Sydney Cope Morgan

Sydney Cope Morgan MBE QC (25 October 1887 – 14 October 1967), was a British barrister and Liberal Party politician.

Background

Morgan was the eldest son of George Ernest Morgan, of Cookham Dean, Berkshire. He was educated at Taunton School and Trinity College, Cambridge. In 1918 he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire.[1]

Professional career

Morgan served in the European War, 1914–18 as a Major in the South Wales Borderers. He received the Call to Bar in 1921. He was a Captain on the General List from 1940–44. In 1946 he was appointed a Queen's Counsel. He was Leader of the Parliamentary Bar from 1952–62. He became a Bencher, Middle Temple in 1954.[2]

Political career

Morgan was Liberal candidate for the Cambridge division at the 1922 Cambridge by-election. The Liberal party had not contested the previous election when Labour came second. However, Morgan's campaign helped to re-establish the party as a political force in the borough;

1922 Cambridge by-election[3] Electorate 28,402
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist George Newton 10,897 48.7 -26.6
Labour Hugh Dalton 6,954 31.1 +6.4
Liberal Sydney Morgan 4,529 20.2 N/A
Majority 3,943 17.6 -33.0
Turnout 80.4 +19.6
Unionist hold Swing -16.5

He was again Liberal candidate for Cambridge at the 1922 General Election which took place shortly after. At this election he was able to improve the Liberal vote and take second place from the Labour party;

1922 General Election: Cambridge[4] Electorate 28,402
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist George Newton 11,238 48.7 +0.0
Liberal Sydney Morgan 7,005 30.4 +10.2
Labour Alec Sandy Firth 4,810 20.9 -11.2
Majority 4,233 18.3
Turnout 81.2 +0.8
Unionist hold Swing -5.1

He was again Liberal candidate for Cambridge at the 1923 General Election. He achieved a 5% swing but this was not enough to unseat the sitting Unionist;

1923 General Election: Cambridge[5] Electorate 28,920
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist George Newton 9,814 42.0 -6.7
Liberal Sydney Morgan 7,852 33.5 +3.1
Labour Alec Sandy Firth 5,741 24.5 +3.6
Majority 1,962 8.5 -9.8
Turnout 80.9 -0.3
Unionist hold Swing -5.1

He did not contest the 1924 General Election. He was Liberal candidate for the Northampton division at the 1928 Northampton by-election. The seat was a Unionist/Labour marginal which made it tough for a Liberal candidate. However, he managed to retain the level of support the party had won at the previous general election;

1928 Northampton by-election[6] Electorate: 48,048
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Cecil Malone 15.173 37.5 +0.3
Unionist Alexander Frederick Gordon Renton 14,616 36.1 -3.4
Liberal Sydney Morgan 9,584 23.7 +0.4
Ind. Conservative Augustine Hailwood 1,093 2.7 +2.7
Majority 557 1.4 3.8
Turnout 84.2 -2.8
Labour gain from Unionist Swing +1.9

He did not stand for parliament again.[7]

References
  1. ‘MORGAN, Sydney Cope’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2007; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2007 accessed 7 April 2014
  2. ‘MORGAN, Sydney Cope’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2007; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2007 accessed 7 April 2014
  3. British parliamentary election results 1918-1949, Craig, F.W.S.
  4. British parliamentary election results 1918-1949, Craig, F.W.S.
  5. British parliamentary election results 1918-1949, Craig, F.W.S.
  6. British parliamentary election results 1918-1949, Craig, F.W.S.
  7. British parliamentary election results 1918-1949, Craig, F.W.S.
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