Compiled by EveryElectionResult.com's data team · Last updated 2026-08-30
Bradford Central was won by Labour at the 1951 general election, with a majority of 8,872 votes over Conservative. This page covers every general election in Bradford Central from 1885 to 1951.
Full Election History, 1885–1951
Election
Elected
Votes
Vote Share
Runner-up
Majority
Turnout
1885
William Edward Forster (Liberal)
5,275
58.6%
George Motley Waud (Conservative)
1,543 (17.1 pts)
79.7%
1886
George John Shaw-Lefevre (Liberal)
4,410
52.7%
Charles Morgan Norwood (Liberal Unionist)
459 (5.5 pts)
74.0%
1892
George John Shaw-Lefevre (Liberal)
4,710
52.6%
John George Edward Henry Douglas Sutherland Campbell (Liberal Unionist)
465 (5.2 pts)
78.3%
1895
James Leslie Wanklyn (Liberal Unionist)
4,024
50.8%
George John Shaw-Lefevre (Liberal)
41 (0.5 pts)
77.6%
1900
James Leslie Wanklyn (Liberal Unionist)
4,634
53.6%
Arthur Anderton (Liberal)
627 (7.3 pts)
82.8%
1906
George Scott Robertson (Liberal)
4,954
57.8%
Vicary Gibbs (Conservative)
1,340 (15.6 pts)
85.9%
Jan 1910
George Scott Robertson (Liberal)
5,249
59.3%
Charles Robert Grey (Liberal Unionist)
1,641 (18.5 pts)
89.9%
Dec 1910
George Scott Robertson (Liberal)
4,677
58.0%
George Henry Richard Pauling (Conservative)
1,296 (16.1 pts)
81.8%
1918
Henry Butler Ratcliffe (Unionist)
12,434
51.0%
William Leach (Labour)
4,798 (19.7 pts)
54.7%
1922
William Leach (Labour)
14,296
42.4%
Fred Denby Moore (Unionist)
2,125 (6.3 pts)
75.4%
1923
William Leach (Labour)
14,241
44.6%
Jonas Pearson (Unionist)
4,516 (14.1 pts)
71.0%
1924
Anthony Gadie (Unionist)
17,854
51.7%
William Leach (Labour)
1,202 (3.5 pts)
76.5%
1929
William Leach (Labour)
24,876
59.0%
Anthony Gadie (Unionist)
7,611 (18.1 pts)
80.0%
1931
George Hathaway Eady (Conservative)
24,986
61.4%
William Leach (Labour)
9,299 (22.9 pts)
78.2%
1935
William Leach (Labour)
16,397
51.8%
George Hathaway Eady (Conservative)
1,156 (3.6 pts)
66.0%
1945
Maurice Webb (Labour)
16,764
57.4%
Thomas Lessels Dallas (Conservative)
8,988 (30.8 pts)
76.2%
1950
Maurice Webb (Labour)
24,822
58.7%
Thomas Boyce (Conservative)
11,447 (27.1 pts)
84.6%
1951
Maurice Webb (Labour)
25,215
60.7%
Arthur Tiley (Conservative)
8,872 (21.3 pts)
83.7%
Full Result Breakdown by Election
1885
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
William Edward Forster
Liberal
5,275
58.6%
Yes
George Motley Waud
Conservative
3,732
41.4%
No
1886
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
George John Shaw-Lefevre
Liberal
4,410
52.7%
Yes
Charles Morgan Norwood
Liberal Unionist
3,951
47.3%
No
1892
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
George John Shaw-Lefevre
Liberal
4,710
52.6%
Yes
John George Edward Henry Douglas Sutherland Campbell
Liberal Unionist
4,245
47.4%
No
1895
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
James Leslie Wanklyn
Liberal Unionist
4,024
50.8%
Yes
George John Shaw-Lefevre
Liberal
3,983
50.3%
No
1900
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
James Leslie Wanklyn
Liberal Unionist
4,634
53.6%
Yes
Arthur Anderton
Liberal
4,007
46.4%
No
1906
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
George Scott Robertson
Liberal
4,954
57.8%
Yes
Vicary Gibbs
Conservative
3,614
42.2%
No
Jan 1910
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
George Scott Robertson
Liberal
5,249
59.3%
Yes
Charles Robert Grey
Liberal Unionist
3,608
40.7%
No
Dec 1910
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
George Scott Robertson
Liberal
4,677
58.0%
Yes
George Henry Richard Pauling
Conservative
3,381
42.0%
No
1918
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Henry Butler Ratcliffe
Unionist
12,434
51.0%
Yes
William Leach
Labour
7,636
31.3%
No
James Hill
Liberal
4,304
17.7%
No
1922
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
William Leach
Labour
14,296
42.4%
Yes
Fred Denby Moore
Unionist
12,171
36.1%
No
William Paxton
Liberal
7,250
21.5%
No
1923
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
William Leach
Labour
14,241
44.6%
Yes
Jonas Pearson
Unionist
9,725
30.4%
No
William Paxton
Liberal
7,973
25.0%
No
1924
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Anthony Gadie
Unionist
17,854
51.7%
Yes
William Leach
Labour
16,652
48.3%
No
1929
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
William Leach
Labour
24,876
59.0%
Yes
Anthony Gadie
Unionist
17,265
41.0%
No
1931
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
George Hathaway Eady
Conservative
24,986
61.4%
Yes
William Leach
Labour
15,687
38.6%
No
1935
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
William Leach
Labour
16,397
51.8%
Yes
George Hathaway Eady
Conservative
15,241
48.2%
No
1945
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Maurice Webb
Labour
16,764
57.4%
Yes
Thomas Lessels Dallas
Conservative
7,776
26.6%
No
Peter Edward Trench
Liberal
4,665
16.0%
No
1950
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Maurice Webb
Labour
24,822
58.7%
Yes
Thomas Boyce
Conservative
13,375
31.6%
No
Charles Frederick Sarsby
Liberal
4,063
9.6%
No
1951
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Maurice Webb
Labour
25,215
60.7%
Yes
Arthur Tiley
Conservative
16,343
39.3%
No
Margin Over Time
Winning margin (percentage points) at each election, coloured by the winning party.
Trend
Bradford Central has been contested at 18 general elections on record since 1885. Parties that have won a seat here over that span: Liberal, Liberal Unionist, Unionist, Labour, Conservative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won Bradford Central in the 1951 general election?
Labour won Bradford Central in 1951 with 25,215 votes (60.7%), a majority of 8,872 votes over Conservative in second place.
Which parties have won Bradford Central since 1885?
Since 1885, Bradford Central has been won by: Conservative, Labour, Liberal, Liberal Unionist, Unionist.
What was the closest result in Bradford Central?
The closest result on record for Bradford Central was 1895, when Liberal Unionist beat Liberal by just 41 votes (0.5 percentage points).