United Kingdom general election records

United Kingdom general election records is an annotated list of notable records from United Kingdom general elections.

Prior to 1945, electoral competition in the United Kingdom exhibited features which make meaningful comparisons with modern results difficult.

Among the most significant were:-

Frequent interventions and withdrawals of parties in different seats.
Frequent Coalitions between parties, splits within parties and floor-crossing by members.
Uncontested elections and truces between parties, in particular during both World Wars.
Generally more significant competition from independent candidates and minor parties.
Multi-member seats and University seats.
Higher frequency of general elections, although parliaments were extended during both World Wars.
Generally higher turnouts.
Generally higher variation in size of constituency electorates.

Since 1945, the evolution of a stable 3-party system has tended to negate each of the above features so that, broadly speaking, elections are more comparable.

In Northern Ireland, as ever, the pattern of party competition is completely different from that on the mainland and comparisons remain problematic.

Hence, unless otherwise stated records are based on results since the 1945 General Election, and earlier exceptional results are listed separately.

For comparison purposes the following definitions have been adopted.

Gain - victory by a party which was not victorious at the immediate previous election.
Loss - defeat of a party which was victorious at the immediate previous election.
Hold - victory by a party which was victorious at the immediate previous election.
Win - victory by a party. Ambiguous term that could mean either a gain or a hold.
Incumbent - the party which held the seat at the immediate previous election, irrespective of any intervening change of candidate or candidate's change of party.
Third Party - In England, since 1922, the "third party" has been the Liberal party through its Alliance with the SDP and their successors up to the present day Liberal Democrats. Additionally, in Scotland and Wales the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru are also considered to be Third Parties. Prior to 1922, the third party was the Labour party.
Minor Party - parties smaller than the Third Party
Uncontested - an election where only one candidate is put forward. No votes are actually cast and the candidate is by definition the victor.
Notional - boundary changes occur about every 10–15 years. Invariably the political composition of many seats is changed as a result, sometimes decisively. Professors Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher have compiled notional results for the last few sets of boundary changes, predicting what the result would have been at the previous election under the new boundaries. While accurate overall, the results in a few seats indicate that they may have been mistaken.

Numerical records

For more information about what is meant by the term "swing", see Swing (politics)

Largest swings

From Conservative to Labour

Enfield Southgate, 1997 - 17.6%

From Labour to Conservative

Merthyr Tydfil, 1970 - 20.83% ^[1]

Largest fall in percentage share of vote

A party's share of the vote at a general election is not always matched at subsequent general elections, but given the five-year maximum term of a Parliament, reductions of 20% or more are unusual.

Conservative reductions in vote

North Down, 1997: - 27.0%
Tatton, 1997: - 24.7%
Gordon, 1997: - 21.9%
Woking, 1997: - 20.7%

Labour reductions in vote

Blaenau Gwent, 2005: - 39.7%
Wyre Forest, 2001: - 26.6%
Brent East, 2005: - 24.4%
Barnsley East, 2010: - 23.9%

Liberal/SDP/Liberal Democrat

Plymouth Devonport, 1992: - 29.9%
Leeds West, 1992: - 24.7%
Greenwich and Woolwich, 1997: - 22.6% (notional)

Other parties

Independent Labour Party, Glasgow Bridgeton, 1950: - 60.6%
Ulster Unionist Party, North Antrim, 1970: - 41.5%
Sinn Féin, Fermanagh and South Tyrone, 1959: - 40.8%
Ulster Unionist Party, Belfast North, 2001: - 39.8%

Largest increase in percentage share of vote

These records detail the change in the share of the vote by parties when compared to the same constituency in the previous General Election. In some cases, such as Brent East in 2005 for the Liberal Democrats, the figures should be framed by the context of a by-election in that constituency between the two Elections.

It should also be noted that boundary changes between elections will make comparison between altered seats difficult if not impossible.

