1924-1929
By the time of the 1924 general election, Labour had become much more optimistic about doing well in Bristol and thought they would win against Rees. Rees against faced his usual Labour opponent D J Vaughan and the continuing local “pact” with the Unionists meant another straight fight. Despite Labour hopes, Rees held the seat by 16,722 votes to Vaughan’s 15,702 - a reduced majority of 1,020.
The local arrangement with the Conservatives survived for the 1929 general election and again Rees had no Tory opponent. Again the result was expected to be close but in the end it was a comfortable win for the new Labour candidate Alexander Walkden who had a majority of 5,397. Vaughan had finally abandoned Bristol South and had accepted the offer to stand in the Labour seat of Forest of Dean where he was also elected.
Read more about this topic: Beddoe Rees