At the 1924 general election, Preston was chosen as Conservative candidate for the Walsall constituency. He unseated the sitting Liberal MP, Patrick Collins.[5] However, following his election, it was discovered that Preston had received payments for two small contracts to supply electrical fittings to the Post Office stores department. As a government contractor, Preston was ineligible to stand for Parliament, and his election was declared void.[6]
An Act to indemnify and relieve William Preston, Esquire, from any penal consequences which he may have incurred or suffered by sitting or voting as a member of the House of Commons during a time when he was executing, holding or enjoying a contract, agreement or commission made or entered into with the Postmaster-General, and for purposes incidental thereto.
Having overcome his legal difficulties, Preston was selected as Conservative candidate at the ensuing by-election.[7] The poll was held on 27 February, and Preston was elected ahead of Liberal and Labour candidates, with a similar majority to that gained at the 1924 election.[8]
Preston was only a member of the House of Commons for one term. At the 1929 general election there was a swing to Labour, and he was defeated by the party's candidate John James McShane. He retired from politics. William Preston died after a long illness at his home, Gorway, Walsall in November 1941, aged 67.[9]
william, preston, british, politician, william, preston, february, 1874, november, 1941, british, industrialist, conservative, politician, william, prestonbiography, editborn, 1874, preston, educated, walsall, grammar, school, weston, school, bath, 1907, marri. William Preston February 1874 22 November 1941 was a British industrialist and Conservative politician William PrestonBiography editBorn in 1874 Preston was educated at Walsall Grammar School and Weston School Bath 1 In 1907 he married Lilly Swinton Sanders and he became managing director of William Sanders amp Co Wednesbury Limited a major manufacturer of electrical switching equipment 2 He played cricket for Staffordshire in the Minor Counties Championship 3 making one appearance in 1901 against Northamptonshire and another in 1911 against Lincolnshire 4 At the 1924 general election Preston was chosen as Conservative candidate for the Walsall constituency He unseated the sitting Liberal MP Patrick Collins 5 However following his election it was discovered that Preston had received payments for two small contracts to supply electrical fittings to the Post Office stores department As a government contractor Preston was ineligible to stand for Parliament and his election was declared void 6 William Preston Indemnity Act 1925Act of Parliament nbsp Parliament of the United KingdomLong titleAn Act to indemnify and relieve William Preston Esquire from any penal consequences which he may have incurred or suffered by sitting or voting as a member of the House of Commons during a time when he was executing holding or enjoying a contract agreement or commission made or entered into with the Postmaster General and for purposes incidental thereto Citation15 amp 16 Geo 5 c 7DatesRoyal assent5 March 1925Having overcome his legal difficulties Preston was selected as Conservative candidate at the ensuing by election 7 The poll was held on 27 February and Preston was elected ahead of Liberal and Labour candidates with a similar majority to that gained at the 1924 election 8 Preston was only a member of the House of Commons for one term At the 1929 general election there was a swing to Labour and he was defeated by the party s candidate John James McShane He retired from politics William Preston died after a long illness at his home Gorway Walsall in November 1941 aged 67 9 References edit Obituaries The Times 24 November 1941 p 6 A History of Wednesbury Wolverhampton History amp Heritage University of Wolverhampton Retrieved 1 March 2009 Player profile William Preston CricketArchive Retrieved 18 June 2011 Minor Counties Championship Matches played by William Preston CricketArchive Retrieved 18 June 2011 The General Election The Times 30 October 1924 p 7 M P s Government Contract By Election Likely At Walsall Legal Penalties The Times 31 January 1925 p 9 The Walsall by Election The Times 12 February 1925 p 10 Walsall Election Result Declared Last Night The Times 28 February 1925 p 12 Deaths The Times 25 November 1941 p 1 Parliament of the United KingdomPreceded byPatrick Collins Member of Parliament for Walsall1924 1929 Succeeded byJohn James McShane Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Preston British politician amp oldid 1159325379, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
