# Halifax (UK Parliament constituency)

Halifax is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Kate Dearden of the Labour Party.

## Boundaries

1918–1983: The County Borough of Halifax.
1983–2010: The Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale wards of Illingworth, Mixenden, Northowram and Shelf, Ovenden, St John's, Skircoat, Sowerby Bridge, Town, and Warley.
2010–2024: The Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale wards of Illingworth and Mixenden, Northowram and Shelf, Ovenden, Park, Skircoat, Sowerby Bridge, Town, and Warley.
2024–present: Same as above apart from the addition of part of the Ryburn ward (polling districts MB, MC and MD) from Calder Valley as part of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, thus bringing the whole of Sowerby Bridge within the constituency.
This constituency covers the large town of Halifax in West Yorkshire and includes the smaller town of Sowerby Bridge which adjoins Halifax but until 1974 was a separate Urban District and was part of the Sowerby constituency until 1983.

## History
### To 1918

The parliamentary borough was granted in the Great Reform Act 1832 and returned from that year until 1918 two members. A county borough recognized the density of the developed area in 1888 which provided most functions for inhabitants, retaining the West Yorkshire ceremonial county. The municipal or county borough was under a mayor, five aldermen and 45 councillors and had an area of 13,967 acres (56.52 km$^2$).
At the time of the Norman Conquest, Halifax formed part of the extensive manor of Wakefield, which belonged to the king, but in the 13th century was in the hands of John Earl de Warrenne aka. Earl of Surrey (1231–1304). The prosperity of the town began with the first woollen products workshop established here in 1414, when there are said to have been only thirteen houses, which before the end of the 16th century had increased to 520. Camden, about the end of the 17th century, wrote that "the people are very industrious, so that though the soil about it be barren and improfitable, not fit to live on, they have so flourished ... by the clothing trade that they are very rich and have gained a reputation for it above their neighbours." The manufacturing standards and trade were improved by the arrival of certain merchants and clothworkers driven from the Spanish Netherlands by the persecution by the Duke of Alva.
Halifax was a borough by prescription rather than a medieval parliamentary borough, its privileges growing up with the increased prosperity brought by the cloth trade, but it was not incorporated until 1848. From 1832 until 1918 the town's property-qualifying residents paying scot and lot returned two members to parliament.

### Recent political history

Apart from the four years following the 1983 general election, when it was held by a Conservative MP, the seat has been held by an MP representing the Labour Party since 1964.
Prior to the 2017 general election, the Conservative Party launched its election manifesto at Dean Clough Mill in Halifax, and targeted the seat fairly heavily, for two years earlier the Labour majority in the constituency had fallen to just 428 votes, or 1% of the total vote. However, Holly Lynch increased her majority by almost 5,000 votes, giving Labour its biggest majority in Halifax since 2001.
Lynch retained the seat in 2019 and, after she stood down for the 2024 election, it was won by fellow Labour Party member Kate Dearden.

## Constituency profile

As of 2001, the town in the Pennines was relatively affluent, not afflicted by the high levels of unemployment, underemployment and crime seen in a few wards of the Yorkshire and Humber region but most constituents had modest incomes and there was some social housing in certain wards.

## Members of Parliament
### MPs 1832–1918

| Election | 1st Member | 1st Party | 2nd Member | 2nd Party |
| 1832 | Rawdon Briggs | Whig | Sir Charles Wood | Whig |
| 1835 | James Stuart-Wortley | Conservative | Sir Charles Wood | Whig |
| 1837 | Edward Davis Protheroe | Radical | Sir Charles Wood | Whig |
| 1847 | Henry Edwards | Conservative | Sir Charles Wood | Whig |
| 1852 | Sir Francis Crossley | Radical | Sir Charles Wood | Whig |
| 1859 | Sir James Stansfeld | Liberal | Sir Charles Wood | Liberal |
| 1865 | Sir James Stansfeld | Liberal | Edward Akroyd | Liberal |
| 1874 | Sir James Stansfeld | Liberal | John Crossley | Liberal |
| 1877 by-election | Sir James Stansfeld | Liberal | John Dyson Hutchinson | Liberal |
| 1882 by-election | Sir James Stansfeld | Liberal | Thomas Shaw | Liberal |
| 1893 by-election | Sir James Stansfeld | Liberal | William Rawson Shaw | Liberal |
| 1895 | Alfred Arnold | Conservative | William Rawson Shaw | Liberal |
| 1897 by-election | Alfred Arnold | Conservative | Alfred Billson | Liberal |
| 1900 | Sir Savile Crossley | Liberal Unionist | John Henry Whitley | Liberal |
| 1906 | James Parker | Labour | John Henry Whitley | Liberal |

