James Blindell

Who was James Blindell?

Sir James Blindell was a Liberal Party politician in the United Kingdom, who served as the Member of Parliament for Holland with Boston from 1929 until his death.

He was first elected as the constituency's MP at a by-election in March 1929, caused by the death of the Conservative MP Arthur Dean. Blindell overturned a Conservative majority of nearly 5,000 to win with a majority of 3,706. His victory was the last Liberal by-election gain until Torrington in 1958.

Blindell was re-elected as a Liberal at the 1929 general election, but in 1931 he was one of the Liberal MPs who broke with their party to support Ramsay MacDonald's National Government, eventually forming the National Liberal Party.

He was re-elected as a National Liberal at the 1931 general election and at the 1935 general election. In both elections, the Conservatives did not field a candidate against him, and he was returned with large majorities.

Blindell was knighted in 1936, and died in office in 1937. At the consequent Holland with Boston by-election, 1937, Herbert Butcher held the seat for the National Liberals.