Labour

Liverpool Wavertree, 1997: + 23.1%
Crosby, 1997: + 22.4%
Brent North, 1997: + 20.4%
Plymouth Devonport, 1992: + 20.3%
North East Cambridgeshire, 1997: + 20.2%
Blaenau Gwent, 2010: + 20.1%
Hove, 1997: + 20.1%

Liberal/Liberal Democrat

Brent East, 2005: + 36.9%
Redcar, 2010: + 25.0%
Liverpool Broadgreen, 1987: + 24.7%
Kingston and Surbiton, 2001: + 23.5%
Birmingham Ladywood, 2005: + 23.3%
Birmingham Hodge Hill, 2005: + 21.4%
Sheffield Hallam, 1997: + 20.6%
Manchester Withington, 2005: + 20.4%

SNP

SNP, Glasgow Govan, 1992: + 26.7%

Largest winning share of the vote

Largest share of the vote won by any candidate, since 1918:

George Currie, Ulster Unionist, North Down, 1959: 98.0%
George Currie, Ulster Unionist, North Down, 1955: 96.9%
Knox Cunningham, Ulster Unionist, South Antrim, 1959: 95.1%
Phelim O'Neill, Ulster Unionist, North Antrim, 1959: 94.9%
Will Thorne, Labour, Plaistow, 1918: 94.9%

Largest number of votes

The most votes received by a single individual in a general election was Sir Cooper Rawson who polled 75205 votes when being reelected as MP for Brighton in 1931. However Brighton was a two-member constituency with a larger than average electorate.

Largest majority

The largest majority received by an individual is also Sir Cooper Rawson, reelected with a majority of 62253 at Brighton in 1931. The largest majority received by a woman is 38823 by the Countess of Iveagh elected MP for Southend in 1931.

Lowest winning share of the vote

All general election victors receiving less than 33.33% of the vote are listed. The list is complete from 1945 onwards. Seats with more than one member are omitted.

Name	Party	Constituency	Election	% Share
Johnston, RussellRussell Johnston	Liberal Democrat	Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber	1992	26.0
Privett, FrankFrank Privett	Conservative	Portsmouth Central	1922	26.8
McQuade, JohnJohn McQuade	Democratic Unionist	Belfast North	1979	27.6
Wright, SimonSimon Wright	Liberal Democrat	Norwich South	2010	29.4
Crook, C. W.C. W. Crook	Conservative	East Ham North	1922	29.7
Ewing, AnnabelleAnnabelle Ewing	Scottish Nationalist	Perth	2001	29.7
Reid, AlanAlan Reid	Liberal Democrat	Argyll and Bute	2001	29.9
McCrea, WilliamWilliam McCrea	Democratic Unionist	Mid Ulster	1983	30.0
Robertson, AngusAngus Robertson	Scottish Nationalist	Moray	2001	30.3
Bain, MargaretMargaret Bain	Scottish Nationalist	East Dunbartonshire	1974 October	31.2
Moore, MichaelMichael Moore	Liberal Democrat	Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale	1997	31.2
Dafis, CynogCynog Dafis	Plaid Cymru	Ceredigion and Pembroke North	1992	31.3
Lucas, CarolineCaroline Lucas	Green	Brighton Pavilion	2010	31.3
Robinson, PeterPeter Robinson	Democratic Unionist	Belfast East	1979	31.4
Banks, GordonGordon Banks	Labour	Ochil and South Perthshire	2005	31.4
Thomas, RogerRoger Thomas	Labour	Carmarthen	1983	31.6
Reid, AlanAlan Reid	Liberal Democrat	Argyll and Bute	2010	31.6
Woolas, PhilPhil Woolas	Labour	Oldham East and Saddleworth	2010	31.9
Campbell, GregoryGregory Campbell	Democratic Unionist	East Londonderry	2001	32.1
McDonnell, AlasdairAlasdair McDonnell	Social Democratic and Labour	Belfast South	2005	32.3
Johnston, RussellRussell Johnston	Liberal	Inverness	1974 October	32.4
Cunningham, JimJim Cunningham	Labour	Coventry South East	1992	32.6
McCurley, AnnaAnna McCurley	Conservative	Renfrew West and Inverclyde	1983	32.7
Mitchell, AustinAustin Mitchell	Labour	Great Grimsby	2010	32.7
Jackson, GlendaGlenda Jackson	Labour	Hampstead and Kilburn	2010	32.8
Godsiff, RogerRoger Godsiff	Labour	Birmingham Hall Green	2010	32.9
Price-White, DavidDavid Price-White	Conservative	Caernarfon	1945	32.9
Williamson, ChrisChris Williamson	Labour	Derby North	2010	33.0
Gray, HamishHamish Gray	Conservative	Ross and Cromarty	1970	33.2
Griffiths, NigelNigel Griffiths	Labour	Edinburgh South	2005	33.2

