1945 Combined Scottish Universities by-election

1945 Combined Scottish Universities by-election

9–13 April 1945
Constituency ofCombined Scottish Universities
Turnout	44.6% (7.5%)
First party Second party LNP Candidate John Boyd Orr R. M. Munro Party Independent National Liberal Popular vote 20,197 8,177 Percentage 71.2% 28.8%
MP before election George Morrison National Liberal Subsequent MP John Boyd Orr Independent

The1945 Combined Scottish Universities by-electionwas aby-electionheld from 9 to 13 April 1945 for theCombined Scottish Universities,auniversity constituencyof theBritish House of Commons.

Vacancy

The seat had become vacant on 6 March 1945 when theNational LiberalMember of Parliament(MP)George Morrisonhadresignedby the procedural device of accepting the post ofCrown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead,a notional 'office of profit under the crown' which is used as a procedural device to enable MPs to resign from the Commons.

Candidates

Two candidates contested the by-election. TheRector of the University of Glasgow,SirJohn Boyd Orr,stood as anindependent.He was a doctor and biologist, and founder of theRowett Research Institute.

The other candidate was R. M. Munro of theNational Liberal Party.

Result

The result was a victory for Boyd Orr, who won over 70% of the votes. He held the seat until 1946, when he resigned to take up the post of Director of theUnited NationsFood and Agriculture Organization.

Votes

Combined Scottish Universities by-election, 9–13 April 1945

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	John Boyd Orr	20,197	71.2	N/A
	National Liberal	R. M.Munro	8,177	28.8	N/A
Majority			12,020	42.4	N/A
Turnout			28,374	44.6	−7.5
	IndependentgainfromNational Liberal		Swing

See also

• Combined Scottish Universities (UK Parliament constituency)
• 1927 Combined Scottish Universities by-election
• 1934 Combined Scottish Universities by-election
• 1935 Combined Scottish Universities by-election
• 1936 Combined Scottish Universities by-election
• 1938 Combined Scottish Universities by-election
• 1946 Combined Scottish Universities by-election
• List of United Kingdom by-elections (1931–1950)

Sources

• Craig, F. W. S.(1983) [1969].British parliamentary election results 1918-1949(3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services.ISBN0-900178-06-X.
• Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs