Colne Valley by-election, 1963

The Colne Valley by-election, 1963 was a parliamentary by-election for the British House of Commons constituency of Colne Valley on 21 March 1963.

The by-election was caused by the death of the sitting Labour MP, Glenvil Hall on 13 October 1962. He had been MP here since holding the seat in 1939.

Colne Valley had been won by Labour at every election since 1935 when they gained the seat from the Liberals. The result at the last General election was as follows;

Labour selected 43-year-old Patrick Duffy. He contested Tiverton in 1950, 1951 and 1955. He was a Lecturer at Leeds University from 1950-63. He was educated at the London School of Economics and Columbia University, New York City.

The Conservatives selected 28-year-old outsider, Andrew C. Alexander, a journalist and leader writer. He was educated at Lancing College. A former member of Dorchester Borough Council. A past chairman of North Kensington Young Conservatives and Dorchester Young Conservatives.

The Liberals re-selected 44-year-old Leeds man, Richard Wainwright. He contested Pudsey in 1950 and 1955 and Colne Valley in 1959. A chartered accountant. He was educated at Shrewsbury School and Clare College, Cambridge. He was a Member of the Liberal Party Committee and Council; and was chairman of the Liberal Party Organization Department from 1955-57.

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