Bradford Central (UK Parliament constituency)

{{Short description|Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885–1955}}

{{Infobox UK constituency main

|name = Bradford Central

|parliament = uk

|map1 =

|map2 =

|map_entity =

|map_year =

|year = 1885

|abolished = 1955

|type = Borough

|elects_howmany = One

|previous = Bradford

|next = Bradford North, Bradford East, Bradford South and Bradford West

|region = England

|county = West Riding of Yorkshire

|towns = Bradford

}}

Bradford Central was a parliamentary constituency in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, which returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Elections were held under the first-past-the-post voting system.

The constituency was created for the 1885 general election, when the Redistribution of Seats Act split the two-member Bradford constituency into three single-seat divisions. It was abolished for the 1955 general election.

Political history

For most of its existence, Bradford Central was a marginal seat, initially between the Liberal Party and the Conservatives or their Liberal Unionist allies. The Liberals held it for all but eleven of the years from 1885 to 1918, after which it became a Labour-Conservative marginal. Control alternated between Labour and the Conservatives through the 1920s and 1930s, and in 1945 it became a safe seat for Labour.

Boundaries

1885–1918: The Municipal Borough of Bradford wards of Exchange, Lister Hills, Little Horton, North, and West.

1918–1950: The County Borough of Bradford wards of East, Exchange, Manningham, North, South, and West.

1950–1955: The County Borough of Bradford wards of Bradford Moor, Exchange, Manningham, North East, and South.

Members of Parliament

colspan="2"\|Year !Member {{Rayment-hc\|b\|4\|date=March 2012}} !Party {{cite book \|last=Craig \|first=F. W. S. \|author-link= F. W. S. Craig \|title=British parliamentary election results 1885–1918 \|orig-year=1974 \|edition= 2nd \|year=1989 \|publisher= Parliamentary Research Services \|location=Chichester \|isbn= 0-900178-27-2 \|page=79 }}{{cite book \|last=Craig \|first=F. W. S. \|author-link= F. W. S. Craig \|title=British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 \|orig-year=1969 \|edition= 3rd \|year=1983 \|publisher= Parliamentary Research Services \|location=Chichester \|isbn= 0-900178-06-X \|page=99 }}
class="wikitable"
style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color\|Liberal Party (UK)}}" \| \|1885	William Forster	Liberal
style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color\|Liberal Party (UK)}}" \| \|1886	George Shaw-Lefevre	Liberal
style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color\|Liberal Unionist Party}}" \| \|1895	James Wanklyn	Liberal Unionist
style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color\|Liberal Party (UK)}}" \| \|1906	Sir George Robertson	Liberal
style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color\|Liberal Party (UK)}}" \| \|1916	Sir James Hill	Liberal
style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color\|Unionist Party (UK)}}" \| \|1918	Henry Ratcliffe	Unionist
style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|1922	William Leach	Labour
style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color\|Unionist Party (UK)}}" \| \|1924	Anthony Gadie	Unionist
style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|1929	William Leach	Labour
style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color\|Conservative Party (UK)}}" \| \|1931	George Eady	Conservative
style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|1935	William Leach	Labour
style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color\|Labour Party (UK)}}" \| \|1945	Maurice Webb	Labour
style="color:inherit;background-color: white" \| \|1955 \|colspan="3"\| constituency abolished

Elections

File:Bradford West election results.png

=Elections in the 1880s=

{{Election box begin |

|title=1885 general election: Bradford Central}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = William Edward Forster

|votes = 5,275

|percentage = 58.6

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = George Motley Waud

|votes = 3,732

|percentage = 41.4

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 1,543

|percentage = 17.2

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 9,007

|percentage = 79.7

|change =

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 11,297

}}

{{Election box new seat win|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=By-election 21 April 1886: Bradford Central}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = George Shaw-Lefevre

|votes = 4,407

|percentage = 54.9

|change = −3.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Edward Hoare

|votes = 3,627

|percentage = 45.1

|change = +3.7

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 780

|percentage = 9.8

|change = −4.4

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 8,032

|percentage = 71.1

|change = −8.6

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 11,297

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=1886 general election: Bradford Central}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = George Shaw-Lefevre

