The Labour Party selected as its candidate Alderman Thomas Brooks MBE, a miner and trade union organiser who had been a local councillor since 1914.
The parties in the war-time Coalition Government had agreed not to contest vacancies in seats held by other coalition parties, but other by-elections were contested by independent candidates or those from minor parties. (The most recent had been Maldon in June 1942, where an independent Labour candidate won what had previously been a safe seat for the Conservatives).
Result
No other candidates were nominated in Rothwell, so Brooks was returned unopposed. He held the Rothwell seat until the constituency's abolition for the 1950 general election. He is best remembered for his successful campaign to repeal the Witchcraft Act 1735.
Craig, F. W. S. (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN0-900178-06-X.