1931 Stroud by-election

The 1931 Stroud by-election was held on 21 May 1931. The by-election was held due to the resignation of the incumbent Conservative MP, Sir Frank Nelson. It was won by the Conservative candidate Walter Perkins.

Candidates

The Liberal Party ran 56 year-old Arthur William Stanton of Field Place, Stroud. Stanton was a solicitor. He had been their candidate at both the 1924 and 1929 general elections. Previously he had contested Gloucester for the Liberal Party at both the 1922 and 1923 general elections.

Result

Stroud by-election, 1931

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Walter Perkins	17,641	49.6	+5.1
	Labour	John Maynard	10,688	30.0	+3.9
	Liberal	Arthur William Stanton	7,267	20.4	-9.1
Majority			6,953	19.6	+4.6
Turnout			35,596	71.4	-10.2
	Conservative hold		Swing	+6.5

Aftermath

Following the formation of the National Government, the Liberals chose not to run a candidate at the 1931 general election. Stanton did run again, at the 1935 general election in Chippenham, again without success. In 1937 he was appointed High Sheriff of Gloucestershire.