1957 Wednesbury by-election explained

Election Name:1957 Wednesbury by-election
Popular Vote2:9,999
Swing2:11.64%
Swing1:1.77%
After Party:Labour Party (UK)
After Election:John Stonehouse
Before Party:Labour Party (UK)
Before Election:Stanley Evans
Posttitle:Subsequent MP
MP
Percentage2:27.96%
Party2:Conservative Party (UK)
Type:parliamentary
Candidate2:Peter Tapsell
Percentage1:62.17%
Popular Vote1:22,235
Party1:Labour Party (UK)
Candidate1:John Stonehouse
Election Date:28 February 1957
Next Year:1959
Next Election:1959 United Kingdom general election
Previous Year:1955
Previous Election:1955 United Kingdom general election
Country:United Kingdom
Seats For Election:Constituency of Wednesbury
Candidate3:Michael Wade
Popular Vote3:3,529
Percentage3:9.87
Party3:Independent (politician)

The 1957 Wednesbury by-election was held on 28 February 1957 after the incumbent Labour MP, Stanley Evans, resigned from the House of Commons and the Labour Party after he had refused to vote against the Conservative government on the Suez Crisis. The Labour candidate, John Stonehouse, retained the seat with an increased majority.

Background

In November 1956 there was a vote of confidence in the Conservative government caused by the Suez Crisis. Evans abstained on the vote, being the only Labour MP not to follow the party whip.[1] Although he was not disciplined by the Parliamentary Labour Party, the Wednesbury Divisional Labour Party were highly critical of him. On 17 November the Divisional Party unanimously passed a resolution calling on him to resign, and on 20 November Evans announced his resignation from both the House of Commons and the Labour Party.[2] He formally resigned his seat by taking the office of Crown Steward and Bailiff of the three Chiltern Hundreds of Stoke, Desborough and Burnham on 26 November.

Candidates

The resulting by-election was held on 28 February 1957.[3] The Labour Party chose John Stonehouse, a lecturer who had previously unsuccessfully contested two general elections at Twickenham and Burton-upon-Trent.[4] The Conservatives chose Peter Tapsell, a former member of the Conservative Research Department.[5] An independent candidate, Wolverhampton solicitor Michael Wade, announced his candidacy hours before the close of nominations on 18 February.[6]

Result

Stonehouse held the seat for Labour with an increased majority.[7]

Notes and References

  1. News: Government Majority of 67 in Confidence Vote. The Times. 2 November 1956. 4.
  2. News: Mr S. Evans, M.P., resigns. The Times. 21 November 1956. 6.
  3. News: Polling Date in Wednesbury. The Times. 11 February 1957. 4.
  4. News: Labour's Choice for Wednesbury. 21 January 1957. 4.
  5. News: Conservative Choice. The Times. 5 January 1957. 3.
  6. News: Independent Candidate Steps In At Wednesbury. 19 February 1957. 4. The Times.
  7. News: Labour Holds Wednesbury. The Times. 1 March 1957. 8.