Lowest share of the vote

Major parties winning 2% or less of the vote

Since 1918:

B. Price, Conservative, Upper Bann, 1997: 0.9%
R. Smith, Liberal, South Antrim, 1970: 0.9%
A. Seaton, Conservative, Pontypridd, 1918: 1.1%
J. S. Holmes, Conservative, East Londonderry, 1997: 1.1%
H. Simonds-Gooding, Liberal, North Down, 1970: 1.3%
Alan Greer, Conservative, Belfast East, 2005: 1.4%
C. J. Canning, Liberal, Dundee West, 1950: 1.9%
E. W. Mason, Liberal, Glasgow Govan, October 1974, 1.9%
A. W. Bowkett, Liberal, Birmingham Ladywood, 1924, 2.0%

Labour's worst vote was 2.2% for S. P. Gordon in Glasgow Bridgeton in 1935. They also received just 2.2% of the vote in 2010 in the constituency of Westmorland and Lonsdale.

Candidates winning fewer than ten votes

Since 1918:

1: Catherine Taylor-Dawson, Vote For Yourself Rainbow Dream Ticket, Cardiff North (2005)^[2]

5: Martin Kyslun, Independent, West Derbyshire (2005)^[2]

7: Dorian Vanbraam, Renaissance Democrat, Putney (1997)

Smallest majorities

0 votes: Ashton-under-Lyne, 1886 ¹
1 vote: Exeter, December 1910 ²
2 votes: Ilkeston, 1931

Since 1945

2 votes: Winchester, 1997 ³
3 votes: Carmarthen, February 1974
3 votes: Peterborough, 1966
4 votes: Fermanagh and South Tyrone, 2010
4 votes: Worcester, 1945
6 votes: Caithness and Sutherland, 1945
7 votes: Leicester South, 1983
7 votes: Brighton Kemptown, 1964
9 votes: Bodmin, February 1974
10 votes: Reading, 1964
10 votes: Manchester Rusholme, 1945
11 votes: Eton and Slough, 1964
12 votes: Torbay, 1997
12 votes: South East Derbyshire, 1959
13 votes: Ipswich, 1970
14 votes: Preston North, 1964
15 votes: Northwich, 1945
16 votes: Preston South, 1951
19 votes: Vale of Glamorgan, 1992
20 votes: Birmingham All Saints, 1959
21 votes: Hyndburn, 1983
22 votes: Peterborough, February 1974
22 votes: East Dunbartonshire, October 1974 ^[3]
25 votes: Belfast West, 1951
27 votes: Ealing North, 1964
28 votes: Stroud and Thornbury, 1950
29 votes: Preston North, 1979
30 votes: Galloway, October 1974

Notes:

¹ At the election, the sitting Conservative Member, John Wentworth Addison, tied with his Liberal opponent, A.B. Rowley, on 3,049 votes each. The returning officer, acting under the law at the time, gave a casting vote to Addison, giving him an effective majority of one.

² At the election, the Liberal candidate, Harold St. Maur was declared elected by a majority of 4 votes, but on petition, after a lengthy hearing and several recounts at the High Court, the previous Conservative Member Henry Duke was declared elected by a single vote.

