R. J. Russell

[8] In this largely rural constituency, agricultural issues dominated the debates and campaigns with the Liberals promoting the Lloyd George land policy and the Conservatives denouncing it.

[11] In his subsequent parliamentary career, Russell often took a strong interest in countryside matters, the need to support farming as an industry and the importance of cheap food.

He spoke in parliament of the Gladstonian virtues of efficiency, economy[14] and retrenchment[15] and was in favour of temperance and reduction of licensed drinking hours.

In 1932, he played a leading role in opposing a Bill to allow cinemas to open on Sundays, describing the commercialisation of the Sabbath as an "intolerable desecration".

Despite these worries, the Liberal Party led by Sir Herbert Samuel agreed to go into the 1931 general election supporting the government.

As the initial crisis passed, the Liberal Party became increasingly anxious about the government's stance on Free Trade and worried about the predominance of the Conservatives in the coalition.

The meeting resolved to form itself into a body to give firm support to the prime minister as the head of a national government and for the purpose of fighting a general election.

Sir John Simon wrote to the Prime Minister that night to give him the news and the decision was made to call the group Liberal Nationals.