Betty Boothroyd beaten in polls by David Waddington

12:21pm Thursday 24th April 2008

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FORTY years ago, in April 1968, political parties in Nelson and Colne were preparing for a by-election, following the death of MP Sydney Silverman, who had served the constituency for almost 33 years.

And the local Labour Party marked the golden jubilee of women's suffrage by nominating their first-ever woman.

She was a 'lively brunette' and 'political animal', a certain 38-year-old Miss Betty Boothroyd, who was then secretary to Labour peer Lord Walston.

She wasn't the first woman to fight the seat, however.

In the 1950s, farmer's wife Elaine Kellett stood as Tory candidate, halving Mr Silverman's majority.

Before nominations were finalised, the Liberals, who indicated they would make it a three-cornered fight, were waiting to hear if Sir Learie Constantine would accept the invitation to stand for them.

He didn't and their eventual candidate, D Chadwick, was beaten into third place. English nationalist B Tattersall came bottom.

Miss Boothroyd was also beaten - the third time her bid to win a seat in Parliament had failed, following defeats in the polls at Leicester and Peterborough.

For although there was torrential rain on polling day, June 27, there was still a 70per cent turnout and Conservative candidate, 38-year-old Sabden barrister David Waddington, topped the polls to become the new MP.

He was only the second Tory to win Nelson and Colne in the 66 years since the seat was reorganised to take in Nelson, Colne, Brierfield, Barrowford and Trawden in 1902.