³ The 1997 general election result was declared void, and at the subsequent by-election the Liberal Democrat majority swelled to over 20,000 votes. Consequently the result at Ilkeston in 1931 remains officially the smallest majority since 1918.

Most recounts

7: Peterborough, 1966
7: Brighton Kemptown, 1964
6: Hyndburn, 1983
5: Carmarthen, February 1974
5: Ilkeston, 1931

Highest turnout

Highest turnouts in any general election since 1918:

Fermanagh and South Tyrone, 1951: 93.4%^[2]
Darwen, 1924: 92.7%^[2]

Lowest turnout

All turnouts below 35% from 1918:

Lambeth Kennington, 1918: 29.7%^[2]
Birmingham Deritend, 1918: 30.7%
Bethnal Green North East, 1918: 31.2%
Birmingham Duddeston, 1918: 32.4%
Limehouse, 1918: 33.4%
Liverpool Riverside, 2001: 34.1%
Aberdeenshire and East Kincardineshire, 1918: 34.2%

Until 2001, the lowest turnout after 1918 was 37.4% in Orkney and Shetland in 1922.

Most candidates

Any number of candidates can be nominated for election under current UK electoral law. The only restrictions are that a candidate must be a Commonwealth or Irish citizen, not legally disqualified, with the valid nomination of ten electors from the constituency. Candidates must pay a £500 deposit which is only refunded if the candidate wins 5% or more of the votes cast.

Thirteen constituencies have seen more than ten candidates stand in a general election:

Sedgefield, 2005: 15^[2]
Uxbridge and South Ruislip, 2015: 12
Hackney South and Shoreditch, 2010: 12
Luton South, 2010: 12
Witney, 2015: 12
Finchley, 1983: 11
Isle of Wight, 2010: 11
Bethnal Green and Bow, 2010: 11
Camberwell and Peckham, 2010: 11
Bethnal Green and Bow, 2015: 11
Camberwell and Peckham, 2015: 11
Hackney South and Shoreditch, 2015: 11
Thanet South, 2015: 11

^[4]

The two cases from before 2010 were both the constituency of the Prime Minister. Before 1983, the consecutive records were 6 candidates in 1918, 7 in Tottenham in February 1974 and 9 in Devon North in 1979.

Fewest candidates

The last four seats to be uncontested at a general election were Armagh, Londonderry, North Antrim and South Antrim, at the 1951 general election. The last mainland seats to be uncontested were Liverpool Scotland and Rhondda West, at the 1945 general election.

Three seats were contested only by Labour and Conservative candidates at the 1979 general election: Birmingham Handsworth, Dudley West and Salford East.

Buckingham was the only seat contested by only three candidates at the 2015 general election.

Candidate records

Durable general election candidates

A selection of politicians who have contested seats in at least thirteen general elections are listed:

Name	Parties	Contests	Successful	First	Last	Notes
Winston Churchill	Liberal, Conservative, Constitutionalist	16	14	1900	1959	Stood in five by-elections, first in 1899
Charles Pelham Villiers	Liberal, Liberal Unionist	15	15	1835	1895
Edward Heath	Conservative	14	14	1950	1997
T. P. O'Connor	Nationalist	14	14	1885	1929
Peter Tapsell	Conservative	14	13	1959	2010	Also stood in 1957 by-election
Manny Shinwell	Labour	14	12	1918	1966	Also stood in 1928 by-election
Michael Foot	Labour	14	11	1935	1987	Also stood in 1960 by-election
David Lloyd George	Liberal	13	13	1892	1935	Also stood in 1890 by-election
Edward Turnour	Conservative	13	13	1906	1950	Also stood in 1904 by-election
Tony Benn	Labour	13	12	1951	1997	Stood in four by-elections, first in 1950
Kenneth Clarke	Conservative	13	11	1964	2010
Gerald Kaufman	Labour	13	11	1955	2010	Did not stand 1964 or 1966

MPs defeated at consecutive general elections

On rare occasions an MP has been defeated at a general election, returned at a by-election, only to be defeated again at the subsequent general election. Shirley Williams is distinguished by achieving this while in two different parties.

