 27 Nov 1919 Aftermath Smith retained the seat at the following election because the anti-Unionist vote was split when Muggeridge intervened. Houlder did not stand for parliament again. The result at the following General election; 1922 general election: Croydon South F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1949 Unionist Party (UK) Allan Smith 15,356 47.3 -24.5 Labour Party (UK) H.T. Muggeridge 8,942 27.5 -0.7 Liberal Party (UK) Thomas Dobson 8,183 25.2 N/A 6,414 19.8 -23.8 32,481 66.4 +11.4 Unionist Party (UK) -11.9 References See also List of United Kingdom by-elections United Kingdom by-election records Croydon South by-election Croydon South,1919 Croydon South,1919 Croydon South by-election Croydon South,1919 Category:20th century in Surrey Croydon South by-election