Macclesfield by-election, 1971
Encyclopedia
The Macclesfield by-election, 1971 was a parliamentary by-election
held on 30 September 1971 for the constituency of Macclesfield
in Cheshire
. It was caused by the elevation to the peerage of the sitting MP, the Conservative Arthur Vere Harvey.
Although this was a fairly safe seat which had been Conservative for over half a century, the party managers were concerned since the Labour party had recently won Bromsgrove with a 10.1 per cent swing
and only 9.5 per cent would be required to take Macclesfield.
The Conservative candidate was Nicholas Winterton, who had previously run unsuccessfully at Newcastle-under-Lyme
. Winterton had made clear his opposition to membership of the European Economic Community
and it was felt that the result might be taken as a referendum on the proposed terms of entry. It was reported that Douglas Hurd
, the Prime Minister's political private secretary, withdrew when it became obvious that the local party preferred an anti-EEC candidate. The Labour
candidate, Diana Jeuda, whose husband had previously run for the party in this constituency, was also against joining. There were two other minor anti-EEC candidates, Reginald Simmerson (Anti-Common Market) and Robert Goodall (English Resurgence Movement). Michael Hammond of the Liberal Party
was the only openly pro-Europe candidate. In the course of the campaign, Winterton changed his position on the issue.
The result was a narrow win for the Conservatives, with a majority down from over 10,000 at the general election to just 1,079.
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 September 1971 for the constituency of Macclesfield
Macclesfield (UK Parliament constituency)
Macclesfield is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :...
in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
. It was caused by the elevation to the peerage of the sitting MP, the Conservative Arthur Vere Harvey.
Although this was a fairly safe seat which had been Conservative for over half a century, the party managers were concerned since the Labour party had recently won Bromsgrove with a 10.1 per cent swing
Swing (United Kingdom)
An Electoral Swing Analysis shows the extent of change in voter support from one election to another. It can be used as a means of comparison between individual candidates or political parties for a given electoral region or demographic....
and only 9.5 per cent would be required to take Macclesfield.
The Conservative candidate was Nicholas Winterton, who had previously run unsuccessfully at Newcastle-under-Lyme
Newcastle-under-Lyme (UK Parliament constituency)
Newcastle-under-Lyme is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- History :...
. Winterton had made clear his opposition to membership of the European Economic Community
European Economic Community
The European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) The European Economic Community (EEC) (also known as the Common Market in the English-speaking world, renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993The information in this article primarily covers the EEC's time as an independent...
and it was felt that the result might be taken as a referendum on the proposed terms of entry. It was reported that Douglas Hurd
Douglas Hurd
Douglas Richard Hurd, Baron Hurd of Westwell, CH, CBE, PC , is a British Conservative politician and novelist, who served in the governments of Margaret Thatcher and John Major between 1979 and his retirement in 1995....
, the Prime Minister's political private secretary, withdrew when it became obvious that the local party preferred an anti-EEC candidate. The Labour
Labour 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...
candidate, Diana Jeuda, whose husband had previously run for the party in this constituency, was also against joining. There were two other minor anti-EEC candidates, Reginald Simmerson (Anti-Common Market) and Robert Goodall (English Resurgence Movement). Michael Hammond of the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
was the only openly pro-Europe candidate. In the course of the campaign, Winterton changed his position on the issue.
The result was a narrow win for the Conservatives, with a majority down from over 10,000 at the general election to just 1,079.