The 1944 Clay Cross by-election was held on 14 April 1944. The by-election was held due to the death of the incumbent Labour MP, George Ridley. It was won by the Labour candidate Harold Neal.
D. Craven Griffiths, a Liberal who worked for the civil service wanted to stand in the by-election. The President of the Board of Trade refused him permission for a leave of absence to fight a campaign.[1]