Английская Википедия:1940 Cambridge University by-election

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Шаблон:Use dmy dates Шаблон:Infobox electionThe 1940 Cambridge University by-election was a parliamentary by-election for the British House of Commons constituency of Cambridge University on 23 February 1940. Cambridge University was a two-member constituency.

Vacancy

The by-election was caused by the death of the sitting Conservative MP, Sir John James Withers on 29 December 1939 at the age of 76. He had been one of the MPs here since holding the seat in the 1926 Cambridge University by-election.

Election history

In the 1935 general election it elected two Conservative MPs. Cambridge University had been won by Conservatives at every election since 1922 when an Independent Liberal won one of the seats. The result at the last General election was as follows; Шаблон:Election box begin Шаблон:Election box winning candidate with party link Шаблон:Election box winning candidate with party link Шаблон:Election box candidate with party link Шаблон:Election box majority Шаблон:Election box turnout Шаблон:Election box hold with party link Шаблон:Election box end

Candidates

Due to the wartime electoral truce, the party who were defending the seat were assured of not facing an official candidate from the other political parties. However, the Conservative party, who were defending the seat, did not put forward an official candidate.

Файл:Keynes 1933.jpg
John Maynard Keynes in 1933

In 1939, before Withers had died, his health was not good and it was expected that a by-election would need to take place. The Master of Magdalene College, Allen Beville Ramsay had obtained agreement that none of the major parties would field a candidate if prominent economist, John Maynard Keynes chose to stand. Keynes was a Liberal party member and so unlikely to win the seat if a Conservative was standing. Keynes declined the invitation as he felt he would wield greater influence on events if he remained a free agent.[1]

Файл:Archibald Vivian Hill.jpg
Dr. Archibald Hill in 1922

Eventually, Keynes brother in law, 54-year-old Prof. Archibald Hill became a candidate, standing as an Independent Conservative. He was professor of physiology at University College, London. In 1933, he became a founder member and vice-president of the Academic Assistance Council (which became the Society for the Protection of Science and Learning in 1936). By the start of the Second World War, the organisation had saved 900 academics from the Nazi persecution.

Fifty-one-year-old Prof. John Ryle came forward to stand as an Independent Progressive. He was appointed in 1935 Regius Professor of Physic at the University of Cambridge. Ryle was politically active at Cambridge, helping Jewish scholars emigrate from Germany and Austria before World War II. During the early stages of the war, he was working at Guy's Hospital to help them prepare for the Blitz.

Result

Polling took place over four days from 19 to 23 February. Hill took the seat from the Conservatives as an Independent Conservative Шаблон:Election box begin Шаблон:Election box winning candidate with party link Шаблон:Election box candidate with party link Шаблон:Election box majority Шаблон:Election box turnout Шаблон:Election box gain with party link Шаблон:Election box end

Aftermath

Hill did not contest the 1945 general election, in which the two seats were won by one Conservative and one Independent; Шаблон:STV Election box begin2 Шаблон:STV Election box candidate2 Шаблон:STV Election box candidate2 Шаблон:STV Election box candidate2 Шаблон:STV Election box candidate2 Шаблон:STV Election box candidate2 Шаблон:STV Election box end2

References

Шаблон:Reflist

See also

Шаблон:By-elections to the 37th UK Parliament

  1. Clarke, Peter (2009). Keynes : The Twentieth Century's Most Influential Economist.