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#OTD 1945. General Election. Britain heads to the polls nationally for the first time in a decade
But the country would have to wait three weeks for the result. Ballot boxes were locked away in council basements until the service vote arrived
A final thread on the 5th July 1945
But the country would have to wait three weeks for the result. Ballot boxes were locked away in council basements until the service vote arrived
A final thread on the 5th July 1945
It was calculated that there were ‘1,683 candidates fighting with 522 drawn from the services’
The day began quietly with ‘brilliant sunshine but with a threat of rain’.
The day began quietly with ‘brilliant sunshine but with a threat of rain’.
The Manchester Guardian observed that ‘women directly affected by domestic issues provided a substantial part of the total poll’.
The Daily Mail reported that 5/1 was still being offered on the stock exchange on a Labour victory ‘but there were very few takers’.
A trader admitted that ‘there has been less betting on this election than any other’.
A trader admitted that ‘there has been less betting on this election than any other’.
One person who would not be able to vote was the Prime Minister.
Churchill’s name was left off the electoral register by mistake. This came from 1943 when identity cards were changed and Churchill kept his old one as he was out of the country.
Churchill’s name was left off the electoral register by mistake. This came from 1943 when identity cards were changed and Churchill kept his old one as he was out of the country.
Churchill toured his Woodford constituency to shore up his vote:
‘People like to see the bloke’ he told supporters, ‘they don’t like to think there is some fellow in the background pulling wires and giving orders and never putting himself before the people’
‘People like to see the bloke’ he told supporters, ‘they don’t like to think there is some fellow in the background pulling wires and giving orders and never putting himself before the people’
The Express reported that Churchill’s Government is ‘almost certainly in’ with Labour and Liberal strategists declaring ‘off the record’ defeats.
The most cautious Tory estimate was said to be a victory between 60 and 90 seats.
The most cautious Tory estimate was said to be a victory between 60 and 90 seats.
Attlee spent the day knocking up the vote in Limehouse, starting his rounds at 10am.
In Central Wandsworth, Bevin is reported to be in danger of losing his seat to the a Conservative General who had won the Victoria Cross.
A straw poll conducted on the day showed Bevin winning with a slender 6 out of 10 votes.
A straw poll conducted on the day showed Bevin winning with a slender 6 out of 10 votes.
After voting, Herbert Morrison told reporters ‘the polling is going very well indeed’.
In Durham, Hugh Dalton claims that early signs are good and that Labour may well win all eighteen seats in the County.
In Durham, Hugh Dalton claims that early signs are good and that Labour may well win all eighteen seats in the County.
In Tottenham, Labour raised concerns that 200 of their supporters have not been included on the register.
And Labour HQ were optimistic about their prospects:
‘If I am to believe the reports reaching us from our agents up and down the country we gather that the people have voted heavily. We are very optimistic about the chances of our candidates’
‘If I am to believe the reports reaching us from our agents up and down the country we gather that the people have voted heavily. We are very optimistic about the chances of our candidates’
The Manchester Guardian reported that some voters had been mystified by the voting process with many coming out for the first time.
Some voters were said to be under the impression that Churchill was standing in every constituency.
Some voters were said to be under the impression that Churchill was standing in every constituency.
In Hammersmith one voter was mystified that Churchill’s name was not on her ballot
So she wrote it on herself and put a cross beside it.
So she wrote it on herself and put a cross beside it.
The New York Times reported a sense of anti-climax:
‘Having got this off their chests, the British seem to be willing to go back to their homes and jobs as if nothing has happened’
‘Having got this off their chests, the British seem to be willing to go back to their homes and jobs as if nothing has happened’
There was to be a three week delay between the vote and the result to allow time for the service vote to be counted.
There were also 24 seats in the north and in Scotland that did not hold a vote due to the the holiday season.
There were also 24 seats in the north and in Scotland that did not hold a vote due to the the holiday season.
When the polls closed at 9pm, the ballots were stored in the basements of town halls, where they were to be locked for the next three weeks.
In Manchester a special watchman was employed to keep a check on them night and day.
In Manchester a special watchman was employed to keep a check on them night and day.
