Glasgow Gorbals by-election, 1969
Encyclopedia
The Glasgow Gorbals by-election, 1969 was a parliamentary by-election
held on 30 October 1969 for the British House of Commons
constituency
of Glasgow Gorbals
in the Gorbals
, Glasgow. It was one of five UK parliamentary by-elections held on that day.
Member of Parliament (MP), Alice Cullen had died on 31 May 1969, aged 78. She had held the seat since the by-election in 1948 following the resignation of her Labour predecessor, George Buchanan
. The moving of the writ was much delayed and finally announced in early October. Because of the recess and parliamentary convention, the formal campaign only lasted two weeks.
, who won with a majority of 4,163 over the Scottish National Party candidate Tom Brady. The SNP's significant challenge for second place was not repeated at the subsequent General Election
when the third placed Tory
trumped Brady for second place.
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
held on 30 October 1969 for the British House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
constituency
United Kingdom constituencies
In the United Kingdom , each of the electoral areas or divisions called constituencies elects one or more members to a parliament or assembly.Within the United Kingdom there are now five bodies with members elected by constituencies:...
of Glasgow Gorbals
Glasgow Gorbals (UK Parliament constituency)
Glasgow Gorbals was a parliamentary constituency in the city of Glasgow. From 1918 until 1974, it returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first-past-the-post system.-Boundaries:...
in the Gorbals
Gorbals
The Gorbals is an area on the south bank of the River Clyde in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. By the late 19th century, it had become over-populated and adversely affected by local industrialisation. Many people lived here because their jobs provided this home and they could not afford their own...
, Glasgow. It was one of five UK parliamentary by-elections held on that day.
Background
The seat had become vacant when the constituency's LabourLabour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
Member of Parliament (MP), Alice Cullen had died on 31 May 1969, aged 78. She had held the seat since the by-election in 1948 following the resignation of her Labour predecessor, George Buchanan
George Buchanan (politician)
George Buchanan was born in Glasgow, Scotland. A committed socialist, he joined the Independent Labour Party .Buchanan was vice-chairman of Glasgow Trades Council and sat on the city council from 1919 to 1923...
. The moving of the writ was much delayed and finally announced in early October. Because of the recess and parliamentary convention, the formal campaign only lasted two weeks.
Result
The result of the contest was a victory for the Labour candidate, Frank McElhoneFrank McElhone
Francis Patrick "Frank" McElhone was a Scottish Labour Party politician.McElhone was elected Member of Parliament for Glasgow Gorbals at a 1969 by-election, serving until the constituency was abolished in boundary changes for the 1974 general election.He was then elected as MP for Glasgow Queen's...
, who won with a majority of 4,163 over the Scottish National Party candidate Tom Brady. The SNP's significant challenge for second place was not repeated at the subsequent General Election
United Kingdom general election, 1970
The United Kingdom general election of 1970 was held on 18 June 1970, and resulted in a surprise victory for the Conservative Party under leader Edward Heath, who defeated the Labour Party under Harold Wilson. The election also saw the Liberal Party and its new leader Jeremy Thorpe lose half their...
when the third placed Tory
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
trumped Brady for second place.
See also
- Glasgow Gorbals (UK Parliament constituency)Glasgow Gorbals (UK Parliament constituency)Glasgow Gorbals was a parliamentary constituency in the city of Glasgow. From 1918 until 1974, it returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first-past-the-post system.-Boundaries:...
- Glasgow Gorbals by-election, 1948
- List of United Kingdom by-elections (1950–1979)
- Islington North by-election, 1969Islington North by-election, 1969The Islington North by-election, 1969 was a parliamentary by-election held on 30 October 1969 for the British House of Commons constituency of Islington North in Islington, North London....
- Newcastle-under-Lyme by-election, 1969Newcastle-under-Lyme by-election, 1969The Newcastle-under-Lyme by-election of October 30, 1969 was caused by the death of Labour MP Stephen Swingler. It was held on the same day as four other by-elections and the seat was retained by Labour.-Results:...
- Paddington North by-election, 1969Paddington North by-election, 1969The Paddington North by-election, 1969 was a by-election to the British House of Commons for the constituency of Paddington North. It was necessitated by the death of sitting MP Ben Parkin...
- Swindon by-election, 1969Swindon by-election, 1969The Swindon by-election of 3 October 1969 was held after Labour Member of Parliament Francis Noel-Baker resigned from the House of Commons. The seat was won by the Conservative Party in a defeat for Harold Wilson's government.-Results:...