|votes = 4,410

|percentage = 52.7

|change = −2.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Unionist Party

|candidate = Charles Norwood

|votes = 3,951

|percentage = 47.3

|change = +2.2

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 459

|percentage = 5.4

|change = −4.4

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 8,361

|percentage = 74.0

|change = +2.9

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 11,297

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

}}

=Elections in the 1890s=

{{Election box begin |

|title=1892 general election: Bradford Central}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = George Shaw-Lefevre

|votes = 4,710

|percentage = 52.6

|change = −0.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Unionist Party

|candidate = Marquess of Lorne

|votes = 4,245

|percentage = 47.4

|change = +0.1

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 465

|percentage = 5.2

|change = −0.2

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 8,955

|percentage = 78.3

|change = +4.3

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 11,434

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=By-election, 23 August 1892: Bradford CentralThe by-election in 1892 was caused by the appointment of George Shaw-Lefevre to the ministerial post of First Commissioner of Works. Until the 1920s, appointment as a minister required an MP to seek re-election.}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = George Shaw-Lefevre

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=1895 general election: Bradford Central}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Unionist Party

|candidate = James Wanklyn

|votes = 4,024

|percentage = 50.3

|change = +2.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = George Shaw-Lefevre

|votes = 3,983

|percentage = 49.7

|change = −2.9

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 41

|percentage = 0.6

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 7,917

|percentage = 77.6

|change = −0.7

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 10,316

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Liberal Unionist Party

|loser = Liberal Party (UK)

|swing = +2.9

}}

=Elections in the 1900s=

{{Election box begin |

|title=1900 general election: Bradford Central}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Unionist Party

|candidate = James Wanklyn

|votes = 4,634

|percentage = 53.6

|change = +3.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = A. Anderton

|votes = 4,007

|percentage = 46.4

|change = −3.3

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 627

|percentage = 7.2

|change = +6.6

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 8,641

|percentage = 82.8

|change = +5.2

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 10,442

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Liberal Unionist Party

}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=1906 general election: Bradford Central}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Sir George Scott Robertson

|votes = 4,954

|percentage = 57.8

|change = +4.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Vicary GibbsVicary Gibbs had been the MP for St Albans from 1892 to 1904

|votes = 3,614

|percentage = 42.2

|change = −4.2

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 1,340

|percentage = 15.6

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 8,568

|percentage = 85.9

|change = +3.1

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 9,978

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

|loser = Liberal Unionist Party

|swing = 4.2

}}

=Elections in the 1910s=

{{Election box begin |

|title=January 1910 general election: Bradford Central}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Sir George Scott Robertson

|votes = 5,249

|percentage = 59.3

|change = +1.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Unionist Party

|candidate = Viscount Howick

|votes = 3,608

|percentage = 40.7

|change = −1.5

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 1,641

|percentage = 18.6

|change = +3.0

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 8,857

|percentage = 89.9

|change = +4.0

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 9,848

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=December 1910 general election: Bradford Central}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Sir George Scott Robertson

|votes = 4,677

|percentage = 58.0

|change = −1.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = G. H. R. Pauling

|votes = 3,381

|percentage = 42.0

|change = +1.3

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 1,296

|percentage = 16.0

|change = −2.6

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 8,058

|percentage = 81.8

|change = −8.1

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 9,848

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=1916 by-election: Bradford Central}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Sir James Hill, Bt

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=1918 general election: Bradford Central}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link coalition 1918|

|party = Unionist Party (UK)

|candidate = Henry Butler Ratcliffe

|votes = 12,434

|percentage = 51.0

|change = +9.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = William Leach

|votes = 7,636

|percentage = 31.3

|change = New

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Sir James Hill, Bt

|votes = 4,304

|percentage = 17.7

|change = −40.3

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 4,798

|percentage = 19.7

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 24,374

|percentage = 54.7

|change = −27.1

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 44,549

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Unionist Party (UK)

|loser = Liberal Party (UK)

|swing = +27.7

}}

=Elections in the 1920s=

{{Election box begin |

|title=1922 general election: Bradford Central}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = William Leach

|votes = 14,296

|percentage = 42.4

|change = +11.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Unionist Party (UK)

|candidate = Fred Denby Moore

|votes = 12,171

|percentage = 36.1

|change = −14.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Rev. William Paxton

|votes = 7,250

|percentage = 21.5

|change = +3.8

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 2,125

|percentage = 6.3

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 33,717

|percentage = 75.4

|change = +20.7

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 44,689

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Labour Party (UK)

