A by-election was called for the constituency of Middleton and
Prestwich to be held on the 22nd May 1940 following the death of
the incumbent Nairne Stewart Sandeman on the 23rd April 1940. In
the circumstances, given that the nation was at war, the
Conservative, Labour and Liberal parties had all agreed not to
contest by-elections, and therefore when the local Conservative
Association selected Lieutenant Ernest Everard Gates no serious
opposition was expected to his election.  However, as was to
prove the case throughout the war, other minor parties did not
feel bound by this agreement and indeed were often keen to take
advantage of the opportunity provided. The Independent Labour
Party duly nominated one D Carradice, an official of the
Municipal and General Workers Union as their candidate, but he
later decided to withdraw "in view of the present tension".
Therefore when nominations closed on the 13th May 1940 the only
opposition faced by the Conservative candidate Ernest Everard
Gates was that of one Frede