1939 Kincardineshire and Western Aberdeenshire by-election


A parliamentary by-election was held on 30 March 1939 for the British House of Commons constituency of Kincardine and Western Aberdeenshire.

Vacancy

The Unionist MP for the constituency, Sir Malcolm Barclay-Harvey was appointed by the Prime Minister as Governor of South Australia, whereupon he resigned from the House of Commons on 8 March.

Electoral history

The seat was created in 1918 and thereafter became a Unionist/Liberal marginal. The Labour Party had never fielded a candidate. Barclay-Harvey gained it from the Liberals in 1923, lost it to the Liberals in 1929 and won it back again in 1931. The seat was held at the last election with a reduced majority;

Candidates

According to the return of election expenses, the Unionists spent £835 10s 7d on their campaign and the Liberals £652 5s 8d.

Result

Thornton-Kemsley held the seat with a further reduced majority.

Aftermath

In the 1945 general election, there was a further small swing to the Liberals but Thornton-Kemsley hung on again against a new Liberal challenger;
Irvine left the Liberal Party and joined the Labour Party, being defeated in 1945 at Twickenham.