This Foldout looks at some aspects of local elections and lists some of the people who have been elected MP for Halifax
| Halifax Elections |
When Charles I was executed on 30th January 1649, Parliament continued without a king. Because of the support given to the Parliamentary cause during the Civil Wars, Leeds, Manchester and Halifax were allowed to elect a member of Parliament to represent each town.
On 12th July 1654, having received permission from Oliver Cromwell, Halifax elected its first Member of Parliament – Jeremy Bentley.
The privilege was removed with the restoration of Charles II in 1660.
After the Reform Bill OF 1832, two MPs were elected to represent Halifax.
From 1918, only one MP represented Halifax
| List of Halifax MPs |
| Election Details |
| 1648 |
| 1654 |
At that time, franchise was only available to 59 local men who qualified by having property worth more than £200
| 1832 |
After the enfranchisement of the borough following the Reform Bill, the first election took place on 12th and 13th December 1832.
Number of electors: 531
Two MPs were elected to represent Halifax.
The votes were:
| 1835 |
The second election took place on 6th and 7th January 1835.
Number of electors: 648 of whom 47 did not vote
The results were:
This was known as the window-breaking election on account of the disturbance which followed Mr Protheroe's defeat
The following people were on the List of Electors in the 1835 Halifax Polling District
| 1837 |
The election took place on 23rd July 1837 and was caused by the death of William IV on 20th June 1837.
Number of electors: 970
| 1841 |
The election took place on 2nd July 1841.
Number of electors: 899
This was said to be the tamest election since the borough was enfranchised
| 1846 |
The election took place on 9th July 1846.
Charles Wood was re-elected without Opposition. This was the first uncontested election to take place in Halifax
| 1847 |
The election took place on 29th July 1847.
Number of electors: 1022
| 1852 |
The election took place on 7th July 1852.
Number of electors: 1200
| 1853 |
The election took place on 4th July 1853.
Charles Wood was re-elected without Opposition
| 1855 |
The election took place on 3rd March 1855.
Charles Wood was re-elected without Opposition
| 1857 |
The election took place on 28th March 1857.
The cartoons by Humphrey Thwackum first appeared during this campaign
| 1859 |
The election took place in 1859.
The 2 candidates were returned unopposed.
| 1865 |
| 1868 |
The election took place on 17th November 1868.
Number of voters: 9000
| 1874 |
The election took place on 3rd February 1874.
Number of voters: 11,286
This was the first election under the Ballot Act [1872] which required a secret ballot
| 1877 |
The election took place on 20th February 1877.
Number of voters: 11,740
| 1880 |
The election took place on 31st March 1880.
Number of voters: 11,847
| 1882 |
| 1885 |
The election took place in November 1885.
Number of voters: 12,289
| 1886 |
There was a by-election in April 1886, and Sir James Stansfeld was returned unopposed.
The general election took place on 5th July 1886.
Number of voters: 12,289
| 1892 |
The general election took place in 1892.
| 1893 |
A by-election took place in March 1893.
| 1895 |
A general election took place in 1895.
| 1897 |
The general election took place on 3rd March 1897. The results were
| 1900 |
The General Election took place in October 1900.
Total poll: 49,484.
| 1906 |
| 1918 |
Turnout: 16,172
In 1918, representation was reduced to a single member
| 1928 |
A by-election took place on 13th July 1928 after J. H. Whitley resigned due to ill-health.
Turnout: 40,925
| 1929 |
General Election Turnout: 55,312
| 1931 |
General Election Turnout: 20,130
| 1935 |
General Election Turnout: 54,310
| 1945 |
General Election Turnout: 55,060
| 1955 |
| 1964 |
| 1983 |
| 1987 |
| 2001 |
General Election Turnout: 40,390
| 2005 |
General Election Turnout: 39,659
This & associated entries use material contributed by Roger Beasley, David Bland & David Glanfield
Page Ref: MMM153
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