William McCrea, 1997 and 2001^a
Shirley Williams, 1979 and 1983
Christopher Addison, 1931 and 1935
Arthur Henderson, 1918, 1922 and 1923^b

Notes:

^a returned to Parliament at a subsequent general election
^b returned to Parliament at a subsequent by-election

Former MPs unsuccessful at subsequent general elections

Attempts

It is unusual for a defeated MP to pursue more than a couple of attempts at re-election.

Robert McIntyre, 1950, 1951, 1955, 1959, 1964, 1966, 1970, Feb 1974 and Oct 1974^a
George Nicholls, Dec 1910, 1918, 1922, 1923, 1924 and 1929 (and by-elections in 1913 and 1925)^a
Fred Maddison, Dec 1910, 1918, 1922 and 1923^a
Dave Nellist, 1997, 2001, 2005 and 2010^a
Mike Carr, 1997, 2001 and 2005^a
Tom Mitchell, 1959, 1964 and 1966^b
Sydney Walter Robinson, 1929, 1931 and 1945 (and a by-election in 1926)^a

Notes:

^a in various seats
^b in the same seat

Interval

Attempts at a comeback usually occur almost immediately

Joseph Jackson Cleary, 1955: 20 years after his defeat
Jonathan Evans, 2010: 13 years after his defeat

Future MPs unsuccessful at previous general elections

It is unusual for a candidate who has been unsuccessful on more than a couple of occasions to finally win a seat.

David Ward, elected for Bradford East in 2010, after standing in Bradford North in 1992, 2001 and 2005 (and a by-election in 1990).
Alasdair McDonnell, elected for Belfast South in 2005, after standing in 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992, 1997 and 2001 (and a by-election in 1982), and previously in North Antrim in 1970.
Gregory Campbell, elected for East Londonderry in 2001, after standing in 1997, and previously in Foyle in 1983, 1987 and 1992.
Martin McGuinness, elected for Mid Ulster in 1997, after standing in Foyle in 1983, 1987 and 1992.
Michael Ward, elected for Peterborough in October 1974, after standing in February 1974, 1970 and 1966.
Frank Smith, elected for Nuneaton in 1929, after standing in 1924, and in various other constituencies in 1923, 1922, 1918, 1910, 1895 and 1892 (and also two by-elections in 1909 and one in 1894).
Edwin Scrymgeour, elected for Dundee in 1922, after standing in January 1910, December 1910 and 1918 (and also in the 1908 and 1917 by-elections).

Former MPs making a comeback at a general election

2010: John Cryer, Geraint Davies, Jonathan Evans, Chris Leslie, Stephen Twigg

2005: David Evennett, Christopher Fraser, William McCrea, Malcolm Rifkind

2001: Henry Bellingham, Alistair Burt, Derek Conway, Charles Hendry, Greg Knight, Andrew Mitchell, Bob Spink

1997: Gerry Adams, Christopher Chope, Alan Clark, Frank Doran, Huw Edwards, Michael Fallon, Ronnie Fearn, Mike Hancock, Sylvia Heal, Gerald Howarth, Ashok Kumar, Richard Livsey, Humfrey Malins, John Maples, Francis Maude, Jonathan Sayeed, John Smith

1992: Michael Ancram, Bryan Davies, Warren Hawksley, John Horam, Gerry Malone, Piers Merchant, Richard Ottaway, Nick Raynsford, John Spellar, Derek Spencer, Iain Sproat, Mark Robinson, Paul Tyler

1987: Bob Cryer, Margaret Ewing, John Garrett, Bruce Grocott, Joan Lestor, Jim Marshall, Ann Taylor, Andrew Welsh, Audrey Wise

