Salisbury by-election, 1965

The Salisbury by-election, 1965 was a by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Salisbury in Wiltshire on 4 February 1965. It was won by the Conservative Party candidate Michael Hamilton.

Vacancy

The seat had become when the 58-year-old sitting Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) John Morrison had been ennobled as Baron Margadale. He had won the seat at a by-election in 1942.

Candidates

The Conservative candidate was 46-year-old Michael Hamilton.

The Labour Party selected the National Union of Bank Employees official Leif Mills, and the Liberal Party fielded Hugh Capstick; both had contested the seat at the general election in October 1964. Maj. Horace Trevor-Cox, a former Conservative MP, stood as Independent Conservative candidate.

Votes

Salisbury by-election, February 1965
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Michael Hamilton	17,599	48.2	−0.1
	Labour	Leif Mills	13,660	37.4	+3.0
	Liberal	Hugh Capstick	4,699	12.9	−4.4
	Independent Conservative	Horace Trevor-Cox	533	1.5	N/A
Majority			3,939	10.8	−3.1
Turnout			36,491
	Conservative hold		Swing

General Election October 1964: Salisbury
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	John Morrison	20,071	48.3	−4.5
	Labour	Leif A Mills	14,311	34.4	+1.3
	Liberal	Hugh Capstick	7,176	17.3	+3.2
Majority			5,760	13.9	−5.8
Turnout			41,558	78.6	+0.4
	Conservative hold		Swing	−

See also

• Salisbury (UK Parliament constituency)
• Salisbury
• Salisbury by-election, 1931
• Salisbury by-election, 1942
• List of United Kingdom by-elections

References

• British Parliamentary by-elections: Salisbury 1965
• Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs