1937 Islington North by-election

The 1937 Islington North by-election was a parliamentary by-election held on 13 October 1937 for the British House of Commons constituency of Islington North in Islington, North London.

1937 Islington North by-election

← 1935 13 October 1937 1945 →

Constituency of Islington North
Turnout40.4% (Decrease 19.3%)
  First party Second party
 
Con
Candidate Leslie Haden-Guest Wilfrid Sugden
Party Labour Conservative
Popular vote 13,523 12,227
Percentage 52.5% 47.5%
Swing Increase 6.9% Decrease 6.9%

A map of parliamentary constituencies within the County of London at the time of the by-election, with Islington North highlighted in red.

MP before election

Albert Goodman
Conservative

Subsequent MP

Leslie Haden-Guest
Conservative

The seat had become vacant when the constituency's Conservative Member of Parliament (MP), Albert Goodman, died on 22 August 1937, aged 57. He had held the seat since the 1931 general election.

The result of the contest was a victory for the Labour candidate, Leslie Haden-Guest, who won with a majority of 1,296 over the Conservative candidate, former MP Sir Wilfrid Sugden. Haden Guest represented the constituency until he stepped down at the 1950 general election.

The constituency has been held by Labour ever since, save for a brief period in the 1980s when incumbent Labour MP Michael O'Halloran joined the breakaway Social Democratic Party.

Islington North by-election, 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Leslie Haden-Guest 13,523 52.5 +6.9
Conservative Wilfrid Sugden 12,227 47.5 −6.9
Majority 1,296 5.0 N/A
Turnout 27,750 40.4 -19.3
Registered electors 63,747
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +6.9

See also edit

References edit

  • 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 Peerage Pages [self-published source] [better source needed]