1983: Margaret Beckett, Robin Corbett, Bryan Gould, Edward Loyden, Andrew MacKay, Max Madden, Brian Sedgemore

1979: Michael Ancram, Sydney Chapman, David Clark, Eric Cockeram, Ednyfed Hudson Davies, Terry Davis, Dick Douglas, Peggy Fenner, Peter Griffiths, John Gummer, Barry Henderson, James Hill, John Wilkinson, David Winnick

October 1974: Donald Anderson, Jeremy Bray, Gwynfor Evans, Robert Hicks, Evan Luard, John Mackintosh, Fergus Montgomery, Enoch Powell, Nicholas Scott, Keith Speed

February 1974 Ronald Atkins, Gwyneth Dunwoody, John Ellis, David Ennals, Ioan Evans, Winifred Ewing, Gerald Fowler, Frank Hooley, Sydney Irving, Colin Jackson, John Lee, Eric Moonman, Stanley Newens, Christopher Price, Gwilym Roberts, Arnold Shaw, Frederick Silvester, Richard Wainwright, Alan Lee Williams, Michael Winstanley

1970: William Clark, Albert Cooper, Julian Critchley, Charles Curran, Patrick Duffy, Anthony Fell, Edward Gardner, Alan Green, Patricia Hornsby-Smith, Geoffrey Howe, James Kilfedder, Martin McLaren, Anthony Meyer, Peter Thomas, Richard Thompson, David Walder, Montague Woodhouse

1966: Richard Body, Peter Tapsell

Shortest-serving general election victors

For a comprehensive list of MPs with total service of less than 365 days see List of United Kingdom MPs with the shortest service

Since 1945

Candidate		Constituency	Year	Days
Alfred Dobbs	Labour	Smethwick	1945	1¹
John Sunderland	Labour	Preston	1945	122¹
John Whittaker	Labour	Heywood and Radcliffe	1945	137¹
Philip Clarke	Sinn Féin	Fermanagh and South Tyrone	1955	152^3x
Thomas Mitchell	Sinn Féin	Mid-Ulster	1955	152^3x
Harry West	UUP	Fermanagh and South Tyrone	February 1974	224²
Michael Ancram	Conservative	Berwick and East Lothian	February 1974	224^2a
Barry Henderson	Conservative	East Dunbartonshire	February 1974	224^2a
Paul Tyler	Liberal	Bodmin	February 1974	224^2a
Michael Winstanley	Liberal	Hazel Grove	February 1974	224^2b
James Godfrey MacManaway	UUP	Belfast West	1950	238³
Judith Chaplin	Conservative	Newbury	1992	316¹
Peter Law	Independent	Blaenau Gwent	2005	355¹

