Sir Robert Bird, the son of the late Coalition Unionist
member for West Wolverhampton, retained the seat in the by-election on Tuesday, defeating the Labour candidate, Mr. Walkden, by a majority of 2,991 on a very heavy poll. The Unionist received 16,790 votes—or 3,461 more than his father had at tho General Election ; Mr. Walkden, who was a candidate in 1918, polled 13,799 votes—an increase of 3,641. The Unionist majority was thus only 180 votes less than before. The result was a great disappointment for the Labour Party, who had the full support of the Independent Liberals and who were confident of winning easily. They fought the election on the question of unemployment, but they were much embarrassed by their alliance with the Communists in the London County Council election and by the object lesson in Socialist malad- ministration which Poplar affords.
Previous page
