W.W. Wakefield Conservative MP With the war in Europe over, Winston Churchill faced increasing pressure at home to call a General Election. Winding up the wartime National Government he went to the country to ask the electorate to give their mandate to his Conservative Party. With the town’s newly honoured former MP, Sir Wavell Wakefield, contesting the Marylebone seat, Lieutenant Col. Alistair Gibb became the Conservative candidate in Swindon where he hoped to hold on to his predecessors 975 majority. His adversary was Labour candidate Thomas Reid. Among the 59,898 names on the new electoral register were 4,679 service voters. However since its compilation, hundreds of war workers billeted in the area had returned to their homes. “I regard it as the greatest compliment I have yet received that all the boo boys should have followed me here tonight,” said Col. Gibbs, addressing an eve of poll meeting held at the Drill Hall. Meanwhile, at a Part...