title: 1961 Oswestry by-election
text: # 1961 Oswestry by-election
  
  The 1961 Oswestry by-election was held on 9 November 1961. It was held due to the incumbent Conservative MP and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, David Ormsby-Gore becoming the British Ambassador to Washington. The by-election was won by the future Conservative cabinet minister John Biffen, then aged 31.
  
  ## Candidates
  
  The local Liberals selected 36 year old John Buchanan. He was born in July 1925 and was educated at Collyer's School, Horsham. He was standing for parliament for the first time.
  
  ## Result
  
  Oswestry by-election, 1961 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | John Biffen | 12,428 | 40.8 | -15.1 |
  | | Liberal | John R. Buchanan | 8,647 | 28.4 | +12.3 |
  | | Labour | Brian Walden | 8,519 | 28.0 | 0.0 |
  | | Patriotic Front | John E. Dayton | 839 | 2.8 | New |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,781 | 12.4 | -15.5 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,433 | 60.8 | -13.4 |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -13.7 | |
  