Ernest Young

Ernest James Young (28 July 1882 [1] – 1953) was a Liberal politician.

For other people named Ernest Young, see Ernest Young (disambiguation).

Background

He was born in Sussex, a son of Trayton Young. In 1908 he married Emily Phoebe Terry of Portslade. [2] She died in 1919 aged 39. He was a lecturer, writer and journalist by profession.[3]

Political career

Young ran unsuccessfully for Parliament as the Liberal candidate at Jarrow in 1922 [4] and at Rossendale in 1923 and 1924.[5] He also ran at a by-election in the Scottish constituency of Bothwell in Lanarkshire in March 1926,[6] and in Middlesbrough East in 1929.

In 1931 an economic crisis led to the formation of a National Government led by Labour prime minister Ramsay MacDonald which was initially supported by the Conservative and Liberal parties. Young was elected as Liberal MP for Middlesbrough East at the 1931 general election as a supporter of the government and a member of the official Liberal party led by Sir Herbert Samuel, defeating the well-known local Labour MP, Ellen Wilkinson in a straight fight. Samuel and the Liberals, although agreeing to go into the 1931 general election supporting the government became increasingly concerned about the government's abandonment of the traditional Liberal policy of Free Trade and worried about the predominance of the Conservatives in the coalition, soon withdrew from the National Government. Some Liberals, led by Sir John Simon remained in the government and became known as the Liberal Nationals. Young refused to join this group and stuck with the Samuelite Liberals.

General election 1931: Middlesbrough East [7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Ernest James Young 18,409 60.4
Labour Ellen Wilkinson 12,080 39.6
Majority 6,329 20.8

At the 1935 general election therefore, the coalition mantle had passed from Young to the Conservative candidate, Mr. B Chetwynd- Talbot. In an election where the main fight was between the National Government and a revived Labour Party, Young lost his seat to Labour candidate Alfred Edwards who narrowly beat off the National challenge. Young finished a poor third place in a three-cornered contest.

General election 1935: Middlesbrough East [7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Alfred Edwards 12,699 44.0
Conservative B Chetwynd-Talbot 12,632 43.7
Liberal Ernest James Young 3,565 12.3
Majority 67 0.3

Young remained active in the Liberal Party, and was their election agent in Worthing in the 1945 general election.[8] He died in Hove in 1953.

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References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 10 August 2009. Retrieved 7 December 2008.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. The Liberal Year Book 1935
  3. The Times House of Commons, 1931; Politico’s Publishing 2003, p48
  4. Craig, op cit p345
  5. Craig op cit p228
  6. The Times, 18 March 1926
  7. F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results, 1918-1949; Political Reference Publications, 1969 p195
  8. Worthing Herald, 8 June 1945
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Ellen Wilkinson		 Member of Parliament for Middlesbrough East
1931–1935		 Succeeded by
Alfred Edwards
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