1923 Leeds Central by-election
# 1923 Leeds Central by-election

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 :

| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 6,293 | 22.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 28,241 | 66.1 | +28.7 |
| | Unionist gain from Liberal | 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 :

| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 1,726 | 6.2 | -16.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 27,470 | 64.3 | -1.8 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | -8.0 | |

## Aftermath

The result at the following General election;

General election 1923: Leeds Central :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Unionist | Charles Henry Wilson | 14,853 | 56.2 |
| | Labour | Henry Slesser | 11,574 | 43.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,279 | 12.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 26,427 | 60.1 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | |
