Elections in the 1950s

Arthur Moyle had been elected the Member of Parliament for the Stourbridge constituency at the 1945 general election. Since 1946 he had served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Clement Attlee.^[1] The turnout in 1950 proved to be the highest over the lifetime of the constituency.

The choice for voters in the 1951 election was between Labour or Conservative candidates following the withdrawal and non-replacement of the Liberal candidate. Arthur Moyle predicted the votes from those Liberal voters who cast their ballot would be shared equally between himself and his opponent. Walter Somers, Managing Director of the long established Somers forging firm of Halesowen was an Old Etonian and Oxford University graduate, born in Old Hill.^[1] Clement Attlee and Anthony Eden visited Halesowen in the run-up to the election.^[3]

The last Conservative challenger to incumbent Arthur Moyle was John Vernon, a director of Birmingham firm, Ash and Lacy and councillor for the Acocks Green ward.^[6]

Elections in the 1960s

The constituency featured in a series of articles on marginal seats in the Birmingham Post ahead of the 1964 general election. The writer exclaimed that although one constituency, as far as its electors were concerned it was two "with little in common except the determination not to be identified with each other". Oldbury is described as quintessential industrial Black Country with its factory chimney stacks, while Halesowen is seen as more of a commuter town with many workers employed at the British Motor Corporation works at Longbridge. Philip Lugg, the Conservative Party candidate commented that 50 per cent of the workforce had connections with the steel industry and highlighted Labour's nationalisation policy. He, as well as the Labour and Liberal candidates saw housing as the main local issue. An unbiased forecast of the election result came from an Oldbury man who said "nobody is really certain who will win. The most you can say is that none of the candidates will lose his deposit".^[8]

The 1966 general election saw a straight fight between the Labour and Conservative candidates. John Horner, who won the seat for Labour in 1964 was aged 54. He originated from the East End of London, was previously an officer in the Merchant Navy and had joined the London Fire Brigade. At the age of 27 he became leader of the Fire Brigades Union. Philip Lugg, again standing for the Conservatives, was aged 43, a local man born and educated in West Bromwich, who worked in the family firm of ironmongers. Both candidates tried to win over the swathe of Liberal voters from the general election held two years previously. Horner said the local issues were leasehold reform, rates, local government reform and housing. A prediction published on the eve of the poll showed a close result in favour of Labour.^[10]

Elections in the 1970s

Voting intentions in the 1970 general election showed a swing towards the Conservatives and a prediction that for the first time in the history of the seat Labour would be defeated. Polling organisation, Marplan predicted a 4.2 per cent swing from Labour to Conservative. In response, John Horner said "our figures show a definite swing to Labour". Conservative challenger, John Stokes was confident the poll confirmed his party's findings that he would win the constituency by between 1,000 and 3,000 votes. Voters interviewed said the rising cost of living, maintaining employment and reducing taxation were the main issues.^[12]