The 1940 Preston by-election was a parliamentary by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Preston in Lancashire on 25 September 1940. [1] [2] The seat had become vacant on the death of the Conservative Member of Parliament Adrian Moreing, who had held the seat since the 1931 general election. [2] [3]
During the Second World War, the parties in the war-time coalition government had agreed not to contest by-elections where a seat held by any of their parties fell vacant. [4] In addition, S. M. Holden announced that he would not nominate a "British Pensions Movement" candidate. [5] As a result, the Conservative candidate, Randolph Churchill (son of Prime Minister Winston Churchill), was returned unopposed. [4] [2] He represented the constituency until his defeat at the 1945 general election. [6]