1942 Salisbury by-election
# 1942 Salisbury by-election

The 1942 Salisbury by-election was a by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Salisbury in Wiltshire on 8 July 1942. It was won by the Conservative Party candidate John Morrison, later Baron Margadale.

## Vacancy

The seat had become vacant on the death of the 55-year-old sitting Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) James Despencer-Robertson. He had won the seat at a by-election in 1931, having previously been MP for Islington West from 1922 to 1923.

## Candidates

The Conservative candidate was 36-year-old John Morrison.

During World War II, most by-elections were unopposed, since the major parties had agreed not to contest by-elections when vacancies arose in seats held by the other parties; contests occurred only when independent candidates or minor parties chose to stand, and the Common Wealth Party was formed with the specific aim of contesting war-time by-elections.

In Salisbury, there were two independent candidates: William Reginald Hipwell, editor of Reveille, a " barrack room newspaper for the fighting forces", stood as an Independent Progressive and J. D. Monro as an "Independent Democrat".

## Result

On a greatly reduced turnout, Morrison held the seat for the Conservatives, with more than two-thirds of the votes and a majority of 8,858. He held the seat until his elevation to the peerage in 1965.

## Votes

Salisbury by-election, July 1942 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | John Morrison | 12,076 | 67.8 | −3.7 |
| | Independent Progressive | William Reginald Hipwell | 3,218 | 18.1 | New |
| | Independent Democrat | J. D. Monro | 2,519 | 14.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,858 | 49.7 | +6.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,813 | 39.7 | −26.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

General election May 1935: Salisbury :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | James Despencer-Robertson | 20,707 | 71.5 | −5.4 |
| | Labour | E. J. Plaisted | 8,259 | 28.5 | +5.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,448 | 43.0 | −10.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 28,966 | 66.2 | −5.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −5.4 | |
