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1908 Pudsey by-election

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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

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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

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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

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

Result

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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

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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

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  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