Portsmouth South

[Pete Whitehead]

There were two by-elections in Portsmouth South in the space of 8 months in 1922-23 and of course two general elections in those years. The first by-election was caused by the resignation of Herbert Cayzer (Con) who had held the seat since 1918. The contest was between a Conservative candidate and an Independent Conservative, the former being elected. On his resignation a few months later a second by-election saw the return of Herbert Cayzer who then went on to hold the seat until 1939.
It seems strange that Cayzer resigned his seat only two months after the general election of 1922 but then returned for the same seat a few months later. Obviously there is some explanation, but I can't find it. Hopefully someone here will know (David Boothroyd or Tangent - i'm looking at you)

[Davıd Boothroyd]

Cayzer was concussed and dislocated his shoulder in an accident while playing polo on 23 June 1921 and was unable to return to work. As was the tradition in those days he went on a six month sea voyage in March 1922 to recover. On his return in August, he came down with diphtheria, which was apparently life-threatening. Nevertheless he recovered in time for the general election.

It was almost immediately after the election (27 November 1922) that Cayzer announced his retirement on grounds of ill health; however it was probably no coincidence that the candidate chosen to succeed him was the Conservative chief whip Leslie Orme Wilson who had unexpectedly lost his seat (he had abandoned Reading for Westminster, St. George's, but did not win it back from the sitting Anti-Waste League MP).

Wilson was duly elected but then appointed Governor of Bombay by Stanley Baldwin. The local association was split (Wilson had been opposed by a local Conservative standing as an unofficial candidate) but Cayzer was respected and was possibly the only candidate who would have united support. He had also recovered from illness. Despite mutterings that Sir William Dupree would contest the selection, he declined and Cayzer was adopted unopposed.

[Pete Whitehead]

Thanks David. I thought you would know!