Ida Swinburne in 1929

Ida Swinburne was a British documentary film producer and Liberal Party politician.

Background

Ida Swinburne was born in Paddington, London, the eldest daughter of Sir James Swinburne, 9th Baronet, F.R.S., of Inverness-shire[1] and Lilian Gilchrist Carey. She had two older half-brothers, Anthony Swinburne and Spearman Charles Swinburne and a younger sister, Marjorie Swinburne.[2] She lived with her parents in East Surrey for 20 years. She was educated at Irwin House and the Manor House, Limpsfield.[3] In July 1929 she married Douglas Ronald Spen Steuart. They moved to Bramham Gardens, in South West London.[4] They divorced in 1945. She then married in July 1945, Cmdr. Daniel Harvey Rainier, DSC, RN. They lived at Strone, North Knapdale by Lochgilphead, Argyllshire. He died in March 1965 and she died the following year.

Political career

In 1928 Ida Swinburne was a Liberal London County Council candidate for Camberwell North West.[5] She was unsuccessful. She was selected as prospective Liberal parliamentary candidate for the safe Conservative seat of East Surrey in March 1929, a constituency that the Liberals had not contested at the previous election. The General Election was almost immediately called and she had only two months to put her case across. Although she had previously lived in the constituency for 20 years, she had little opportunity to build a local profile. She highlighted her interest in industrial questions, free trade and education.[6] She achieved a respectable second place vote, pushing the Labour candidate into third place. She was re-adopted as prospective Liberal candidate for East Surrey in 1930. She remained Liberal candidate until withdrawing in October 1931 due to the formation of the National Government. She did not stand for parliament again.[7] She continued to be active in the Liberal Party and was a member of the national executive of the Women's Liberal Federation.[8] She was also a member of the Eighty Club.[9]

Electoral record

Camberwell North West
London County Council Election 1928: Camberwell North West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Municipal Reform William Jackson Morton 4,321 22.33
Municipal Reform William Harold Webbe 4,265 22.04
Labour George E Deighton 3,100 16.02
Labour Richard Sargood 3,055 15.79
Liberal Ida Swinburne 1,798 9.29
Liberal Henry James Edwards 1,747 9.03
Independent HJ Adams 544 2.81
Independent RT Bishop 522 2.70
Majority 1,165 6.02
Municipal Reform gain from Liberal Swing
General Election 1929: Surrey East [10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist James Galbraith 19,578 60.9 -22.2
Liberal Ida Swinburne 7,435 23.1 +23.1
Labour Robert Oscar Mennell 5,152 16.0 -0.9
Majority 12,143 37.8 -28.4
Turnout
Unionist hold Swing -27.6

Professional career

With her husband Ronald, Ida Steuart created Steuart Films. They produced a number of documentary films in the 1930s. She served in World War II as a 1st Officer in the Women's Royal Naval Service.

References

  1. ↑ The Times House of Commons, 1929
  2. ↑ The Plantagenet Roll of the Blood Royal by The Marquis of Ruvigny and Ranieval
  3. ↑ The Liberal Year Book, 1929
  4. ↑ The Liberal Year Book, 1929
  5. ↑ The Times House of Commons, 1929
  6. ↑ The Times House of Commons, 1929
  7. ↑ British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1973, FWS Craig
  8. ↑ The Liberal Magazine, 1932
  9. ↑ The Liberal Year Book, 1929
  10. ↑ British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–1949, FWS Craig
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