1919 Croydon South by-election

The by-election was caused by the resignation of the sitting Unionist MP, Sir Ian Malcolm on 28 October 1919. He had been the MP for Croydon since December 1910.

Croydon was a traditionally strong area for the Unionists. The Croydon constituency was created in 1885 and won by the Unionists at every election. In 1918, it was divided into two seats, and its MP, Ian Malcolm, was elected for the new Croydon South seat. He was helped by the absence of a Liberal opponent and the official support of the Coalition government;

• The Unionists selected 49-year-old Sir Allan Smith to defend the seat. He was a solicitor and Chairman of the Management Board of the Engineering and Allied Employers’ National Federation.^[3]
• On 30 October, the Croydon Liberal and Radical Association unanimously adopted 60-year-old Alderman Howard Houlder to challenge for the seat.^[4] He had not stood for parliament before but been elected to Croydon Council. He served as Mayor of Croydon from 1916 to 1919. He worked for the family shipping business.^[5]
• The Labour Party did not run a candidate this time.

Polling Day was set for 14 November, just 17 days after the resignation of Malcolm. Close of Nominations occurred on 4 November to reveal a two cornered contest. Smith received official backing from the Coalition Government, while Houlder's candidacy was backed by the Liberal opposition.

There was a big drop in the Unionist majority.

Sir Allan Smith thought the result "was a victory for the forces of unity".^[7]

Smith retained the seat at the following election because the anti-Unionist vote was split when Muggeridge intervened. Houlder did not stand for parliament again. The result at the following General election;