Leeds North East by-election, 1956
Encyclopedia
The Leeds North East byelection of 9 February 1956 was a by-election
to the House of Commons. It was caused when the sitting Member, Osbert Peake
, was awarded a Viscount
cy in the New Year's Honours list (he took the title Viscount Ingleby
). Sir Keith Joseph
kept the seat for the Conservative Party
with a slightly reduced numerical majority, but increased in percentage terms.
reflected his strong performance at the 1955 general election
when he had failed to be elected, but only by 125 votes, in the London constituency of Baron's Court. Joseph was then a 37-year-old director of building and civil engineering companies and non-practising Barrister.
The Labour Party
chose Harry Waterman, who had fought the constituency in the previous election. He was a 38-year-old local solicitor and a member of the Fabian Society
. The election was a 'straight fight' with no Liberal
or Independent candidate intervening.
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
to the House of Commons. It was caused when the sitting Member, Osbert Peake
Osbert Peake, 1st Viscount Ingleby
Osbert Peake, 1st Viscount Ingleby PC was a British Conservative Party politician. He served as Minister of National Insurance and then as Minister of Pensions and National Insurance from 1951 to 1955....
, was awarded a Viscount
Viscount
A viscount or viscountess is a member of the European nobility whose comital title ranks usually, as in the British peerage, above a baron, below an earl or a count .-Etymology:...
cy in the New Year's Honours list (he took the title Viscount Ingleby
Viscount Ingleby
Viscount Ingleby, of Snilesworth in the North Riding of the County of York, was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 17 January 1956 for the Conservative politician and former Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, Osbert Peake. He was succeeded by his only son, the...
). Sir Keith Joseph
Keith Joseph
Keith St John Joseph, Baron Joseph, Bt, CH, PC , was a British barrister and politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in the Cabinet under three Prime Ministers , and is widely regarded to have been the "power behind the throne" in the creation of what came to be known as...
kept the seat for the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
with a slightly reduced numerical majority, but increased in percentage terms.
Candidates
The Conservative Party's choice of Sir Keith JosephKeith Joseph
Keith St John Joseph, Baron Joseph, Bt, CH, PC , was a British barrister and politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in the Cabinet under three Prime Ministers , and is widely regarded to have been the "power behind the throne" in the creation of what came to be known as...
reflected his strong performance at the 1955 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1955
The 1955 United Kingdom general election was held on 26 May 1955, four years after the previous general election. It resulted in a substantially increased majority of 60 for the Conservative government under new leader and prime minister Sir Anthony Eden against Labour Party, now in their 20th year...
when he had failed to be elected, but only by 125 votes, in the London constituency of Baron's Court. Joseph was then a 37-year-old director of building and civil engineering companies and non-practising Barrister.
The Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
chose Harry Waterman, who had fought the constituency in the previous election. He was a 38-year-old local solicitor and a member of the Fabian Society
Fabian Society
The Fabian Society is a British socialist movement, whose purpose is to advance the principles of democratic socialism via gradualist and reformist, rather than revolutionary, means. It is best known for its initial ground-breaking work beginning late in the 19th century and continuing up to World...
. The election was a 'straight fight' with no Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
or Independent candidate intervening.
Results
Sir Keith Joseph won with a majority of 5,869 on a turnout substantially down on the general election. He held the seat until he retired in 1987.Votes
See also
- Leeds North East (UK Parliament constituency)Leeds North East (UK Parliament constituency)Leeds North East is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :...
- List of United Kingdom by-elections (1950 - 1979)