Complex sentence: On the eve of poll Rushton retired from the election and endorsed the Liberal candidate, who seemed the most credible challenger; this was too late to take his name from the ballot paper and Rushton received 45 votes.
Split into simpler sentences: On the eve of poll Rushton retired from the election and endorsed the Liberal candidate, who seemed the most credible challenger. It was too late to take his name from the ballot paper and Rushton received 45 votes.