Pre-1945

Candidate		Constituency	Year	Days
Thomas Higgins	Irish Parliamentary	Galway North	1906	0¹
James Annand	Liberal	East Aberdeenshire	1906	16¹
Joseph Nicholas Bell	Labour	Newcastle East	1922	32¹
Harry Wrightson	Conservative	Leyton West	1918	32¹
Hugh Alfred Anderson	Irish Unionist	Londonderry North	1918	66⁴
Pierce McCan	Sinn Féin	East Tipperary	1918	68¹
Alexander Theodore Gordon	Conservative	Aberdeen and Kincardine Central	1918	68¹
Charles James Mathew	Labour	Whitechapel and St. George's	1922	85¹
Robert Climie	Labour	Kilmarnock	1929	126¹^b
George Henry Williamson	Conservative	Worcester	1906	128³
Harold St. Maur	Liberal	Exeter	December 1910	129³
John Gibb Thom	Conservative	Dunbartonshire	1931	142⁴^b
Richard Mathias	Liberal	Cheltenham	December 1910	144³
George Brown Hillman	Conservative	Wakefield	1931	144¹
John Barker	Liberal	Maidstone	1900	147³^a
Edward George Clarke	Conservative	City of London	1906	150⁴^b
Frederick Guest	Liberal	East Dorset	January 1910	154³^a
Eugene O'Sullivan	Irish Parliamentary	East Kerry	January 1910	170³
David Henderson MacDonald	Conservative	Bothwell	1918	176¹
Thomas Agar-Robartes	Liberal	Bodmin	1906	183³^a
Herbert Sparkes	Conservative	Tiverton	1922	188¹
Hilton Philipson	National Liberal	Berwick-on-Tweed	1922	197³
Armine Wodehouse	Conservative	Saffron Walden	1900	200¹
Frederick Rutherfoord Harris	Conservative	Monmouth	1900	210³^a
Moreton Frewen	All-for-Ireland	Cork North-East	December 1910	220⁴
Arthur Wellesley Willey	Conservative	Leeds Central	1922	229¹
Ellis Ellis-Griffith	Liberal	Carmarthen	1923	252⁴^b
William Ward	Conservative	Wednesbury	1931	273⁵^b
Alfred Holland	Labour	Clay Cross	1935	290¹
Charles Harvey Dixon	Conservative	Rutland and Stamford	1922	311¹^b
Arthur Henniker-Hughan	Conservative	Galloway	1924	340¹
George Ernest Spero	Labour	Fulham West	1929	341⁴^b
Martin Morris	Conservative	Galway Borough	1900	342⁵

Notes

¹ died
² defeated at next general election
³ disqualified
⁴ resigned
⁵ succeeded to the Peerage
^a returned to Parliament at a subsequent election
^b had served previously as an MP
^x Since Clarke and Mitchell were elected on abstentionist tickets, and were serving jail sentences at the time, their calculated length of service is somewhat theoretical.

Youngest general election victors

Babies of the House elected at general elections

See Baby of the House of Commons

Youngest to leave the House

Thomas Leslie Teevan 1951, aged 24 ¹
Edward Stanley 1918, aged 24 ² (re-elected 1922)
Patrick Joseph Whitty 1918, aged 24 ²
Henry Harrison 1892, aged 24 ¹
Joseph Sweeney 1922, aged 25 ²^x
Arthur Evans 1923, aged 25 ¹ (re-elected 1924)
Denis Shipwright 1923, aged 25 ¹
John Esmonde 1918, aged 25 ³
Frank Owen 1931, aged 26 ¹
John Wodehouse Jan 1910, aged 26 ³
Hugh Lucas-Tooth 1929, aged 26 ¹ (re-elected 1945)
Bryan Ricco Cooper Dec 1910, aged 26 ¹
Bernadette Devlin McAliskey February 1974, aged 26 ¹
Jennie Lee 1931, aged 26 ¹ (re-elected 1945)
Liam Mellows 1922, aged 27 ²^x
Christopher Ward 1970, aged 27 ¹

Hugh Lucas-Tooth 1929, aged 28 ¹ (re-elected 1945)
David Reed February 1974, aged 28 ²
Michael Ancram October 1974, aged 29 ¹ (re-elected 1979)
Charles Rhys 1929, aged 29 ¹ (re-elected 1931)
Andrew Mackay 1979, aged 29 ¹ (re-elected 1983)
Margo MacDonald February 1974, aged 29 ¹
Helene Hayman 1979, aged 30 ¹
John Ryan 1970, aged 30 ¹
Graham Tope February 1974, aged 30 ¹
Owen Carron 1983, aged 30 ¹^x
Arthur Evans 1929, aged 30 ³ (re-elected 1931)
W.E.D. Allen 1931, aged 30 ³
Stanley Henig 1970, aged 30 ¹
Esmond Harmsworth 1929, aged 30 ³

Notes:

¹ Defeated

² Constituency abolished

³ Retired

^x did not take his seat

Oldest to lose their seats

Charles William Bowerman 1931, aged 80

Frank Smith 1931, aged 76
Edward Evans 1959, aged 76
Cecil Walker 2001, aged 76

Richard Taylor 2010, aged 75
Fenner Brockway 1964, aged 75
James Sexton 1931, aged 75
Syd Bidwell 1992, aged 75

