Edward Timothy Palmer

[1] Born in Croydon, Palmer worked in the insurance industry, and became a leading trade unionist in that sector.

He held the office of president of the National Federation of Insurance Workers and general secretary of the Prudential Staff Union.

He failed to be elected, with his only opponent, George Hopwood Hume, holding the seat for the Conservative Party by a majority of more than 6,000 votes.

Following the loss of a vote of confidence in the House of Commons, a general election was held in October 1924.

When an election was called in October 1931 the supporters of the National Government won a huge majority, with Labour losing most of its seats.