1923 Tiverton by-election

The by-election was caused by the death from pneumonia on 22 May 1923 of the sitting Unionist Party MP, Herbert Sparkes.

[2] The Unionists selected Colonel Gilbert Acland-Troyte from Bampton near Tiverton, a professional soldier, as their candidate.

[3] The Liberals stuck with Acland,[3] who had formerly been MP for Richmond in the North Riding of Yorkshire and for Camborne in Cornwall and who had been a government minister.

[4] Brown tried to make capital on this issue too emphasising his role as the local organiser for the Agricultural Workers’ Union.

[8] While Acland-Troyte also defended the government’s overall record, Francis Acland was playing up his south-western credentials and his personal qualities.