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Post by hullenedge on Jun 30, 2014 14:43:47 GMT
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ColinJ
Labour
Living in the Past
Posts: 2,126
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Post by ColinJ on Jul 3, 2014 8:07:52 GMT
I was interested by the comment that “Leeds swung away from the trend”, presumably following Labour's three gains (compared to 1935’s election) in Woodhouse, Bramley, and Farnley and Wortley wards, so I did a small further investigation. Using the three available volumes of “County Borough Elections in England and Wales 1919-1938”, and just considering boroughs in Yorkshire, we find: Barnsley: Under Labour control, but no Labour gains or losses in 1938. Bradford: Labour in 1938 were in a much poorer position than in 1935. This was due to a “mini general election” in 1937 when all seats were contested following boundary revision, and also due to splits and defections to the ILP and Independent Labour. An interesting comment from the authors in their commentary to the Bradford results was: “Nationally Labour was in any case doing badly in most boroughs in the late 1930s.” Dewsbury: Independent control; in the 1938 election Labour and Independent both had one gain and one loss. Compared to 1935, both Ind and Lab had the same number of representatives. Doncaster: Progressive control. In 1938 an Independent gained a seat from the Progressives. Labour had no gains or losses. Admittedly a small sample so far, but Labour’s performance in Leeds does appear to go “against the trend” and to be superior to that in other boroughs. Any ideas why? |
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Post by hullenedge on Jul 3, 2014 11:37:55 GMT
Apologies for laziness upon my part because I ought to have provided more information.
Laybourn & Reynolds 'Labour Heartland', Labour's municipal representation in West Yorkshire (Batley, Bradford, Brighouse, Dewsbury, Halifax, Huddersfield, Keighley, Leeds, Morley, Pudsey, Todmorden, Wakefield) 1930-38:-
1930 - 156, 1931 - 137, 1932 - 142, 1933 - 162, 1934 - 185, 1935 - 182, 1936 - 194, 1937 - 189, 1938 - 169.
I haven't double-checked those figures but I will post more results as time allows. Unfortunately we have the 'hurdle' of counting Tories & Liberals who chose to stand under an 'independent' label. It's a pain because they flit between various designations. No chance of an anti-Tory Popular Front in the West Riding at this time. The Liberals formed pacts with the Conservatives on most councils to keep out Labour, which may have depressed Labour's true strength across the county.
No surprise that the Yorkshire Post does not elaborate upon Labour's three gains in Leeds. It was a staunchly Conservative newspaper and had very little time for the socialists. It does state that the gains were not as good as expected for Labour! The coverage of the Tory gains in Wakefield receives much praise.
I wish that I could recall where I read (and you have suspend disbelief given the international situation) that Neville Chamberlain would most likely have led the Conservatives to victory if an election had been called in 1939 or 1940 given the improved Tory performance in the locals from 1937 to 1939. (Morley/Davies later volumes? Cook/Ramsden? Laybourn?).
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Post by hullenedge on Jul 3, 2014 11:59:32 GMT
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ColinJ
Labour
Living in the Past
Posts: 2,126
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Post by ColinJ on Jul 3, 2014 13:32:11 GMT
The level of detail - electorates, turnouts, etc - printed by the Yorkshire Post is to be admired.
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Post by hullenedge on Jul 3, 2014 20:07:29 GMT
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