A Motherwell Miracle and a Sponsorship Saga: the Motherwell By‐election, 1945*

Abstract This article examines the by‐election campaign in the Motherwell constituency of North Lanarkshire, Scotland, in April 1945. This contest resulted in the Scottish National Party (SNP) candidate, Dr Robert McIntyre, gaining the party's first ever seat in parliament on the eve of the 1945 general election. Eighty years on from this momentous result, the article will examine the by‐election campaign, and the attempt to retain the seat at the 1945 general election. The political climate in Scotland prior to the by‐election will be examined; in particular, the impact of government policy towards Scotland and how this played a part in McIntyre's victory. Furthermore, it will note that the by‐election result helped cement the contesting of elections as a core part of SNP policy. The article will also explore the dramatic aftermath of McIntyre's victory, where his attempt to protest against the parliamentary procedure of sponsorship drew consternation from some fellow MPs and the wider press. The incident raised questions about whether such a process was still necessary. The article argues that the Motherwell by‐election was a watershed moment in the history of the SNP which should have more recognition in the historiography as a key turning point for the party.