<page_title> 1940 Middleton and Prestwich by-election </page_title> <section_title> Result </section_title> <table> <cell> Ernest Gates <col_header> Candidate </col_header> </cell> <cell> 98.7 <col_header> % </col_header> </cell> <cell> 97.4 <col_header> % </col_header> <row_header> Majority </row_header> </cell> </table>
Gates won with 98.7% of the votes and a 97.4% majority.