Ernest Young

Ernest James Young (28 July 1882 ^[1] – date of death not known) was a Liberal politician.

Young was a lecturer and a journalist by profession.^[2]

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 ^[3]

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 ^[3]

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

It seems likely that Young was the E J Young who was the unsuccessful Liberal candidate at Jarrow in 1922 ^[4] and at Rossendale in 1923 and 1924.^[5] There was also a Liberal candidate, Ernest Young, who stood at a by-election in the Scottish constituency of Bothwell in Lanarkshire in March 1926.^[6]

References

1. http://www.leighrayment.com/commons/Mcommons2.htm
2. The Times House of Commons, 1931; Politico’s Publishing 2003, p48
3. F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results, 1918-1949; Political Reference Publications, 1969 p195
4. Craig, op cit p345
5. Craig op cit p228
6. The Times, 18 March 1926