One hundred and two years ago, a UK General Election was held, when Conservatives, led by Stanley Baldwin, won the most seats. However, Labour, led by Ramsay MacDonald, and H. H. Asquith's reunited Liberal Party gained enough seats to produce a hung parliament. Back in Stoke there was a more important election in 1923. Herbert Maurice Hembrow, son of Thomas and Eliza Hembrow of Slough Farm, had been the elected district councillor for the area, which was then part of Taunton Rural District. Following his death an election was contested by 55 year old Edmund Boobyer of Lees Farm and Reginald Clifford Garland, aged 30, of Curload Farm. The Taunton Courier reported that about two thirds of the electorate voted and that there were four spoilt ballot papers. Edmund Boobyer won the contest with a majority of 134. It was a day off for the village children, as the school was used as the polling station - the second day off in a week as the school had also been closed for the wedding of the Duke of York.  The election was seemingly a very friendly affair:

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"The contest was fought with keen interest and on no party lines. Conservatives, Liberals, Non-conformists and Churchmen giving their vote irrespective of religious or political differences. Nine cars were busy taking electors to the poll, both sides conveying each other's supporters. From the beginning it was the most friendly contest ever fought in Stoke St Gregory. The poll was declared about nine o' clock the same evening. . . After the result was made known both candidates thanked their supporters, Mr Boobyer congratulating Mr Garland on the 'plucky fight' he had put up."