|loser = Unionist Party (UK)

|swing = +13.0

}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=1923 general election: Bradford Central}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = William Leach

|votes = 14,241

|percentage = 44.6

|change = +1.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Unionist Party (UK)

|candidate = Jonas Pearson

|votes = 9,725

|percentage = 30.4

|change = −5.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Rev. William Paxton

|votes = 7,973

|percentage = 25.0

|change = +3.5

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 4,516

|percentage = 14.2

|change = +7.9

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 31,939

|percentage = 71.0

|change = −4.4

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 44,991

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Labour Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=1924 general election: Bradford Central}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Unionist Party (UK)

|candidate = Anthony Gadie

|votes = 17,854

|percentage = 51.7

|change = +21.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = William Leach

|votes = 16,652

|percentage = 48.3

|change = +3.7

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 1,202

|percentage = 3.4

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 34,506

|percentage = 76.5

|change = +5.5

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 45,127

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Unionist Party (UK)

|loser = Labour Party (UK)

|swing = +8.8

}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=1929 general election: Bradford Central}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = William Leach

|votes = 24,876

|percentage = 59.0

|change = +10.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Unionist Party (UK)

|candidate = Anthony Gadie

|votes = 17,265

|percentage = 41.0

|change = −10.7

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 7,611

|percentage = 18.9

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 42,141

|percentage = 80.0

|change = +3.5

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 52,674

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Labour Party (UK)

|loser = Unionist Party (UK)

|swing = +10.7

}}

===Elections in the 1930s===

{{Election box begin |

|title=1931 general election: Bradford Central}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = George Eady

|votes = 24,986

|percentage = 61.4

|change = +20.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = William Leach

|votes = 15,697

|percentage = 38.6

|change = −20.4

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 9,289

|percentage = 22.8

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 40,673

|percentage = 78.2

|change = −1.8

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 51,996

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|loser = Labour Party (UK)

|swing = +20.4

}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=1935 general election: Bradford Central}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = William Leach

|votes = 16,397

|percentage = 51.8

|change = +13.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = George Eady

|votes = 15,241

|percentage = 48.2

|change = −13.2

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 1,156

|percentage = 3.6

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 31,638

|percentage = 66.0

|change = −12.2

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 47,906

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Labour Party (UK)

|loser = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = +13.2

}}

=Elections in the 1940s=

{{Election box begin |

|title=1945 general election: Bradford Central}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Maurice Webb

|votes = 16,764

|percentage = 57.5

|change = +6.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = T. L. Dallas

|votes = 7,776

|percentage = 26.6

|change = −21.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Peter Edward Trench

|votes = 4,655

|percentage = 15.9

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 8,988

|percentage = 30.9

|change = +27.3

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 29,205

|percentage = 76.2

|change = +10.2

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 38,331

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Labour Party (UK)

}}

=Elections in the 1950s=

{{Election box begin |

|title=1950 general election: Bradford Central{{cite web |url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge50/i04.htm |title=UK General Election results February 1950, part 4 |work=Richard Kimber's political science resources |accessdate=9 July 2010}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Maurice Webb

|votes = 24,822

|percentage = 58.7

|change = +1.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = T. Boyce

|votes = 13,375

|percentage = 31.7

|change = +5.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Charles Frederick Sarsby

|votes = 4,063

|percentage = 9.6

|change = −6.3

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 11,447

|percentage = 27.1

|change = −3.8

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 42,260

|percentage = 84.6

|change = +8.4

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 49,935

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Labour Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=1951 general election: Bradford Central{{cite web |url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge51/i04.htm |title=UK General Election results October 1951, part 4 |work=Richard Kimber's political science resources |accessdate=9 July 2010}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Maurice Webb

|votes = 25,215

|percentage = 60.7

|change = +2.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Arthur Tiley

|votes = 16,343

|percentage = 39.3

|change = +7.6

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 8,872

|percentage = 21.4

|change = −5.7

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 41,558

|percentage = 83.7

|change = −0.9

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 49,625

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Labour Party (UK)

}}

References

British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (The Macmillan Press 1974)

Category:Parliamentary constituencies in West Yorkshire (historic)

Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1885

Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom disestablished in 1955

Category:Politics of Bradford