29 DECEMBER 1923, Page 2

The postponed poll of West Derby resulted in a Unionist

gain. Lord Hartington turned a Liberal majority of 90 into a Unionist one of 453. So much for the theory that the result of 'previously declared elections vitally affects subsequent ones. The English are a superbly contradictions people, and it might seem that the fact that the Unionist Party had just suffered one of the great defeats in its history was, to the people of West Derby- shire, a good and sufficient reason for voting for that party. Truth to tell, however, the personal popularity of Lord Hartington had much to do with the result. * * * *