1945 Motherwell by-election

The 1945 Motherwell by-election was held on 12 April 1945, following the death of Labour Party Member of Parliament (MP) for Motherwell, James Walker.

1945 Motherwell by-election

12 April 1945
Motherwell constituency
First party Second party   Candidate Robert McIntyre Alexander Anderson Party SNP Labour Popular vote 11,417 10,800 Percentage 51.4% 48.6% Swing 51.4% 2.1%
Map showing the Motherwell Parliamentary constituency within Scotland.
MP before election James Walker Labour Subsequent MP Robert McIntyre SNP

The by-election took place during the Second World War during unusual political conditions. No general election had been held since 1935, at which James Walker narrowly gained the seat for Labour from the Unionist Party.

There was a truce between the major parties: Labour, the Conservative Party, Liberal Party and the National Liberal Party. The Communist Party of Great Britain, which had held Motherwell in the past, also undertook to abide by the truce. As a result, the only opposition in by-elections came from independents, minor parties and occasional unofficial party candidates aligned with major parties.

For the by-election, the Labour Party stood Alexander Anderson. His only opposition came from the Scottish National Party (SNP), then a small party advocating Scottish independence, who stood Party Secretary Robert McIntyre.

Result

The by-election was won by McIntyre, who became the first SNP Member of Parliament. However, Anderson regained the seat from McIntyre at the 1945 general election a few months later.

1945 Motherwell by-election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	SNP	Robert McIntyre	11,417	51.4	New
	Labour	Alexander Anderson	10,800	48.6	−2.1
Majority			617	2.8	N/A
Turnout			22,217	54.0	−21.9
	SNP gain from Labour		Swing	N/A

See also

• List of United Kingdom by-elections (1931–1950)

References

• Dick Douglas, At the Helm: The Life & Times of Dr. Robert D McIntyre