Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles by-election, 1965
Encyclopedia
The Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles by-election
was significant in that it led to the election of David Steel
, who went on to lead the Liberal Party
, to the British House of Commons
for the first time. As such it was a milestone in the revival of that party's political fortunes from their nadir in the 1950s.
, a large rural constituency in the Scottish borders, had been safely Conservative
for many years. The Liberal Party's 26-year-old candidate David Steel had dramatically cut Commander Charles Donaldson
's majority in the general election of October 1964
. When Donaldson died some months later it was clear that the ensuing by-election
represented an opportunity for the Liberals to repeat previous by-election triumphs in Torrington
and Orpington
. However, the Conservatives were now in opposition rather than in government and the party's standing in the constituency was thought to have been further bolstered as their leader, Sir Alec Douglas-Home
was himself a Scot, representing the rather similar constituency of Kinross and West Perthshire to the north.
. Douglas-Home resigned as leader shortly afterwards, and in the first election for party leader from amongst the Conservative MPs, was replaced by Edward Heath
.
Although the Labour candidate lost his deposit, the governing party enjoyed the Conservatives' discomfort, and the result represented a turning point in the government's political fortunes after a very uncertain opening few months. For the Liberals, the acquision of a talented young MP was still rare enough to be extremely welcome. Steel soon made a national impression and it was his Private Member's Bill
which led to the legalisation of abortion
in 1967. He would go on to represent the area at Westminster until 1997.
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
was significant in that it led to the election of David Steel
David Steel
David Martin Scott Steel, Baron Steel of Aikwood, KT, KBE, PC is a British Liberal Democrat politician who served as the Leader of the Liberal Party from 1976 until its merger with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the Liberal Democrats...
, who went on to lead 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...
, to 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...
for the first time. As such it was a milestone in the revival of that party's political fortunes from their nadir in the 1950s.
Background
Roxburgh, Selkirk and PeeblesRoxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles (UK Parliament constituency)
Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1955 to 1983...
, a large rural constituency in the Scottish borders, had been safely Conservative
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...
for many years. The Liberal Party's 26-year-old candidate David Steel had dramatically cut Commander Charles Donaldson
Charles Donaldson
Charles Edward McArthur Donaldson was a Scottish Conservative Party politician.He was elected at the 1951 general election as Member of Parliament for Roxburgh and Selkirk...
's majority in the general election of October 1964
United Kingdom general election, 1964
The United Kingdom general election of 1964 was held on 15 October 1964, more than five years after the preceding election, and thirteen years after the Conservative Party had retaken power...
. When Donaldson died some months later it was clear that the ensuing by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
represented an opportunity for the Liberals to repeat previous by-election triumphs in Torrington
Torrington by-election, 1958
The Torrington by-election of 1958, in Devon, England, was the first gain by the British Liberal Party at a by-election since Holland with Boston in 1929....
and Orpington
Orpington by-election, 1962
The Orpington by-election of 1962 is often described as the start of the Liberal Party revival in the United Kingdom.The election was caused by the appointment of Donald Sumner, Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Orpington as a County Court Judge...
. However, the Conservatives were now in opposition rather than in government and the party's standing in the constituency was thought to have been further bolstered as their leader, Sir Alec Douglas-Home
Alec Douglas-Home
Alexander Frederick Douglas-Home, Baron Home of the Hirsel, KT, PC , known as The Earl of Home from 1951 to 1963 and as Sir Alec Douglas-Home from 1963 to 1974, was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from October 1963 to October 1964.He is the last...
was himself a Scot, representing the rather similar constituency of Kinross and West Perthshire to the north.
Result
The election was held on Wednesday 24 March 1965. The result was a major defeat for the Conservatives. The votes cast were as follows:Reaction
This defeat was seen as a huge setback for the Conservatives, coming on top of their defeat in the general election the previous year and wiping out the boost they had received in the Leyton by-election, 1965Leyton by-election, 1965
The Leyton by-election, 1965 was a parliamentary by-election held on 21 January 1965 for the British House of Commons constituency of Leyton in east London....
. Douglas-Home resigned as leader shortly afterwards, and in the first election for party leader from amongst the Conservative MPs, was replaced by Edward Heath
Edward Heath
Sir Edward Richard George "Ted" Heath, KG, MBE, PC was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and as Leader of the Conservative Party ....
.
Although the Labour candidate lost his deposit, the governing party enjoyed the Conservatives' discomfort, and the result represented a turning point in the government's political fortunes after a very uncertain opening few months. For the Liberals, the acquision of a talented young MP was still rare enough to be extremely welcome. Steel soon made a national impression and it was his Private Member's Bill
Private Member's Bill
A member of parliament’s legislative motion, called a private member's bill or a member's bill in some parliaments, is a proposed law introduced by a member of a legislature. In most countries with a parliamentary system, most bills are proposed by the government, not by individual members of the...
which led to the legalisation of abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
in 1967. He would go on to represent the area at Westminster until 1997.
External links
- Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles (UK Parliament constituency)Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles (UK Parliament constituency)Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1955 to 1983...
- British Parliamentary By Elections: Campaign literature from the by-election