Constituency : Willesden East 1923-24, South Shields 1931-35, Middlesbrough West 1940-45
The 1922-23 election was a short one. Bonar Law was running on borrowed time and soon had to make way for Baldwin. The pro-Coalition Tories such as Austen Chamberlain still held aloof from his government. For the Liberals, talk of reunion started immediately which Asquith did his best to stifle. Lloyd George then went on a tour of America. Baldwin wrongly believed he would declare for protection on his return and decided to pre-empt him. He also decided another election was necessary to ratify this change in policy. This had the effect of reuniting his party but it also led to the Liberals reuniting in defence of Free Trade.
Harcourt took Willesden East from the Tories in a straight fight having run the close in 1922 as an Asquithian. He was supported by both Liberal factions.
Harcourt was the son of a British diplomat. He was related to William and Lewis Harcourt. He acquired the nickname "Crinks" as a baby. He was educated at Eton and Oxford. He served in France during World War One.
Harcourt narrowly held the sea in the general election despite Labour's intervention.
Harcourt was soundly defeated in 1924. In 1925, he stood for Eastbourne at a by-electoion, coming a distant second. Two years later, he contested Westbury failing to take the seat from the Tories by just 149 votes. He stood there again in 1929 this time coming within 67 votes of victory.
In 1931, Harcourt was returned as the government candidate for South Shields which he took from Labour by over 10,000 votes. He was a government whip until the Samuelites left the government in 1932.
In 1935 Harcourt was heavily defeated despite the intervention of a National Labour candidate.
In 1940 Chuchill appointed him Secretary to the Department of Overseas Trade. He was soon returned at a convenient by-election at Middlesbrough West. He had been a friend of Churchill through a mutual dining club since 1911. He was not terribly keen on visiting his constituency.
Harcourt was active in the party organisation and a generous donor. He was a bon viveur and avoided exercise. He was a collector of art and books.
He died of a cerebral stroke in 1945 aged 49.
Harcourt was the only newcomer among the Liberal by-election victors of that Parliament. We move on to the 1923 election.
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