### MPs since 1918

Representation reduced to one member, 1918
| Election | Member | Party |
| 1918 | John Henry Whitley | Liberal |
| 1921 | John Henry Whitley | Speaker |
| 1928 by-election | Arthur Longbottom | Labour |
| 1931 | Gilbert Gledhill | Conservative |
| 1945 | Dryden Brook | Labour |
| 1955 | Maurice Macmillan | Conservative |
| 1964 | Shirley Summerskill | Labour |
| 1983 | Roy Galley | Conservative |
| 1987 | Alice Mahon | Labour |
| 2005 | Linda Riordan | Labour |
| 2015 | Holly Lynch | Labour |
| 2024 | Kate Dearden | Labour |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Kate Dearden | 14,135 | 35.1 | −10.5 |
| | Conservative | Hazel Sharp | 7,866 | 19.6 | −22.1 |
| | Reform UK | James Griffith-Jones | 7,811 | 19.4 | +13.5 |
| | Green | Martin Hey | 4,133 | 10.3 | +8.3 |
| | Workers Party | Shakir Saghir | 2,543 | 6.3 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Samuel Jackson | 2,359 | 5.9 | +1.1 |
| | Independent | Purveen Hussain | 1,367 | 3.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,269 | 15.5 | +9.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,363 | 52.1 | −12.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 77,516 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 5.8 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Labour | 21,819 | 45.6 |
| | Conservative | 19,917 | 41.7 |
| | Brexit Party | 2,813 | 5.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 2,302 | 4.8 |
| | Green | 946 | 2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 47,797 | 64.1 |
| Electorate | Electorate | 74,563 |
General election 2019: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Holly Lynch | 21,496 | 46.3 | −6.4 |
| | Conservative | Kashif Ali | 18,927 | 40.7 | −0.9 |
| | Brexit Party | Sarah Wood | 2,813 | 6.1 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | James Baker | 2,276 | 4.9 | +2.7 |
| | Green | Bella Jessop | 946 | 2.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,569 | 5.6 | −5.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,458 | 64.6 | −3.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -2.8 | |
General election 2017: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Holly Lynch | 25,507 | 52.7 | +12.7 |
| | Conservative | Chris Pearson | 20,131 | 41.6 | +2.6 |
| | UKIP | Mark Weedon | 1,568 | 3.2 | −9.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | James Baker | 1,070 | 2.2 | −1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,376 | 11.1 | +10.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,375 | 67.9 | +5.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +5.0 | |
General election 2015: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Holly Lynch | 17,506 | 40.0 | +2.6 |
| | Conservative | Philip Allott | 17,078 | 39.0 | +5.0 |
| | UKIP | Liz Phillips | 5,621 | 12.8 | +11.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mohammad Ilyas | 1,629 | 3.7 | −15.4 |
| | Green | Gary Scott | 1,142 | 2.6 | N/A |
| | Respect | Asama Javed | 465 | 1.1 | N/A |
| | Christian | Trevor Bendrien | 312 | 0.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 428 | 1.0 | −2.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,753 | 62.1 | +0.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -1.2 | |
General election 2010: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Linda Riordan | 16,278 | 37.4 | −4.4 |
| | Conservative | Philip Allott | 14,806 | 34.0 | +0.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Elisabeth Wilson | 8,335 | 19.1 | +1.2 |
| | BNP | Tom Bates | 2,760 | 6.3 | −0.3 |
| | Independent Voice for Halifax | Diane Park | 722 | 1.7 | N/A |
| | UKIP | Jay Sangha | 654 | 1.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,472 | 3.4 | −5.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,555 | 61.9 | +0.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -2.6 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Linda Riordan | 16,579 | 41.8 | −7.2 |
| | Conservative | Kris Hopkins | 13,162 | 33.2 | −0.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Taylor | 7,100 | 17.9 | +3.3 |
| | BNP | Geoff Wallace | 2,627 | 6.6 | N/A |
| | National Front | Tom Holmes | 191 | 0.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,417 | 8.6 | −6.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,659 | 61.1 | +3.3 |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | −3.3 | |
General election 2001: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Alice Mahon | 19,800 | 49.0 | −5.3 |
| | Conservative | James Walsh | 13,671 | 33.8 | +1.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Durkin | 5,878 | 14.6 | +2.6 |
| | UKIP | Helen Martinek | 1,041 | 2.6 | +1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,129 | 15.2 | −7.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,390 | 57.8 | −12.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Alice Mahon | 27,465 | 54.3 | +10.8 |
| | Conservative | Robert Light | 16,253 | 32.1 | −10.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Edgar Waller | 6,059 | 12.0 | −0.7 |
| | UKIP | Constance Whittaker | 779 | 1.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,212 | 22.2 | +21.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,556 | 70.5 | −8.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1992: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Alice Mahon | 25,115 | 43.5 | +0.1 |
| | Conservative | TR Martin | 24,637 | 42.7 | +1.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ian R. Howell | 7,364 | 12.7 | −2.7 |
| | Independent Nationalist | Ron Pearson | 649 | 1.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 478 | 0.8 | −1.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 57,765 | 78.7 | +1.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −0.6 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Alice Mahon | 24,741 | 43.4 | +6.0 |
| | Conservative | Roy Galley | 23,529 | 41.3 | +0.4 |
| | SDP | Laurence Cockcroft | 8,758 | 15.4 | −6.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,212 | 2.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 57,028 | 77.7 | +2.6 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.7 | |
General election 1983: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Roy Galley | 22,321 | 40.9 | |
| | Labour | Shirley Summerskill | 20,452 | 37.4 | |
| | SDP | F. Cockroft | 11,868 | 21.7 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,869 | 3.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,641 | 75.1 | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Shirley Summerskill | 21,416 | 43.79 | |
| | Conservative | J. Ford | 20,182 | 41.27 | |
| | Liberal | Allen Clegg | 6,853 | 14.01 | |
| | National Front | B. Wadsworth | 455 | 0.93 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,234 | 2.52 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,906 | 76.69 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election October 1974: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Shirley Summerskill | 20,976 | 44.27 | |
| | Conservative | S.R. Lyons | 16,798 | 35.45 | |
| | Liberal | Allen Clegg | 8,693 | 18.35 | |
| | Powellite | R.S. Pearson | 919 | 1.94 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,178 | 8.82 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,386 | 74.55 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election February 1974: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Shirley Summerskill | 20,970 | 40.93 | |
| | Conservative | S.R. Lyons | 17,967 | 35.07 | |
| | Liberal | Allen Clegg | 12,300 | 24.01 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,003 | 5.86 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,237 | 81.27 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1970: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Shirley Summerskill | 24,026 | 49.33 | |
| | Conservative | G Anthony Turner | 23,828 | 48.93 | |
| | Ind. Labour Party | Alistair Graham | 847 | 1.74 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 198 | 0.40 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,701 | 73.51 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Shirley Summerskill | 25,391 | 50.28 |
| | Conservative | G Anthony Turner | 19,689 | 38.99 |
| | Liberal | Derek Arthur Carlin | 5,423 | 10.74 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,702 | 11.29 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,503 | 80.48 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
General election 1964: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Shirley Summerskill | 23,143 | 43.76 | |
| | Conservative | Maurice Macmillan | 22,085 | 41.75 | |
| | Liberal | James Francis Crossley | 7,664 | 14.49 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,058 | 2.01 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,892 | 82.06 | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Maurice Macmillan | 29,212 | 52.25 |
| | Labour | Peter Shore | 26,697 | 47.75 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,515 | 4.50 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,909 | 83.26 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1955: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Maurice Macmillan | 28,306 | 51.39 | |
| | Labour | Dryden Brook | 26,771 | 48.61 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,535 | 2.78 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,077 | 80.15 | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
General election 1951: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Dryden Brook | 30,433 | 50.63 |
| | Conservative | Charles Henry Lucas | 29,670 | 49.37 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 763 | 1.26 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 60,103 | 84.25 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
General election 1950: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dryden Brook | 28,800 | 47.70 | |
| | Conservative | Charles Henry Lucas | 20,456 | 33.88 | |
| | Liberal | Arthur Pickles | 9,573 | 15.85 | |
| | National Liberal | R.H. Blackburn | 1,551 | 2.57 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,344 | 13.82 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 60,380 | 85.09 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
* Blackburn was a vice-president of the Bradford Conservative Association. He was nominated after the Conservative and Liberal associations in the division had failed to reach agreement on the proposal for a joint anti-Labour candidate.

### Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dryden Brook | 25,605 | 46.5 | +7.0 |
| | Conservative | Gilbert Gledhill | 14,824 | 26.9 | −17.5 |
| | Liberal | Arnold Gelder | 14,631 | 26.6 | +10.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,781 | 19.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,060 | 77.4 | +0.5 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +11.3 | |

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1935: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gilbert Gledhill | 24,103 | 44.4 | −21.3 |
| | Labour | Arthur Longbottom | 21,471 | 39.5 | +9.8 |
| | Liberal | Ashley Mitchell | 8,736 | 16.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,632 | 4.9 | −31.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,310 | 76.9 | −3.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −15.6 | |
General election 1931: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gilbert Gledhill | 36,731 | 65.7 | +36.0 |
| | Labour | Arthur Longbottom | 16,601 | 29.7 | −12.5 |
| | Independent Liberal | Frank Sykes | 2,578 | 4.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 20,130 | 36.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,910 | 80.5 | −0.8 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +24.2 | |

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Arthur Longbottom | 23,776 | 42.2 | N/A |
| | Unionist | Gilbert Gledhill | 16,713 | 29.7 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Elliott Dodds | 15,823 | 28.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,063 | 12.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,312 | 81.3 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 69,301 | | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Swing | N/A | |
1928 Halifax by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Arthur Longbottom | 17,536 | 42.8 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Harry Barnes | 12,585 | 30.8 | N/A |
| | Unionist | Francis Crossley, 2nd Baron Somerleyton | 10,804 | 26.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,951 | 12.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,925 | 78.7 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 52,013 | | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1924: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Speaker | John Henry Whitley | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Speaker hold | Speaker hold | Speaker hold | Speaker hold | Speaker hold |
General election 1923: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Speaker | John Henry Whitley | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Speaker hold | Speaker hold | Speaker hold | Speaker hold | Speaker hold |
General election 1922: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Speaker | John Henry Whitley | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Speaker hold | Speaker hold | Speaker hold | Speaker hold | Speaker hold |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Liberal | John Henry Whitley | 22,136 | 84.6 | +51.2 |
| | Socialist Labour | Arthur McManus | 4,036 | 15.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18,100 | 69.2 | +53.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 26,172 | 53.4 | −33.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 49,017 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||
General election December 1910: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Henry Whitley | 8,778 | 33.4 | −7.3 |
| | Labour | James Parker | 8,511 | 32.3 | −6.6 |
| | Conservative | John Herbert Lacy Baldwin | 4,602 | 17.5 | +7.3'"`UNIQ−−ref−000000CB−QINU`"' |
| | Conservative | James Galbraith | 4,420 | 16.8 | +6.6'"`UNIQ−−ref−000000CC−QINU`"' |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 26,311 | 87.0 | −5.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 15,528 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,176 | 15.9 | −4.4 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −7.3 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,909 | 14.8 | −3.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −7.0 | |
General election January 1910: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Henry Whitley | 9,504 | 40.7 | +0.6 |
| | Labour | James Parker | 9,093 | 38.9 | +0.6 |
| | Conservative | James Galbraith | 4,754 | 20.4 | −1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 23,351 | 92.6 | −0.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 15,528 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,750 | 20.3 | +1.8 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +0.9 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,339 | 18.5 | +1.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +0.9 | |

### Elections in the 1900s

By-election, 1907: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Henry Whitley | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1906: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Henry Whitley | 9,354 | 40.1 | −14.0 |
| | Labour Repr. Cmte. | James Parker | 8,937 | 38.3 | +22.0 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Savile Crossley | 5,041 | 21.6 | −8.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 23,332 | 93.0 | +6.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 15,316 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,313 | 18.5 | +7.2 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −18.0 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,896 | 16.7 | N/A |
| | Labour Repr. Cmte. gain from Liberal Unionist | Labour Repr. Cmte. gain from Liberal Unionist | Swing | +15.0 | |
General election 1900: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Unionist | Savile Crossley | 5,931 | 29.6 | +0.3 |
| | Liberal | John Henry Whitley | 5,543 | 27.6 | +0.4 |
| | Liberal | Alfred Billson | 5,325 | 26.5 | +3.5 |
| | Labour Repr. Cmte. | James Parker | 3,276 | 16.3 | −4.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,075 | 86.7 | −1.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,879 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 606 | 3.1 | −3.2 |
| | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Swing | −0.1 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,267 | 11.3 | +4.6 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −1.9 | |

### Elections in the 1890s

By-election, 1897: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Alfred Billson | 5,664 | 43.8 | −6.4 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Savile Crossley | 5,252 | 40.7 | +11.4 |
| | Ind. Labour Party | Tom Mann | 2,000 | 15.5 | −5.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 412 | 3.1 | −3.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,916 | 90.4 | +2.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,290 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −8.9 | |
* Caused by Shaw's resignation.
General election 1895: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alfred Arnold | 5,475 | 29.3 | +2.7 |
| | Liberal | William Rawson Shaw | 5,085 | 27.2 | −9.9 |
| | Liberal | James Booth | 4,283 | 23.0 | −13.3 |
| | Ind. Labour Party | John Lister | 3,818 | 20.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,169 (est) | 87.9 | +4.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,844 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,192 | 6.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +6.3 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,267 | 6.7 | −3.0 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −6.3 | |
By-election, 1893: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Rawson Shaw | 4,620 | 38.9 | −34.5 |
| | Conservative | Alfred Arnold | 4,252 | 35.7 | +9.1 |
| | Ind. Labour Party | John Lister | 3,028 | 25.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,900 | 89.4 | +5.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,317 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 368 | 3.2 | −6.5 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −21.8 | |
* Caused by Shaw's death
General election 1892: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Shaw | 6,481 | 37.1 | −0.6 |
| | Liberal | James Stansfeld | 6,361 | 36.3 | −1.0 |
| | Conservative | Alfred Arnold | 4,663 | 26.6 | +1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,056 (est) | 83.9 | +10.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,177 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,698 | 9.7 | −2.6 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −1.1 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −1.3 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1886: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Shaw | 5,427 | 37.7 | −0.7 |
| | Liberal | James Stansfeld | 5,381 | 37.3 | +0.2 |
| | Conservative | Alfred Morris | 3,612 | 25.0 | +0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,769 | 12.3 | −0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,055 | 73.8 | −8.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,269 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −0.5 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | 0.0 | |
By-election, 3 Apr 1886: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Stansfeld | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
* Caused by Stansfeld's appointment as President of the Local Government Board.
General election 1885: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Shaw | 6,269 | 38.4 | −1.0 |
| | Liberal | James Stansfeld | 6,053 | 37.1 | −2.2 |
| | Conservative | Alfred Morris | 3,988 | 24.5 | +3.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,065 | 12.6 | −5.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,144 | 82.7 | −1.2 (est) |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,269 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −0.4 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −2.0 | |
By-election, 21 Aug 1882: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Shaw | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
* Caused by Hutchinson's resignation.
General election 1880: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Stansfeld | 6,392 | 39.4 | +2.8 |
| | Liberal | John Dyson Hutchinson | 6,364 | 39.3 | +2.1 |
| | Conservative | William Barber | 3,452 | 21.3 | −4.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,912 | 18.0 | +7.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,844 (est) | 83.9 (est) | +0.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,728 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +2.6 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +2.3 | |

### Elections in the 1870s

1877 Halifax by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Dyson Hutchinson | 5,750 | 61.3 | −12.5 |
| | Conservative | Richard Wilson Gamble | 3,624 | 38.7 | +12.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,126 | 22.6 | +12.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,374 | 79.9 | −3.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,737 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -12.5 | |
* Caused by Crossley's resignation.
General election 1874: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Crossley | 5,563 | 37.2 | −1.7 |
| | Liberal | James Stansfeld | 5,473 | 36.6 | −3.3 |
| | Conservative | Henry Charles McCrea | 3,927 | 26.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,546 | 10.4 | −7.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,445 (est) | 83.7 (est) | −2.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,282 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |
1871 Halifax by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Crossley | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
* Caused by Crossley's appointment as President of the Poor Law Board.

