Maurice Alexander

Alexander was on the left-wing. He began his political career as a National Liberal, i.e. as a member of that wing of the Liberal Party which supported the Coalition Government 1916-1922 of Prime Minister David Lloyd George. In December 1921 there had been a by-election in Southwark South East which had resulted in the capture of the seat from the Coalition Liberals by Labour. The defeated Liberal candidate, T. O. Jacobsen, decided not to contest the seat again at the 1922 general election and Alexander stepped into the breach gaining it back for the Liberals in a straight fight with Labour's successful by-election candidate Thomas Ellis Naylor with a majority of 2,280 votes.[8]

The next general election followed quickly in 1923 on the issue of whether to reintroduce or 'reform' tariffs and following Bonar Law's death. By this time the Lloyd George National/Coalition Liberals had reunited with the Independent Liberals led by former Prime Minister H. H. Asquith. In Southwark South East, Alexander standing as a Liberal (without prefix) had another straight fight with Naylor. Although the 1923 general election was largely successful for the reunited Liberals, bringing it 30% of the popular vote and 158 seats, this was almost entirely at the expense of the Conservatives in rural and suburban seats. The story against Labour in working class and industrial seats was very different.[9] Alexander lost his seat to Naylor by a majority of 1,490 votes.[8]

The 1923 general election brought to power the first Labour government and the Liberal Party in Parliament found itself divided over whether to support it. During the short life of the government the Liberals were badly split on key votes, presenting a picture of disunity and political incoherence to the electorate.[10] At the 1924 general election Alexander decided to cut his ties with Southwark and stood instead as Liberal candidate in North Norfolk. This was the seat of Noel Buxton a former Liberal who had defected to Labour. Alexander came a poor third in the contest, losing his deposit.[11]

Alexander did not contest the 1929 general election, apparently reverting to his law practice in London but in 1931, perhaps influenced by his defeat by Buxton, he surfaced as the Labour candidate in Newcastle upon Tyne East. However, in a straight fight with the sitting MP, the Liberal National Sir Robert Aske he lost by the wide margin of 10,346 votes.[5]

Alexander did not contest any further Parliamentary elections but in 1938 it was reported that he was likely to be selected as the candidate of the National Government in the constituency of Bermondsey West in opposition to the sitting Labour MP, Alfred Salter.[12] The intervention of the Second World War meant the general election due to be held by 1940 was postponed and Alexander did not get to contest Bermondsey. It is not clear when or why he lost faith with the Labour Party or why he should have been drawn to Sir John Simon's Liberal Nationals.[13]