1937 Glasgow Springburn by-election

The1937 Glasgow Springburn by-electionoccurred inGlasgow Springburnon 7 September 1937,which (unusually for a UK election) was a Tuesday.

It was caused by the death ofGeorge Hardie.It was won by his widowAgnes Hardie.

Campaign

The main issue of discussion related not to local concerns, but national concerns ofrearmament.There had been much debate within theLabour Movement,including theLabour Partyand theTrades Union Congress,about theNational Government'sreaction to the emerging situation in Europe. This led eventually to a commitment not to reverse the rearmament program until the international situation had changed. TheConservativecandidate, Colonel McInnes Shaw, was unable to speak at all for eight days during the campaign due to a throat illness and Mrs. Hardie gave only a brief address (with no questions) at an eve-of-poll address.

Result

Glasgow Springburn by-election, 1937

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Agnes Hardie	14,859	62.6	−0.5
	Conservative	McInnes Shaw	8,881	37.4	+0.5
Majority			5,978	25.2	−1.0
Turnout			23,740	50.9	−20.2
	Labourhold		Swing	-0.5

See also

• Glasgow Springburn (UK Parliament constituency)
• List of United Kingdom by-elections (1931–1950)
• George Hardie MP
• Agnes Hardie MP