Newport by-election, 1922
Encyclopedia
The Newport by-election, 1922 was by-election
held in the parliamentary constituency of Newport
on 18 October 1922. The by-election attracted especial attention, both at the time and since, as it was seen as a crucial electoral test of the viability of the Lloyd George Coalition Government, formed of followers of David Lloyd George
with the Conservative Party
, the latter of which contained an increasing number of members who wished to leave the coalition and regain the party's independence.
of Newport
was a large industrial town that had greatly expanded in the late nineteenth century and had consequently been granted a constituency in its own right in the 1918 redistribution
. Prior to this it had been part of the Monmouth Boroughs constituency
.
In the 1918 general election
the seat inherited both Monmouth's Liberal tradition and its MP, with Lewis Haslam
winning as a "Coalition Liberal" supporting the Coalition Government and endorsed by both the Liberal and Conservative parties. Locally Conservatives in Wales despised the coalition and regarded the electoral pact as valid for one election only. They were further enraged when Haslam did not give support for Conservative measures despite their support.
The key breach came over the 1921 Licensing Bill which raised the question of whether Monmouthshire
was part of Wales
or England
. This had become a particularly significant local issue, with the Liberals tending to the former position and the Conservatives to the latter. The Bill included Monmouthshire with Wales and so threatened early closing, whilst Haslam's support for the temperance movement
provoked further hostility. Consequently the local Conservatives moved to adopt an official candidate of their own for the next general election, choosing Reginald Clarry
on July 26, 1922. He received backing from the anti-Coalition wing of the Conservative Party, including endorsements in the Morning Post
. His candidature was not well received by the Conservative leadership at Westminster, with Austen Chamberlain
, leader of the Conservative MPs, requesting that Conservative Central Office should not aid Clarry's campaign, but crucially Clarry was still the official party nominee for the seat and it would be dangerous for any leader of the party to provoke a row by repudiating the official nominee.
The Labour Party ran J.W. Bowen, who had previously contested the seat in the 1918 General Election. He was General Secretary of the Postal Workers Union.
The Liberal Party candidate proved the most crucial choice. The local association nominally supported David Lloyd George
rather than Herbert Henry Asquith in the split in the party, but by 1922 this may have been a tactical measure to prevent the establishment of a separate Lloyd George Liberal Party, as had happened in constituencies where the association supported Asquith. There was much uncertainty over what sort of Liberal candidate would be adopted, with the press reporting both that local Liberals wanted an anti-Coalition candidate but they appeared to approach prominent individuals from both factions of the party. In the end they selected William Lynden Moore, the Newport coroner, who ran as a "Liberal" and declined to run as either a Lloyd George supporter or an Asquithian but instead used the slogan "reunited Liberalism," implying opposition to the Coalition.
As a result there was no candidate in the election who was an official supporter of the Coalition.
One of the biggest issues revolved around alcohol
, with the Conservative campaign opposing the Licensing Bill whilst both the Labour and Liberal campaigns regularly held meetings in the Temperance Hall and had strong support from prominent temperance campaigners. Clarry sought the traditional working-class support for the Conservatives that existed in Newport on the matter.
The candidates argued over local identity, with Moore claiming to be the only local man whilst Clarry hailed from Swansea and Bowen from London. Clarry countered, both by using a letterhead on all literature with a Newport address and by stressing his knowledge of industry and Newport's reliance upon it.
The question of which candidate was best placed to win proved crucial in what was regarded as a genuine three-way marginal contest, as this would determine which candidate would receive the votes opposed to them. Many expected Bowen to win for Labour and both the Conservative and Liberal supporting press tried to argue that the other candidate was out of the running. By the end of the campaign most expected Bowen to win with Clarry in second place and Moore a clear third.
had been facing a growing rebellion amongst Conservative MPs over the Conservatives' continued support for the Coalition, and so had called a meeting of MPs at the Carlton Club
to decide the issue. Expecting a Labour victory in Newport, the meeting was scheduled for October 19 in the hope that the result would persuade many Conservatives of the merits of remaining in alliance with the Liberals as the only way to keep Labour out of power.
