Southend Politics

Southend-on-Sea

Southend's Past General Election Results Starting in 1885, when Southend for the first time was represented by a Member of Parliament, we look back at the way the electorate voted.

The Day Southend Voted Liberal Since 1885 Southend was always a Conservative styled town; but a change was in the air during the 1906 General Election held in January, and for one single time in the history of the town, the electorate decided to change colour. Representing the South East Essex constituency covering a large area of land with Southend at its centre a certain Mr Rowland Whitehead charged into parliament with a landslide of just over 2,000 votes representing the Liberal party. So significant was this change, the town celebrated with a torchlight procession through the streets. All subsequent elections, however, would return to a Conservative hold right up until today. Significantly in 1906 a Liberal MP in the South East Essex constituency needed to get in to assist the national trend which also elected a Liberal Prime Minster, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman. The key issue for the country would be around affordable food, therefore a common statement being used by the politicians nationally was 'Big Loaf, Little Loaf'. Southend's major industry at the time was fishing and making this an affordable commodity was paramount, a large number of the men in the town worked on the fleet around the coastline from Leigh to Shoebury, this had a major influence on the balance of power in the town. The Liberal policies under a 'Free Fooder' manifesto worked well for the fishermen, and it would be a brave fellow that voted in the traditional way for the Conservatives. However, to the west of the town in Leigh a strong vote was cast in favour of the Blues, which was provided by the many city workers. The stage was set for one of the toughest electoral battles in the town. The Election In 1906 the method of gathering votes from Southend was not as arduous as it is today. Southend then had a mere three polling stations, the East Ward was served by the Technical School; West Ward, Leigh Road School; North Ward, Brewery Road Schools. The shift for the pollsters was long, and they laboured until 8pm some seemingly very tired when the polls closed. Mr and Mrs Whitehead toured the polling stations and where ever they went received a rousing reception, even in Leigh. The western part of the town notorious in previous elections for voting blue were trying hard all day to stem the flow of the orange vote, and the polls needed to wait for the returning workers from London to complete the count. The fishermen of the town invariably voted Liberal and throughout the day had maintained a 2-1 vote for Liberal, it was thought once the city men had arrived back the swing would go back to the Tories, alas a mixture of votes were returned and mixed in with the late flow of fishing votes too ensured Capt Newman the Tory candidate would not be standing for the South East Essex Ward. Declaration Crowds, estimated at 5,000, gathered into Clarence Road, and Clarence Street, outside the Institute to hear the declaration by the returning officer. Police formed a suitable human barrier at the base of the steps, led by Superintendent Pryke. The buildings opposite the Municipal Offices and the Liberal Club had balconies packed with people eager to find out the result, on one stood the ladies of the Liberal Club including Mrs Ethel Whitehead who acknowledged the crowd with a smile whenever the cheer was directed in favour of her husband. The result took a very long time, 12.45 pm was promised but this came and went, when 2pm arrived Liberal Officers appeared at the windows of the council offices with big smiles giving the crowd an early indication of which way the result would go. Soon however, with the waving of a red handkerchief it became apparent the result was looming, a Liberal supporter hung out from a window waving orange ribbons and the crowd started to cheer, with some supporting the opponents hooting. The crowd's expectations were borne out by the actual result. The two candidates, with the Sheriff (Mr T. F. V. Buxton) and the Under Sheriff (Mr C. B. O. Gepp), made their appearance on the steps, and their arrival was welcomed with another loud cheer and applause. The Sheriff appealed for silence, but his words had little or no effect, and he had to declare the result amid a roar of voices. The mere mention of Mr Whitehead's name was the signal for the renewal of the display of enthusiasm and figures at that time did not concern the crowd. They only wished to know definitely that their candidate had won. The actual result stood as follows: Whitehead (Lib): 9,230, Newman (Con): 7,170. Majority: 2,060. Torchlight Procession The Liberals that had brought a new champion to represent the town would spend the night celebrating the victory. The first item in the programme was a torchlight procession. The starting point for that was the Tram Terminus, Leigh. Preparations commenced before 7pm and motor cars, carriages, bicycles, and pedestrians began to arrive in force, the Southend Town Band were ready to lead, and so they went off down the hill to fetch the victor. They paraded in the lower town, going along the streets on both sides of the line. Mr Whitehead arrived by the 7.28pm train and accorded a hearty welcome. A procession was formed, headed by the band and large crowd, including a number of torch-bearers, marched to the top of the hill; the band meanwhile playing "See the conquering hero comes." On their arrival there was an outburst of enthusiasm and the roadway was densely crowded. The band made their way to the brake, they were to occupy and preparations for the starting of the procession were soon made. The motorcars, carriages and pedestrians were now present in force, it says much for the arrangements made by the organisers and police that everybody got into a line without much confusion. An advance guard of cyclists some of these decorated with balls and yellow ribbons, led the way, the road being lit by a small detachment of torch-bearers. Then came Mr S. Mutton on horseback as Chief Marshal. On the front was seated a worker holding aloft an illuminated device bearing the words "Whitehead This Time." During the journey some stones were thrown at it and it became very tattered and torn, and the light inside went out. Carriages, motor cars and pedestrians followed; the length of the procession, it was stated, being over three quarters of a mile. Mr and Mrs Whitehead and their children rode round in the carriage, they were greeted with loud cheers at various points, and others made some hooting, but on the whole the proceedings, though lively were orderly. The route was as follows: Leigh Broadway, Leigh Road, Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff Parade, Devereux Terrace, Alexandra Street, High Street, Southchurch Road, Southchurch Avenue, York Road and Old Southend Road, to the Kursaal. A large crowd had assembled outside the building in advance of the procession and when the meeting commenced it was crowded to excess. Biography Sir Rowland Whitehead. Born: 1st September 1863, Died: 9th October 1942. In 1893, Whitehead married Ethel M. L. Rathbone, the daughter of Philip H. Rathbone, they had two sons and two daughters. Sir Rowland Whitehead by trade was a Barrister educated at Clifton College and University College, Oxford where he took a first class degree in History. He ventured into politics in 1906 standing against a strong Conservative seat in the constituency of South East Essex and won, he remained in the seat for the period of the elected parliament under the Premiership of Sir Henry Campbell- Bannerman. During his political footing within the Houses of Parliament, Sir Rowland was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to Herbert Samuel MP, followed by a short spell as PPS to the Attorney-General. Hansard records Whitehead's engagements in the house; and frequently he would defend the fishermen who supported him in the General Election of 1906, by fighting for their fishing rights around the Shoebury coast line, increasingly being used for military purposes. He inherited the baronetcy from his elder brother, Sir George Whitehead, 2nd Baronet, when his brother died on 21 May 1931. On his own death, the title went to his son Major Philip Henry Rathbone Whitehead.

