1936 Greenock by-election

The 1936 Greenock by-election was a by-election held on 26 November 1936 for the House of Commons constituency of Greenock in Renfrewshire, Scotland.

Vacancy

The seat had become vacant on 13 October 1936 when the Secretary of State for Scotland, Sir Godfrey Collins had died at the age of 61. A National Liberal Member of Parliament (MP), he had held the seat since the January 1910 general election.

Candidates

The National Liberal candidate was V. E. Cornelius, who had not previously contested a parliamentary election.

His only opponent was the Labour Party candidate, 50-year-old Robert Gibson. Gibson had unsuccessfully contested one by-election and three general elections most recently at Dundee in 1935.

Result

On a high turnout, the result was a victory for Gibson, who won the seat with a swing of nearly 8%. He held the seat until his resignation in 1941.

Votes

Greenock by-election, 26 November 1936
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Robert Gibson 20,594 53.4 +9.4
National Liberal V. E. Cornelius 17,990 46.6 −6.1
Majority 2,604 6.8 N/A
Turnout 38,584 83.3 −1.1
Labour gain from National Liberal Swing +7.85
General election, November 1935: Greenock
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Liberal Godfrey Collins 20,299 52.7 +1.6
Labour T. Irwin 16,945 44.0 +13.3
SNP J. L. Kinloch 1,286 3.3 New
Majority 3,354 8.7 −15.7
Turnout 38,530 84.4 +4.1
National Liberal hold Swing −5.9

See also

  • Greenock (UK Parliament constituency)
  • Greenock
  • 1941 Greenock by-election
  • 1955 Greenock by-election
  • List of United Kingdom by-elections (1931–1950)

Sources

  • Craig, F. W. S. (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
  • Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs
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