On This Day

13 February 1958

Liberal candidate, Ludovic Kennedy gains secod place in the Rochdale by-election

The by-election was the first such contest to be televised, with debates between the candidates as well as vox pops and Kennedy, a TV journalist and campaigner, made good use of his TV experience. Although the Liberal Party had not contested the seat at the previous election, Kennedy’s campaign garnered 35% of the vote and second place. The result is regarded as one of the milestones of the Liberal revival in the 1950s and 60s.