Murdoch McKenzie Wood

Major Sir Murdoch McKenzie Wood OBE, DL (1881 – 11 October 1949) was a Scottish Liberal politician.

Background

He was the second son of James Wood of Cullen, Banffshire. He was educated at Edinburgh University. He was awarded the OBE in 1919. In 1924 he married Muriel Davis. He was a Deputy Lieutenant for Banffshire and was knighted in 1932.

Professional career

He received a call to the bar by Gray's Inn in 1910. He was on the editorial staff of the Daily Mail. In World War I he served with the Gordon Highlanders and was severely wounded. He later served with the administrative staff of the Royal Air Force.

Political career

He was the unsuccessful Liberal Party parliamentary candidate for the Unionist seat of Ayr Burghs in 1918 where the intervention of a Labour Party candidate prevented what would otherwise have been a rare gain for the Liberals;

He entered Parliament as Liberal MP for Aberdeenshire Central at a by-election in April 1919. This was a notable gain for the opposition Liberals against a Unionist candidate supported by the Coalition Government;

He was comfortably re-elected at the following general election;

Following re-union between Asquith and Lloyd George, he was comfortably re-elected at the next election;

He served as the Scottish Liberal Whip from 1923–1924. At the following general election, a Labour candidate intervened and split the anti-Unionist vote, which cost him his seat;

He switched to contest Banffshire for the United Kingdom general election, 1929. He comfortably re-gained a seat the Liberals had lost in 1924;

In 1931, following the formation of the National Government, he was returned unopposed at the general election as a supporter of the new administration. He was an unpaid Assistant Government Whip from 1931–1932. When the Liberal party left the National Government he continued in the role of Scottish Liberal Whip from 1932–1934. In 1935 he was defeated at Banffshire;

He did not stand for parliament again.