William Bland (politician)

William Bland (died 1945) was a British politician and trade unionist.

Bland worked as a joiner in Keighley, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, and was active in the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners. He was an early member of the Independent Labour Party (ILP) and, through it, became active in the Labour Party, serving as the secretary of the town's Labour Representation Committee.^[1]

Two weeks before the

William Crawford Anderson had received as the Labour candidate in the 1911 Keighley by-election, and that this would discredit their cause. Ultimately, Bland performed well, taking 29.8% of the vote, but third place.^[2]

Another by-election arose

trades council. His campaign focused on ending the war by negotiation.^[3]^[4] Standing against a single opponent, the Liberal William Somervell, Bland received 32.5% of the votes cast. He declared that this total was in line with his expectations.^[5]

Bland stood again in Keighley at the 1918 United Kingdom general election. Facing both Somervell and a new Conservative Party opponent, he took third place with 27.7% of the vote.^[6] He subsequently focused on local politics, and served as Mayor of Keighley in 1928/28,^[7] the first Labour Party politician to hold the post. He died in 1945.^[8]

References

^ James, David (1995). Class and Politics in a Northern Industrial Town. Ryburn Publications. p. 94.
^ Velacott, Jo. From Liberal to Labour with Women's Suffrage (2nd ed.). pp. 304–305.
^ "Keighley election: peace by negotiation". Manchester Guardian. 18 April 1918.
^ "ILP to fight Keighley". Merthyr Pioneer. 20 April 1918.
^ "Keighley Election". Manchester Guardian. 29 April 1918.
^ F. W. S. Craig, British parliamentary election results 1918–1949
^ "Mayors of Bradford" (PDF). City of Bradford MDC.
^ Report of the 45th Annual Conference. London: Labour Party. 1945. p. 38.

[1] James, David (1995). Class and Politics in a Northern Industrial Town. Ryburn Publications. p. 94.

[2] Velacott, Jo. From Liberal to Labour with Women's Suffrage (2nd ed.). pp. 304–305.

[3] "Keighley election: peace by negotiation". Manchester Guardian. 18 April 1918.

[4] "ILP to fight Keighley". Merthyr Pioneer. 20 April 1918.

[5] "Keighley Election". Manchester Guardian. 29 April 1918.

[6] F. W. S. Craig, British parliamentary election results 1918–1949

[7] "Mayors of Bradford" (PDF). City of Bradford MDC.

[8] Report of the 45th Annual Conference. London: Labour Party. 1945. p. 38.

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