1923 Leeds Central by-election

1923 Leeds Central by-election

←  1922 26 July 1923 1923  →

Candidate Wilson Slesser Stone Party Unionist Labour Liberal Popular vote 13,085 11,359 3,026 Percentage 47.6% 41.4% 11.0%

MP before election Willey Unionist Subsequent MP Wilson Unionist

The 1923 Leeds Central by-election was a parliamentary by-election for the British House of Commons constituency of Leeds Central on 26 July 1923.

Vacancy

The by-election was caused by the death of the sitting Unionist MP, Arthur Wellesley Willey on 2 July 1923. He had been MP here since winning the seat in 1922.

Electoral history

Willey had gained the seat from the Liberals at the previous general election;

General election 1922: Leeds Central ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Unionist	Arthur Wellesley Willey	14,137	50.0	N/A
	Labour	Henry Slesser	7,844	27.8	New
	Liberal	Robert Armitage	6,260	22.2	−48.4
Majority			6,293	22.2	N/A
Turnout			28,241	66.1	+28.7
	Unionist gain from Liberal		Swing

Result

The Unionists held the seat. The Liberal share was halved with the Labour Party picking up that former Liberal vote.

Leeds Central by-election, 1923 ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Unionist	Charles Henry Wilson	13,085	47.6	−2.4
	Labour	Henry Slesser	11,359	41.4	+13.6
	Liberal	Gilbert Stone	3,026	11.0	−11.2
Majority			1,726	6.2	−16.0
Turnout			27,470	64.3	−1.8
	Unionist hold		Swing	-8.0

Aftermath

The result at the following General election;

General election 1923: Leeds Central ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Unionist	Charles Henry Wilson	14,853	56.2	+6.2
	Labour	Henry Slesser	11,574	43.8	+16.0
Majority			3,279	12.4	−9.8
Turnout			26,427	60.1	−6.0
	Unionist hold		Swing	-4.9

References

1. British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig