# Bradford Central (UK Parliament constituency)

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

| Year | Member | Party |
| 1885 | William Forster | Liberal |
| 1886 | George Shaw-Lefevre | Liberal |
| 1895 | James Wanklyn | Liberal Unionist |
| 1906 | Sir George Robertson | Liberal |
| 1916 | Sir James Hill | Liberal |
| 1918 | Henry Ratcliffe | Unionist |
| 1922 | William Leach | Labour |
| 1924 | Anthony Gadie | Unionist |
| 1929 | William Leach | Labour |
| 1931 | George Eady | Conservative |
| 1935 | William Leach | Labour |
| 1945 | Maurice Webb | Labour |
| 1955 | constituency abolished | constituency abolished |

## Elections
### Elections in the 1880s

1885 general election: Bradford Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Edward Forster | 5,275 | 58.6 | |
| | Conservative | George Motley Waud | 3,732 | 41.4 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,543 | 17.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,007 | 79.7 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,297 | | |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |
By-election 21 April 1886: Bradford Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Shaw-Lefevre | 4,407 | 54.9 | −3.7 |
| | Conservative | Edward Hoare | 3,627 | 45.1 | +3.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 780 | 9.8 | −4.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,032 | 71.1 | −8.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,297 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
1886 general election: Bradford Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Shaw-Lefevre | 4,410 | 52.7 | −2.2 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Charles Norwood | 3,951 | 47.3 | +2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 459 | 5.4 | −4.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,361 | 74.0 | +2.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,297 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1890s

1892 general election: Bradford Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Shaw-Lefevre | 4,710 | 52.6 | −0.1 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Marquess of Lorne | 4,245 | 47.4 | +0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 465 | 5.2 | −0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,955 | 78.3 | +4.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,434 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
By-election, 23 August 1892: Bradford Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Shaw-Lefevre | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
1895 general election: Bradford Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Unionist | James Wanklyn | 4,024 | 50.3 | +2.9 |
| | Liberal | George Shaw-Lefevre | 3,983 | 49.7 | −2.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 41 | 0.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,917 | 77.6 | −0.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,316 | | |
| | Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +2.9 | |

### Elections in the 1900s

1900 general election: Bradford Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Unionist | James Wanklyn | 4,634 | 53.6 | +3.3 |
| | Liberal | A. Anderton | 4,007 | 46.4 | −3.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 627 | 7.2 | +6.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,641 | 82.8 | +5.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,442 | | |
| | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold |
1906 general election: Bradford Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Sir George Scott Robertson | 4,954 | 57.8 | +4.2 |
| | Conservative | Vicary Gibbs | 3,614 | 42.2 | −4.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,340 | 15.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,568 | 85.9 | +3.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,978 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Swing | 4.2 | |

### Elections in the 1910s

January 1910 general election: Bradford Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Sir George Scott Robertson | 5,249 | 59.3 | +1.5 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Viscount Howick | 3,608 | 40.7 | −1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,641 | 18.6 | +3.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,857 | 89.9 | +4.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,848 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
December 1910 general election: Bradford Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Sir George Scott Robertson | 4,677 | 58.0 | −1.3 |
| | Conservative | G. H. R. Pauling | 3,381 | 42.0 | +1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,296 | 16.0 | −2.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,058 | 81.8 | −8.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,848 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
1916 by-election: Bradford Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Sir James Hill, Bt | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
1918 general election: Bradford Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Unionist | Henry Butler Ratcliffe | 12,434 | 51.0 | +9.0 |
| | Labour | William Leach | 7,636 | 31.3 | New |
| | Liberal | Sir James Hill, Bt | 4,304 | 17.7 | −40.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,798 | 19.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 24,374 | 54.7 | −27.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 44,549 | | |
| | Unionist gain from Liberal | Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +27.7 | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||

### Elections in the 1920s

1922 general election: Bradford Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Leach | 14,296 | 42.4 | +11.1 |
| | Unionist | Fred Denby Moore | 12,171 | 36.1 | −14.9 |
| | Liberal | Rev. William Paxton | 7,250 | 21.5 | +3.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,125 | 6.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,717 | 75.4 | +20.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 44,689 | | |
| | Labour gain from Unionist | Labour gain from Unionist | Swing | +13.0 | |
1923 general election: Bradford Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Leach | 14,241 | 44.6 | +1.8 |
| | Unionist | Jonas Pearson | 9,725 | 30.4 | −5.7 |
| | Liberal | Rev. William Paxton | 7,973 | 25.0 | +3.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,516 | 14.2 | +7.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 31,939 | 71.0 | −4.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 44,991 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
1924 general election: Bradford Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Anthony Gadie | 17,854 | 51.7 | +21.3 |
| | Labour | William Leach | 16,652 | 48.3 | +3.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,202 | 3.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 34,506 | 76.5 | +5.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 45,127 | | |
| | Unionist gain from Labour | Unionist gain from Labour | Swing | +8.8 | |
1929 general election: Bradford Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Leach | 24,876 | 59.0 | +10.7 |
| | Unionist | Anthony Gadie | 17,265 | 41.0 | −10.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,611 | 18.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,141 | 80.0 | +3.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 52,674 | | |
| | Labour gain from Unionist | Labour gain from Unionist | Swing | +10.7 | |

### Elections in the 1930s

1931 general election: Bradford Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Eady | 24,986 | 61.4 | +20.4 |
| | Labour | William Leach | 15,697 | 38.6 | −20.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,289 | 22.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,673 | 78.2 | −1.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 51,996 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +20.4 | |
1935 general election: Bradford Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Leach | 16,397 | 51.8 | +13.2 |
| | Conservative | George Eady | 15,241 | 48.2 | −13.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,156 | 3.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 31,638 | 66.0 | −12.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 47,906 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +13.2 | |

### Elections in the 1940s

1945 general election: Bradford Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Maurice Webb | 16,764 | 57.5 | +6.7 |
| | Conservative | T. L. Dallas | 7,776 | 26.6 | −21.6 |
| | Liberal | Peter Edward Trench | 4,655 | 15.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,988 | 30.9 | +27.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,205 | 76.2 | +10.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 38,331 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Elections in the 1950s

1950 general election: Bradford Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Maurice Webb | 24,822 | 58.7 | +1.2 |
| | Conservative | T. Boyce | 13,375 | 31.7 | +5.1 |
| | Liberal | Charles Frederick Sarsby | 4,063 | 9.6 | −6.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,447 | 27.1 | −3.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,260 | 84.6 | +8.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 49,935 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
1951 general election: Bradford Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Maurice Webb | 25,215 | 60.7 | +2.0 |
| | Conservative | Arthur Tiley | 16,343 | 39.3 | +7.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,872 | 21.4 | −5.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,558 | 83.7 | −0.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 49,625 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |