1962 Middlesbrough West by-election

The 1962 Middlesbrough West by-election was held on 6 June 1962 when the incumbent Conservative MP, Sir Jocelyn Simon was appointed as President of the Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Division of the High Court. The by-election was won by the Labour MP, Jeremy Bray, who retained the gain at the 1964 general election.

Malcolm Thompson had been denied a requested discharge from the British Armed Forces to enroll at university. He instead availed of the automatic military discharge for Parliamentary candidates at the cost of losing his election deposit. Eight candidates at four by-elections in November followed his example before the rules on election military discharges were tightened in 1963.[1]

Middlesbrough West by-election, 1962
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jeremy Bray 15,095 39.67 +4.22
Conservative Bernard Connelly 12,825 33.70 −21.18
Liberal George Scott 9,829 25.83 +16.16
Independent Russell Ernest Eckley 189 0.50 New
Independent Malcolm Thompson 117 0.31 New
Majority 2,270 5.97 N/A
Turnout 38,055
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

References

  1. ^
    • Leonard, Dick; Mortimore, Roger (2001). Elections in Britain: A Voter's Guide (4th ed.). New York: Palgrave. pp. 86–87. ISBN 978-0-333-91799-2 – via Open Library.
    • "Parliamentary Elections (Service Candidates)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 669. Commons. 18 December 1962. col. 1086–1089.
    • Craig, F. W. S. Minor Parties at British Parliamentary Elections. London: Macmillan. p. 129. SBN 333 17152 7.
    • Feron, James (11 March 1963). "175 'candidates' Avoid Yorkshire; Servicemen Having Second Thoughts on Election; Servicemen Screened; 2 Other Elections Slated". The New York Times. p. 3. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
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