1963 Dumfriesshire by-election

A by-election for Dumfriesshire was held on 12 December 1963, after the sitting MP, Niall Macpherson, was elevated to the peerage as Lord Drumalbyn.[1] Macpherson had been elected in 1959 as a National Liberal and Unionist, the latter label being that used by Conservatives in Scotland at this time.[2] Macpherson had first been elected as a National Liberal in 1945.[3] At the last election Macpherson had polled over 58% of the votes cast in a two-way fight against a Labour candidate and gaining a majority of 7,430 votes.[1]

The by-election was won by David Anderson who retained it for the Conservatives, by only 971 votes, a sign that the Conservative government was losing support. Anderson stood down at the 1964 general election, only serving as an MP for less than a year.

  1. ^ a b Craig, F W S (1971). British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1970. Chichester: Political Reference Publications. p. 642.
  2. ^ "Unionist Wins at Dumfries - But Majority Reduced to 971". The Glasow Herald. 13 December 1963. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  3. ^ Craig, F W S (1969). British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949. Glasgow: Political Reference Publications. p. 621.