[Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: November 29th, 1919]

The electors in the East Ward of Luton do not seem enamoured of Mr William Twort as a candidate for municipal honours. He contested the Ward in the election which took place on November 1st, and, although he was in good company with Mr W. J. Mair JP, another Labour candidate who had the distinction of being the first of his party to secure a seat on te Town Council. Mr Twort was left at the bottom of the poll.

In the resignation of the late Mayor of Luton, Mr Henry Impey, who was one of the representatives of the East Ward, Mr Twort saw another chance to have a fight for a seat in this Ward. Yesterday he received the verdict of the electors.

Outwardly there appeared to be very little interest taken in the election, but much quiet work must have been done for the other candidate, Mr Tom Neville Jnr, and although polling was somewhat slow during the morning, when the votes were counted at St Mary's Hall last evening it was found that the total poll was heavier than on November 1st, a somewhat unusual feature for a by-election of this character.

The electors in the Ward number 6,178, and of these 3,124 cast their votes, giving a percentage of just over 50. In the earlier election only 2,614 votes were given, for division between four candidates, this being a percentage of 42.31.

Mr Neville had five cars running, and a lot of voluntary helpers, but the roads were anything but good, being so greasy that driving was somewhat difficult, and as a result as full service was not obtained from the vehicles as might have possible on another occasion.

Mr Twort relied entirely on the goodwill of his supporters to walk to the polling station, and a few of them did, but the modest number of his supporters made be gathered from the following figures:

Neville F. T. (Ind).......2634

Twort W (Lab).............483

Majority......................2151

Ald H. O. Williams JP was the returning officer, and the Mayor and Town Clerk were present. There were seven spoiled papers.