### Elections in the 1860s

By-election, 21 December 1868: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Stansfeld | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
* Caused by Stansfeld's appointment as a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury.
General election 1868: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Stansfeld | 5,278 | 39.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Edward Akroyd | 5,141 | 38.9 | N/A |
| | Lib-Lab | Edward Owen Greening | 2,802 | 21.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,339 | 17.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,012 (est) | 85.9 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,328 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1865: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Stansfeld | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal | Edward Akroyd | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,771 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
By-election, 28 April 1863: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Stansfeld | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
* Caused by Stansfeld's appointment as Civil Lord of the Admiralty.

### Elections in the 1850s

By-election, 28 June 1859: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Charles Wood | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
* Caused by Wood's appointment as Secretary of State for India.
General election 1859: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Stansfeld | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal | Charles Wood | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,521 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1857: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | Francis Crossley | 830 | 37.8 | +4.6 |
| | Whig | Charles Wood | 714 | 32.5 | −2.0 |
| | Conservative | Henry Edwards | 651 | 29.7 | −0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,423 (est) | 95.6 (est) | +3.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,488 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 116 | 5.3 | +2.3 |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Swing | +2.8 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 63 | 2.8 | +1.5 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −1.7 | |
By-election, 3 March 1855: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Charles Wood | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
* Caused by Wood's appointment as First Lord of the Admiralty
By-election, 5 January 1853: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Charles Wood | 592 | 53.0 | +18.5 |
| | Conservative | Henry Edwards | 526 | 47.0 | +16.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 66 | 6.0 | +4.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,118 | 91.8 | −0.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,218 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +0.9 | |
* Caused by Wood's appointment as President of the Board of Control.
General election 1852: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Charles Wood | 596 | 34.5 | +3.7 |
| | Radical | Francis Crossley | 573 | 33.2 | +12.0 |
| | Conservative | Henry Edwards | 521 | 30.2 | −0.8 |
| | Chartist | Ernest Charles Jones | 37 | 2.1 | −14.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,106 (est) | 92.1 (est) | +11.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,200 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 23 | 1.3 | −8.3 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +2.1 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 52 | 3.0 | N/A |
| | Radical gain from Conservative | Radical gain from Conservative | Swing | +6.2 | |

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 1847: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Edwards | 511 | 31.0 | +2.2 |
| | Whig | Charles Wood | 507 | 30.8 | −3.6 |
| | Radical | Edward Miall | 349 | 21.2 | −15.6 |
| | Chartist | Ernest Charles Jones | 280 | 17.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 824 (est) | 80.6 (est) | −7.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,022 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 162 | 9.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative gain from Radical | Conservative gain from Radical | Swing | +5.0 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 158 | 9.6 | +4.0 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +2.1 | |
By-election, 9 July 1846: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Charles Wood | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
* Caused by Wood's appointment as Chancellor of the Exchequer
General election 1841: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | Edward Protheroe | 409 | 36.8 | −1.6 |
| | Whig | Charles Wood | 383 | 34.4 | −3.3 |
| | Conservative | George Sinclair | 320 | 28.8 | +4.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 704 | 88.2 | +6.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 78.3 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 26 | 2.4 | −12.2 |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Swing | −2.0 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 63 | 5.6 | −8.2 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −2.9 | |

### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1837: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | Edward Protheroe | 496 | 38.4 | +6.1 |
| | Whig | Charles Wood | 487 | 37.7 | +2.4 |
| | Conservative | James Stuart-Wortley | 308 | 23.9 | −8.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 793 | 81.8 | −10.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 970 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 188 | 14.5 | N/A |
| | Radical gain from Conservative | Radical gain from Conservative | Swing | +5.2 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 179 | 13.8 | +10.9 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +3.3 | |
General election 1835: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Charles Wood | 336 | 35.3 | −21.7 |
| | Conservative | James Stuart-Wortley | 308 | 32.4 | +11.6 |
| | Radical | Edward Protheroe | 307 | 32.3 | +10.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 601 | 92.7 | ±0.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 648 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 28 | 2.9 | −3.0 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −13.4 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1 | 0.1 | N/A |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +11.2 | |
General election 1832: Halifax :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Rawdon Briggs (politician) | 242 | 28.9 |
| | Whig | Charles Wood | 235 | 28.1 |
| | Radical | Michael Stocks | 186 | 22.2 |
| | Tory | James Stuart-Wortley | 174 | 20.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 49 | 5.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 492 | 92.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 531 | |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |
| | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) | Whig win (new seat) |