THREE MEMBERS RETURNED UNOPPOSED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 26 June 1945, Page 2

THREE MEMBERS RETURNED UNOPPOSED

MR CHURCHILL’S OPPONENT MANY “ECCENTRIC” CANDIDATES (Rec. 10 a.m.) Rugby, June 25. The big surprise of nomination day for the General Electio'i is that only three men—all former Members of Parliament—hav** been returned unopposed to the next Parliament which meets on Ist August, writes a lobby correspondent. Thus they are the first members elected to the new House o* Commons. They are Sir William Allen (Conservative, Armagh), who is aged 78 and is believed to be the oldest candidate in the election, Mr Will John (Labour, West Rhondha). former Whip, and Mr D. G. Logan (Labour, Scotland Division of Liverpool) who is a back bencher with a quiet but persistent effective way of pursuing his objectives in the House.

For only three candidates to be returned unopposed is believed to be an all-time vecord. At the last election there were 40.

Excluding the three seats now filled there will now be contests in 617 constituencies to fill the remaining 637 seats. The reason that these numbers do not tally is that some constituencies return two members. Another big surprise in the nominations is that Mr Churchill will, after all, be opposed at Woodford constituency, although both the Labour and Liberal Parties are standing aside there. The man who will come forward to challenge Mr Churchill on ground which the Prime Minister has held for more than 20 years is Mr Alexander Hancock, a 47-year-old faimer, who is fighting as an Independent. Nowadays Hancock farms 100 acres with the help of his two sons. Once, however, he was a shoe manufacturer, from which occupation he retired. He lives near Northampton and intends to 1 ravel daily by train from Northampton to Woodford. Another striking feature of the nominations is the unexpected number of “eccentric" candidates, that is, people running under unconventional designations. There is an Independent Socialist, Free Trade candidate, some Independent Nationals, Co-Operative Labour, Democratics, Commonwealth Labour, Pacifist, one who calls himself “Democratic Unionist Farmers - ndustries,” Independent Christian, Independent Medical and Independent Sporlmari’s candidate. Candidates nominated for the General Election number 1675, which is 97 fewer than the record figure of 1929. Conservative nominations totalled 547, Liberals 305, and Labour 401. There will be seven five-cornered fights, 38 four-cornered, and 291 threecornered.

The nominations included Common Wealth 22, Liberal Nationals 52, Communists 20, Independent 41, National candidates 19, Independent Labour Party 6, Independent Conservatives 3, Scottish Nationalists 8, Welsh Nationalists 7. A total of 88 women candidates, which is 21 more than in 1935 and the highest ever, comprises Labour 42, Liberal 21, Conservative 14, Common Wealth 4, Independent 3, Independent Progressive 2. 2.