Date 12/01/1885 05/08/1886 04/08/1892 12/08/1895 03/12/1900 13/02/1906 15/02/1910 31/01/1911 14/12/1918 15/11/1922 06/12/1923 29/10/1924 30/05/1929 27/10/1931 14/11/1935 05/07/1945 Date 23/02/1950 25/10/1951 26/05/1955 08/10/1959 15/10/1964 31/03/1966 18/06/1970 28/02/1974 10/10/1974 03/05/1979 09/06/1983 11/06/1987 09/04/1992 01/05/1997 07/06/2001 05/05/2005 06/05/2010

Southend MP Col WT Makins Maj FC Rasch Maj FC Rasch Maj FC Rasch Col E Tufnell Rowland Whitehead JHM Kirkwood Rupert Guinness Rupert Guinness Rupert Guinness Rupert Guinness Rupert Guinness Gwendolen Guinness Gwendolen Guinness Henry Channon Henry Channon Southend West MP Henry Channon Henry Channon Henry Channon Paul Channon Paul Channon Paul Channon Paul Channon Paul Channon Paul Channon Paul Channon Paul Channon Paul Channon Paul Channon David Amess David Amess David Amess David Amess

Majority 107 842 542 1,354 1,354 2,060 1,911 Unopposed 8,150 6,881 113 12,493 5,721 37,823 24,931 5,721

Majority 18,746 21,755 18,460 17,035 11,007 11,857 16,885 3,595 7,071 16,864 8,033 8,400 11,902 2,615 7,941 8,959 7,270

Southend East MP Sir Stephen McAdden Sir Stephen McAdden Sir Stephen McAdden Sir Stephen McAdden Sir Stephen McAdden Sir Stephen McAdden Sir Stephen McAdden Sir Stephen McAdden Sir Stephen McAdden Sir Stephen McAdden Sir Teddy Taylor Sir Teddy Taylor Sir Teddy Taylor Sir Teddy Taylor Sir Teddy Taylor James Dudderidge James Dudderidge

Majority 2,165 4,610 6,758 7,725 3,367 317 6,960 4,952 4,603 10,774 10,691 13,847 13,111 4,225 7,034 5,490 11,050

Prime Minister The Marquess of Salisbury The Marquess of Salisbury William Gladstone The Marquess of Salisbury The Marquess of Salisbury Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman Herbert Henry Asquith Herbert Henry Asquith David Lloyd George Andrew Bonar Law Stanley Baldwin Ramsay MacDonald Ramsay MacDonald Ramsay MacDonald Stanley Baldwin Clement Attlee Prime Minister Clement Attlee Sir Winston Churchill Sir Anthony Eden Harold Macmillan Harold Wilson Harold Wilson Edward Heath Harold Wilson Harold Wilson Margaret Thatcher Margaret Thatcher Margaret Thatcher John Major Tony Blair Tony Blair Tony Blair Hung Parliament

Sir Henry Campbell- Bannerman