Hughes had been elected party leader in 1941, following the defeat of the Coalition government led by Arthur Fadden, the leader of the Country Party. The UAP simultaneously voted to form a "joint opposition" with the Country Party, under Fadden as Leader of the Opposition. Hughes, who had his 80th birthday in 1942, was viewed as a figurehead more than anything else, and the party virtually ceased to exist as a separate entity under his leadership; at one point there were no partyroom meetings for more than a year.[1] At a meeting on 25 March 1943, a spill motion was put forward and defeated 24–15; it had been expected that the vote would be much closer.[2] The following month, Menzies and his supporters formed a ginger group within the UAP, known as the National Service Group, to push for "new and vigorous leadership". They would remain in the party, but no longer attend its meetings, only those of the joint opposition. Hughes denounced them as "a reactionary clique".[1]
Election and aftermathedit
A federal election took place on 21 August 1943, at which the Coalition was defeated in a landslide. Hughes announced his resignation on 22 September, and four candidates stood as his replacement – Menzies, Thomas White, Allan McDonald, and Percy Spender. Spender was eliminated on the first ballot, where Menzies reportedly failed to secure a majority by only a single vote. He won an absolute majority on the second ballot. The exact figures were not announced, but it was reported that Menzies obtained 14 votes out of 26 on the second ballot and that White and McDonald shared the remainder "nearly equally".[3] An election was also held for the deputy leadership, which had been vacant since 1939. White, McDonald, Spender, Harold Holt, and William Hutchinson all nominated, but withdrew when Hughes announced he wished to be a candidate, allowing him to be returned unanimously. At the same meeting, the UAP voted to end the joint opposition arrangement with the Country Party. As a result, Menzies replaced Fadden as Leader of the Opposition.[4]
^MENZIES TO LEAD OPPOSITION, The Courier-Mail, 23 September 1943.
^MR. MENZIES TO LEAD U.A.P. & OPPOSITION, The Age, 23 September 1943.
January 01, 1970
1943, united, australia, party, leadership, election, united, australia, party, held, leadership, election, september, 1943, following, resignation, billy, hughes, robert, menzies, party, leader, from, 1939, 1941, elected, replacement, defeating, three, other,. The United Australia Party UAP held a leadership election on 22 September 1943 following the resignation of Billy Hughes Robert Menzies the party s leader from 1939 to 1941 was elected as his replacement defeating three other candidates Thomas White Allan McDonald and Percy Spender United Australia Partyleadership election 1943 1941 22 September 1943 1966 Lib Candidate Robert Menzies Thomas White First Ballot 13 Uncertain Second Ballot 14 7 Seat Kooyong VIC Balaclava VIC Candidate Allan McDonald Percy Spender First Ballot Uncertain Uncertain Second Ballot 5 Eliminated Seat Corangamite VIC Warringah NSW Leader before election Billy Hughes Elected Leader Robert Menzies Contents 1 Background 2 Election and aftermath 3 See also 4 ReferencesBackground editHughes had been elected party leader in 1941 following the defeat of the Coalition government led by Arthur Fadden the leader of the Country Party The UAP simultaneously voted to form a joint opposition with the Country Party under Fadden as Leader of the Opposition Hughes who had his 80th birthday in 1942 was viewed as a figurehead more than anything else and the party virtually ceased to exist as a separate entity under his leadership at one point there were no partyroom meetings for more than a year 1 At a meeting on 25 March 1943 a spill motion was put forward and defeated 24 15 it had been expected that the vote would be much closer 2 The following month Menzies and his supporters formed a ginger group within the UAP known as the National Service Group to push for new and vigorous leadership They would remain in the party but no longer attend its meetings only those of the joint opposition Hughes denounced them as a reactionary clique 1 Election and aftermath editA federal election took place on 21 August 1943 at which the Coalition was defeated in a landslide Hughes announced his resignation on 22 September and four candidates stood as his replacement Menzies Thomas White Allan McDonald and Percy Spender Spender was eliminated on the first ballot where Menzies reportedly failed to secure a majority by only a single vote He won an absolute majority on the second ballot The exact figures were not announced but it was reported that Menzies obtained 14 votes out of 26 on the second ballot and that White and McDonald shared the remainder nearly equally 3 An election was also held for the deputy leadership which had been vacant since 1939 White McDonald Spender Harold Holt and William Hutchinson all nominated but withdrew when Hughes announced he wished to be a candidate allowing him to be returned unanimously At the same meeting the UAP voted to end the joint opposition arrangement with the Country Party As a result Menzies replaced Fadden as Leader of the Opposition 4 See also edit1943 Australian federal electionReferences edit a b Fitzhardinge Laurence 1979 William Morris Hughes A Political Biography Vol 2 The Little Digger 1914 1952 Angus amp Robertson p 661 ISBN 0207132453 UAP LEADER The West Australian 27 March 1943 MENZIES TO LEAD OPPOSITION The Courier Mail 23 September 1943 MR MENZIES TO LEAD U A P amp OPPOSITION The Age 23 September 1943 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1943 United Australia Party leadership election amp oldid 1210449072, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
