Constituency : Holland with Boston 1937-66 ( Liberal National, from 1950 National Liberal and Conservative )
The Parliament elected in 1935 had to serve a long ten years due to the Second World War. The Liberals had to elect a new leader in Archibald Sinclair who had more energy than Samuel but was given to wild over-optimism. He also hoped fruitlessly for a reunion with the Liberal Nationals. In 1940 the official Liberals returned to government as part of Churchill's government. Sinclair got a Cabinet post which obliged him to resist calls from left-leaning Liberals to pull out of the wartime electoral truce. The long period of inactivity did have a detrimental effect on local associations but did lead to the return of a few MPs who probably would have failed in an open contest. The Liberal Nationals were not highly regarded by Churchill who pushed Simon into the Lords as Lord Chancellor and paid little heed to their new leader Ernest Brown.
Herbert took over at Holland with Boston following the death of James Blindell. He had a straightforward victory over Labour.
Herbert was educated at Hastings Grammar School. He served in the Royal Navy in World War One. He was a Hackney borough councillor and was Mayor of Hackney from 1935 to 1937.
From 1950 onwards Herbert stood as a National Liberal and Conservative. He had easy victories in the seat; the Liberals fitfully opposed him from 1950 onwards but made little impact on his majorities.
Herbert was a whip in Churchill's peacetime government. He was a friend of corrupt architect John Poulson. He was knighted in 1953 and created a baronet in 1960. He was the last chief whip for the National Liberals.
He stood down in 1966 and died a couple of months after the election aged 64.
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