1908 Pudsey by-election

The Pudsey by-election was a Parliamentary by-election held on 20 June 1908.[1] The constituency returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system.

The by-election was caused when the Member of Parliament, the George Whiteley resigned from Parliament by accepting appointment as Steward of the Manor of Northstead.[2]

Electoral history

General election Saturday 20 January 1906 Electorate [3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Whiteley 7,043 66.5 +14.1
Conservative C W Ford 3,541 33.5 -14.1
Majority 3,502 33.0 +28.2
Turnout 15,909 66.5 -11.7
Liberal hold Swing

Candidates

Frederick Ogden, John James Oddy and J. W. Benson were the three candidates. Eccentric poet Arthur Hunnable announced that he would contest the election, but failed to submit nomination papers.[4]

Campaign

Polling Day was arranged for 20 June 1908, just 18 days after the retirement of the previous MP.

Result

1908 Pudsey by-election[5] Electorate
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John James Oddy 5,444 45.1 +11.7
Liberal Frederick Ogden 5,331 44.2 -22.4
Independent Labour J. W. Benson 1,291 10.7 New
Majority 113 0.1 N/A
Turnout 12066 78.3 +11.8
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing

Aftermath

On 26 June, it was announced that Whiteley, the former MP, had been awarded a peerage and would take a seat in the House of Lords.[6]

References

  1. ^ Craig, F.W.S. (1987). Chronology of British Parliamentary By-elections 1833–1987. Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 102.
  2. ^ "Parliament - House Of Commons - New Writ", The Times, p. 6, 4 June 1908
  3. ^ "The General Election - The Polls", The Times, p. 10, 22 January 1906
  4. ^ "Pudsey by-election", Manchester Guardian, 8 June 1908
  5. ^ "Election Intelligence", The Times, p. 9, 22 June 1908
  6. ^ A Liberal Chronicle: Journals and Papers of J.A. Pease
  • v
  • t
  • e
« 27th Parliament « By-elections to the 28th Parliament of the United Kingdom » 29th Parliament »
1906190719081909
Lists of UK by-elections
1801–1806
1806–1818
1818–1832
1832–1847
1847–1857
1857–1868
1868–1885
1885–1900
1900–1918
1918–1931
1931–1950
1950–1979
1979–2010
2010–present
Northern Ireland
Hereditary peers