Attercliffe, Sheffield: The Rise of Labour Examined in Two By-Elections, 1894–1909

Abstract

The challenge of Labour to the Liberal Party’s traditional dominance over working-class political allegiance in early twentieth-century Britain was most purposeful in the urban, industrialised heartlands of northern England. This article examines developments in Sheffield, more specifically the Attercliffe constituency, evaluating the long-term transformation in Labour’s fortunes, especially in the by-elections of 1894 and 1909. It considers how the 1894 contest set Labour on a path to political independence, distinguishing Sheffield from a pattern of Lib-Lab co-operation elsewhere in Britain, and culminating in Joseph Pointer’s victory as the city’s first Labour MP in 1909. Coinciding with the introduction of Lloyd George’s famous ‘People’s Budget’, the 1909 by-election effectively acted as a test case for the appeal of New Liberalism’s welfare reforms, set against the unashamed polarised message of Labour to the working class.

Keywords:

• Sheffield
• Attercliffe
• Liberal
• Labour
• politics
• class
• election
• Joseph Pointer

I am grateful for the helpful comments of Dr Adrian Bingham, Dr Sarah Rawlins and Helen Smith (University of Sheffield) on earlier versions of this article, and for the advice of an anonymous referee and the YAJ editor.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

David Vessey

David Vessey won second place in 2012 in the Yorkshire Society History Prize competition, the Beresford Award, for the article of which this is an abridged version. An associate tutor in history at the University of Sheffield and Leeds Metropolitan University, Dr Vessey focuses his research on modern British political history, specifically the corresponding fortunes of the Labour and Liberal parties, and newspaper history in the twentieth century.

Correspondence to: Dr D. Vessey, 3 Bessacarr Lane, Doncaster dn4 7pq, UK. Email: [email protected]