The Carlton Club meeting
took place nine hours after the declaration and many interpreted the result as a rejection of the Coalition, even though locally it appeared more a rejection of Labour and a vote for the Conservative candidate. The extent to which the by-election result alone influenced the outcome of the Conservative Party meeting is debated, but the meeting voted by 187:87 to leave the Coalition, with Austen Chamberlain resigning the leadership immediately afterwards.
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
held in the parliamentary constituency of Newport
Newport (Monmouthshire) (UK Parliament constituency)
Newport was a borough constituency in Monmouthshire from 1918 to 1983. 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....
on 18 October 1922. The by-election attracted especial attention, both at the time and since, as it was seen as a crucial electoral test of the viability of the Lloyd George Coalition Government, formed of followers of David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
with the Conservative Party
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...
, the latter of which contained an increasing number of members who wished to leave the coalition and regain the party's independence.
Background of the constituency
The county boroughCounty borough
County borough is a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , to refer to a borough or a city independent of county council control. They were abolished by the Local Government Act 1972 in England and Wales, but continue in use for lieutenancy and shrievalty in...
of Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
was a large industrial town that had greatly expanded in the late nineteenth century and had consequently been granted a constituency in its own right in the 1918 redistribution
Representation of the People Act 1918
The Representation of the People Act 1918 was an Act of Parliament passed to reform the electoral system in the United Kingdom. It is sometimes known as the Fourth Reform Act...
. Prior to this it had been part of the Monmouth Boroughs constituency
Monmouth Boroughs (UK Parliament constituency)
Monmouth Boroughs was a parliamentary constituency consisting of several towns in Monmouthshire...
.
In the 1918 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1918
The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom general election in which nearly all adult men and some women could vote. Polling was held on 14 December 1918, although the count did...
the seat inherited both Monmouth's Liberal tradition and its MP, with Lewis Haslam
Lewis Haslam
Lewis Haslam , was a Liberal Party Member of Parliament in Wales, representing Monmouth Boroughs from 1906 to 1918 and then Newport from 1918 until his death in 1922...
winning as a "Coalition Liberal" supporting the Coalition Government and endorsed by both the Liberal and Conservative parties. Locally Conservatives in Wales despised the coalition and regarded the electoral pact as valid for one election only. They were further enraged when Haslam did not give support for Conservative measures despite their support.
The key breach came over the 1921 Licensing Bill which raised the question of whether Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire (historic)
Monmouthshire , also known as the County of Monmouth , is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county....
was part of Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
or England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. This had become a particularly significant local issue, with the Liberals tending to the former position and the Conservatives to the latter. The Bill included Monmouthshire with Wales and so threatened early closing, whilst Haslam's support for the temperance movement
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
provoked further hostility. Consequently the local Conservatives moved to adopt an official candidate of their own for the next general election, choosing Reginald Clarry
Reginald Clarry
Sir Reginald George Clarry, , was a Conservative Party Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom, representing the Newport constituency in Monmouthshire from 1922 to 1929 and from 1931 to 1945....
on July 26, 1922. He received backing from the anti-Coalition wing of the Conservative Party, including endorsements in the Morning Post
Morning Post
The Morning Post, as the paper was named on its masthead, was a conservative daily newspaper published in London from 1772 to 1937, when it was acquired by The Daily Telegraph.- History :...
. His candidature was not well received by the Conservative leadership at Westminster, with Austen Chamberlain
Austen Chamberlain
Sir Joseph Austen Chamberlain, KG was a British statesman, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and half-brother of Neville Chamberlain.- Early life and career :...
, leader of the Conservative MPs, requesting that Conservative Central Office should not aid Clarry's campaign, but crucially Clarry was still the official party nominee for the seat and it would be dangerous for any leader of the party to provoke a row by repudiating the official nominee.
1918 General Election result
Candidates
The Conservatives ran the already selected Reginald Clarry, a self-made man who had worked as a civil engineer.The Labour Party ran J.W. Bowen, who had previously contested the seat in the 1918 General Election. He was General Secretary of the Postal Workers Union.
The Liberal Party candidate proved the most crucial choice. The local association nominally supported David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
rather than Herbert Henry Asquith in the split in the party, but by 1922 this may have been a tactical measure to prevent the establishment of a separate Lloyd George Liberal Party, as had happened in constituencies where the association supported Asquith. There was much uncertainty over what sort of Liberal candidate would be adopted, with the press reporting both that local Liberals wanted an anti-Coalition candidate but they appeared to approach prominent individuals from both factions of the party. In the end they selected William Lynden Moore, the Newport coroner, who ran as a "Liberal" and declined to run as either a Lloyd George supporter or an Asquithian but instead used the slogan "reunited Liberalism," implying opposition to the Coalition.
As a result there was no candidate in the election who was an official supporter of the Coalition.
Campaign
Despite being traditionally seen as a by-election that determined the fate of the Coalition, the election largely ignored it. All three candidates denounced its continued existence and focused on both what would replace the Coalition and local issues.One of the biggest issues revolved around alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
, with the Conservative campaign opposing the Licensing Bill whilst both the Labour and Liberal campaigns regularly held meetings in the Temperance Hall and had strong support from prominent temperance campaigners. Clarry sought the traditional working-class support for the Conservatives that existed in Newport on the matter.
The candidates argued over local identity, with Moore claiming to be the only local man whilst Clarry hailed from Swansea and Bowen from London. Clarry countered, both by using a letterhead on all literature with a Newport address and by stressing his knowledge of industry and Newport's reliance upon it.
The question of which candidate was best placed to win proved crucial in what was regarded as a genuine three-way marginal contest, as this would determine which candidate would receive the votes opposed to them. Many expected Bowen to win for Labour and both the Conservative and Liberal supporting press tried to argue that the other candidate was out of the running. By the end of the campaign most expected Bowen to win with Clarry in second place and Moore a clear third.
Results
Polling took place on October 18, 1922. The result was announced at 2am the next morning.Consequences
Austen ChamberlainAusten Chamberlain
Sir Joseph Austen Chamberlain, KG was a British statesman, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and half-brother of Neville Chamberlain.- Early life and career :...
had been facing a growing rebellion amongst Conservative MPs over the Conservatives' continued support for the Coalition, and so had called a meeting of MPs at the Carlton Club
Carlton Club
The Carlton Club is a gentlemen's club in London which describes itself as the "oldest, most elite, and most important of all Conservative clubs." Membership of the club is by nomination and election only.-History:...
to decide the issue. Expecting a Labour victory in Newport, the meeting was scheduled for October 19 in the hope that the result would persuade many Conservatives of the merits of remaining in alliance with the Liberals as the only way to keep Labour out of power.
The Carlton Club meeting
Carlton Club meeting, 19 October 1922
The Carlton Club meeting on 19 October 1922 was a formal meeting of Members of Parliament who belonged to the Conservative Party, called to discuss whether the party should remain in government in coalition with a section of the Liberal Party under the leadership of Liberal Prime Minister David...
took place nine hours after the declaration and many interpreted the result as a rejection of the Coalition, even though locally it appeared more a rejection of Labour and a vote for the Conservative candidate. The extent to which the by-election result alone influenced the outcome of the Conservative Party meeting is debated, but the meeting voted by 187:87 to leave the Coalition, with Austen Chamberlain resigning the leadership immediately afterwards.
See also
- Newport constituencyNewport (Monmouthshire) (UK Parliament constituency)Newport was a borough constituency in Monmouthshire from 1918 to 1983. 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....
- Newport by-election, 1945Newport by-election, 1945The Newport by-election, 1945 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....
- Newport by-election, 1956Newport by-election, 1956The Newport by-election, 1956 was a parliamentary by-election held on 6 July 1956 for the British House of Commons constituency of Newport in Monmouthshire....
Sources
- Ramsden, John "The Newport by-election and the fall of the Coalition" in Cook, Chris and Ramsden, John (Eds) By-elections in British politics (UCL Press, 1997)