Description:In the nineteen twenties it was still unusual for there to be three candidates at a poll. The "third" candidate was felt to be a "vote splitter"- in much the same way as is nowadays. In the 1924 General Election in Ladywood Neville Chamberlain was the sitting Unionist MP who faced a stiff fight from the Labour candidate, Oswald Mosley. Mosley was from an aristocratic background and an accomplished public speaker and was thus a more of a match for Chamberlain than had been expected. Into this intriguing contest, the Liberals pitched theirr own candidate - A.W. Bowkett. The story can be read by using the "zoomify" tab but the text is reproduced as follows:
"The last minute entry into the field here of Mr. A.W. Bowkett, as Liberal candidate, is still the chief topic of political conversation in this division. Mr Bowkett states:-
"My idea is to put the Liberal point of view before the electors, and thus give them an alternative to Toryism and Socialism....My opinion is that the Liberal party could not consider the effect upon any other party of it's candidatures, but must fight for its own policy and its own programme.... I believe there are large number of electors in Ladywood who are tired both of Toryism and of the Labour party, and will welcome the opportunity of voting Liberal on this occasion".
There has been no Liberal candidate in Ladywood since Mrs Corbett-Ashby fought in 1918. Mr Oswald Mosley is still no better. On Saturday he found it neccessary to consult a throat specialist. He is "carrying on" in fact, in defiance of doctor's orders. At the moment Lady Cynthia Mosley is carrying the bigger burdens of the campaign. Tonight's meetings: Mosley - Osler Street and Tennant Street, N. Chamberlain - Johnstone Street.