WHEN Newport's MP died in 1922, the resulting contest became the focus of the nation as the result could topple Lloyd-George’s coalition government. MARTIN WADE recalls the Newport by-election of 1922.

At a time when the political boundaries of Wales and the UK are being controversially redrawn, and Newport could be reduced to one seat, it's worth remembering that by 1922, the town had only recently been given a seat at all. Lewis Haslam was the first MP to represent the town, having previously represented much of the county of Monmouthshire.

The Liberal MP died on September 18 after suffering "indifferent health for the past two years". The Argus told us "he had the distinction of representing Newport and the Monmouth Boroughs for a longer consecutive period than any other member, at least during the last generation or so."

His death had significance beyond Newport because Haslam was a ’coupon Liberal', or one who was a supporter of the coalition government between Liberals and Conservatives. The General Election of 1918 saw candidates who supported David Lloyd George’s wartime coalition government being given coupons which entitled them to local support from the other parties in the coalition. In this election, Haslam was voted in with the help of the town's Conservative voters.

The government of national unity, seen as having 'won the war' was swept into power by a landslide margin with the euphoria of victory in December 1918. But by 1922 support for the Coalition was beginning to crack. Some Tories no longer saw the need to stay with the Liberals, some Liberals felt that their values were not being well-served.

There were three candidates and they all stood along party lines for Conservative, Liberal and Labour. Neither the Liberal nor the Tory supported the coalition and so were not backed by their party nationally.

The three candidates were Reginald Clarry for the Conservatives, John Bowen for Labour and William Lyndon Moore for the Liberals.

Clarry came from Swansea and was a managing director of a tin-plate works in the town. He believed the country was "in serious need of a return to sound Conservative principles in home and foreign affairs." He said he was proud to be 'a die-hard’, as the anti-Coalition Conservatives were known.

The Labour Party fielded John Bowen, a candidate who was secretary of the Postal Workers Union. He was seen by many to be the favourite as the fledgling Labour Party was rising in popularity across South Wales. He had stood on the 1918 election and had lost by 3,800 votes. Many thought he would benefit from the splits and confusion among Conservatives and Liberals and clinch the seat this time.

Solicitor Lyndon Moore was selected as the candidate for the Liberal Party. He worked as Newport's coroner and, as the Liberal candidate, had the support of the Argus.

Unlike today, when regional and local papers like the Argus do not give backing to any political party - then it was more commonplace. The Argus was established in 1892 as a Liberal-supporting newspaper and in 1922, they did not hesitate to back their man. "Mr Lyndon Moore" they said, "is the man who must be returned to Parliament as the representative for Newport if Newport traditions are to be maintained. With his wide knowledge and experience, he is the man best able to represent all classes and shades of opinion."

The paper added: "He has a special claim: He is a son of Newport - a man held in high esteem by all sections of the community - a man who has rendered yeoman service to his native town in many spheres."

While Lyndon Moore had the support of the Argus and backing from the local Liberal Party, Labour's man John Bowen seemed to benefit from the strong support for striking Ebbw Vale miners during the campaign. The Labour Party leader Arthur Henderson and the future Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin also visited Newport to show their support.

A new factor in the election was the presence of women voters. The 1918 Reform Act had given the vote to women over the age of 30 and there were around 17,000 women eligible to vote in the town.

On polling day, October 18, it was cold but dry. Queues were formed outside many polling stations, with many women among those waiting to vote. Later, there was a festive air outside the town hall where the count was taking place. The Argus told how, even after the polls closed at 8pm, there were still queues outside some of the stations.

The Argus also said how the main streets had a "Bank Holiday night appearance", although it noted there were a few minor demonstrations of differences of opinion". Throughout the campaign there had been great interest among voters and turnout was 80 per cent of the electorate

As was the form on those days, the result was read out only to the candidates and the press. The Mayor, who was also returning officer, thanked them for "one of the cleanest fights within his recollection." He then took to the balcony of the Town Hall to declare the result to the crowds below and introduced them to their new MP, the Conservative, Reginald Clarry. He was the first Conservative to win here in 21 years.

He said his victory could be attributed "largely to women's votes", adding he "always maintained they should be treated as equals with men."

However, the result would make history, not just because of the women voting for the first time, but for its impact further afield. Clarry had said on the eve of the poll, "What Newport thinks tomorrow, Great Britain will think on Wednesday". It was to be prophetic as the shockwaves of the result were felt at Westminster.

That morning, the Conservative MPs met at the Carlton Club in London to discuss the coalition. While leader Austen Chamberlain backed the coalition, others said they should force a General Election where they could fight as Tories. It seemed to them they could beat Labour, but only if they ditched the Liberals.

As Chamberlain pleaded with his opponents, he was answered with cries of ’Newport! Newport!’ They voted 187 votes to 87 to leave the Coalition and to fight the election as soon as possible on their own policies.

That committee of Conservative MPs became which met at the Carlton Club soon became known as the ’1922 Committee’ and has since become synonymous with the power of Tory backbenchers.

By the afternoon it was announced that Lloyd-George would be going to the palace to see the King as many in his government had resigned. He later resigned himself and the government fell. There was another election the following month which was won by the Conservatives.

Lloyd-George would never return to power. The career of the only Welsh Prime Minister was brought to an end by a pivotal by-election in a town of his homeland.