14 November 1935

Polling day in the 1935 general election

The National Government led by Stanley Baldwin is returned with a reduced but still substantial majority. The Liberal Nationals who had now reached an accommodation with the Conservatives and were nowhere opposed by them held their position and returned 33 MPs. For the Liberals the election provided meagre pickings. The party fielded only 161 candidates and lost ground. Only 21 MPs were elected and leader Herbert Samuel lost at Darwen. He was joined in defeat by other senior Liberals including Walter Rea, Isaac Foot and Harcourt Johnstone. The party recorded only two gains – Richard Acland in Barnstaple and Wilfrid Roberts in North Cumberland.