1908 Pudsey by-election
# 1908 Pudsey by-election

The Pudsey by-election was a Parliamentary by-election held on 20 June 1908. 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.

## Electoral history

General election Saturday 20 January 1906 Electorate :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | George Whiteley | 7,043 | 66.5 | +14.1 |
| | Conservative | C W Ford | 3,541 | 33.5 | -14.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,502 | 33.0 | +28.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,909 | 66.5 | -11.7 |
| | Liberal hold | 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.

## Campaign

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

## Result

1908 Pudsey by-election Electorate :

| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 113 | 0.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12066 | 78.3 | +11.8 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | 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.

