1933 Rhondda East by-election

UK parliamentary by-election December 2020 June 2025 November 2022 The 1933 Rhondda East by-election was a parliamentary by-election held on 28 March 1933 for the British House of Commons constituency of Rhondda East in Wales. Vacancy The seat had become vacant when the Labour Member of Parliament (MP) Lt-Col David Watts-Morgan had died on 23 February 1933, aged 65.June 2025 He had held the seat since the constituency was created for the 1918 general election.June 2025 1931 general election The previous contest was comfortably won by Labour; Watts-Morgan polled 68.1% of the vote in a two-way contest with the Communist, Arthur Horner. There was no candidate standing in support of the National Government. Candidates June 2025 The Communist, Arthur Horner, was standing here for the third time. The new Labour candidate, William Mainwaring, a local miners agent, was contesting a parliamentary election for the first time. None of the leading Labour figures who had lost their seats at the last General Election expressed an interest in standing here. The Liberal Party, who had not contested this seat last time, fielded another first time candidate in Professor William D. Thomas. Thomas stood in opposition to the National Government. Still no candidate supporting the National Government was prepared to stand here. As a result, the election campaign remained an essentially local affair. Result 1933 Rhondda East by-electionCraig, F. W. S. (1969). British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (1 ed.). Glasgow: Political Reference Publications. 0-900178-019. Page 540 Welsh Labour William Mainwaring 14,127 42.5 -25.6 Communist Party of Great Britain Arthur Horner 11,228 33.8 +1.9 Liberal Party (UK) William D. Thomas 7,851 23.6 N/A 2,899 8.7 -27.5 33,206 74.9 +1.2 44,311 Welsh Labour Aftermath June 2025 If the Communist Party was to re-gain a parliamentary foothold, its best prospects were always going to be in a seat like Rhondda East at a time when the Labour Party was demoralised. Despite having such ideal conditions, it could not make the breakthrough. William Mainwaring's victory started his parliamentary career which went on unbroken until 1959. Arthur Horner, despite having built a local electoral base for the Communist Party, was replaced as candidate for 1935 by the party's national leader, Harry Pollitt. Horner never made it to parliament. William Thomas did not stand for parliament again. See also Rhondda East constituency 1920 Rhondda West by-election 1967 Rhondda West by-election Rhondda (district) Lists of United Kingdom by-elections United Kingdom by-election records 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:1930s in Glamorgan Rhondda East by-election Rhondda East by-election Category:1930s elections in Wales Rhondda East by-election Category:History of Rhondda Cynon Taf Category:By-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom in Welsh constituencies Category:Politics of Glamorgan