Reviewing politics
and culture since 1913

  1. Politics
15 May 2015

The Returning Officer: money troubles in Windsor

In 1939, C S Edgerley was imprisoned for forgery relating to the purchase of elm trees.

By Stephen Brasher

In 1918, the sitting Tory Ernest Gardner was opposed by C S Edgerley, who was described as a “government contractor”. He had applied for exemption from military service in 1916 and his case was adjourned “for further details relating to a badge”. According to the Reading Mercury, “He calls himself Labour-coalition unofficial.” In 1939, he was imprisoned for forgery relating to the purchase of elm trees. It was stated he had made £100,000 during the war, which he squandered.

In 1922 and 1923, the Liberal candidate was C B Crisp, the founder of the Anglo-Russian Trust. In 1912, he had arranged a loan to China despite official opposition. He left the Liberals in 1924 over their attitude to the government’s Russian trade treaty and stood for Labour.

Stephen Brasher

Content from our partners
Cyber attacks are evolving – so too must government response
The public sector's rocky-road to innovation
Meeting missions. Creating jobs. Building careers.

Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month