Enoch Powell 1987, aged 74
Peggy Fenner 1997, aged 74
George Edwards 1924, aged 74

James Hindle Hudson 1955, aged 73
Sir Robert Hobart Jan 1910, aged 73
Albert Stubbs 1950, aged 72
Caroline Ganley 1951, aged 72

George Edwards 1922, aged 72

Rhodes Boyson 1997, aged 71
Ben Tillett 1931, aged 71
David Hardie 1931, aged about 71

Hugh Jenkins 1979, aged 70
Dryden Brook 1955, aged 70
Charles William Gibson 1959, aged 70
Dudley Smith 1997, aged 70
James Hill 1997, aged 70
John Potts 1931, aged 70

Oldest general election victors

At first election

Frank Smith, 1929: 74
George Walker, 1945: 70
Samuel Young, 1892: 70
Robert Cameron, 1895, 70
Piara Khabra, 1992: 70¹
Sir Robert Hobart, 1906: 69
Ethel Bentham, 1929: 68
Sir Alfred Waldron Smithers, 1918: 68
Andrew Gilzean, 1945: 67
Albert Stubbs, 1945: 67
Ernest Roberts, 1979: 67
Richard Taylor, 2001: 66
John McQuade, 1979: 66
Gordon Birtwistle, 2010: 66
Glyn Davies, 2010: 66
Caroline Ganley, 1945: 65
Mervyn Wheatley, 1945: 65

¹ Khabra's exact age has been the subject of some disagreement. He claimed a birth year of 1924, which would have made him 67 years old at first election, but his marriage certificate gives a birth year of 1921, and it is this figure which has been used above.

At last election

Charles Pelham Villiers, Wolverhampton South, 1895: 93
Samuel Young, East Cavan, 1910(D): 88
David Logan, Liverpool Scotland, 1959: 87
Robert Cameron, Houghton-le-Spring, 1910(D): 85
Winston Churchill, Woodford, 1959: 84
S. O. Davies, Merthyr Tydfil, 1970: 83 ¹
Piara Khabra, Ealing Southall, 2005: 83
William Ewart Gladstone, Midlothian, 1892: 82
Manny Shinwell, Easington, 1966: 81
Joseph Warner Henley, Oxfordshire, 1874: 80
Edward Heath, Old Bexley and Sidcup, 1997: 80
John Mowbray, Oxford University, 1895: 80
John Rankin, Glasgow Govan, 1970: 80
T. P. O'Connor, Liverpool Scotland, 1929: 80
James Patrick Mahon, Clare, 1880: 80
Peter Tapsell, Louth and Horncastle, 2010: 80
Gerald Kaufman, Manchester Gorton, 2010: 79
Murdoch Macdonald, Inverness, 1945: 79
Ian Paisley, Antrim North, 2005: 79
Irene Ward, Tynemouth, 1970: 75
Alice Cullen, Glasgow Gorbals, 1966: 75
Gwyneth Dunwoody, Crewe and Nantwich, 2005: 74
Glenda Jackson, Hampstead and Kilburn, 2010: 73
Eleanor Rathbone, Combined English Universities, 1945: 73
Ann Clwyd, Cynon Valley, 2010: 73
Caroline Ganley, Battersea South, 1950: 70

¹ Davies was suspected of being considerably older than he claimed. There is evidence to suggest he was born in 1879, not 1886; if true, this would indicate he was 90 at his last election.

Note: All men aged 79 or over since 1945 and over 85 since 1900 are listed, as are all women aged 70 or over.

Returning to the house after a gap

Robert Carden was 78 when he returned to the house, after a 21-year absence, as the member for Barnstaple. He had sat for Gloucester from 1857-59.
John Potts was 74 when he returned to the house, after a four-year absence. He had sat for Barnsley from 1922-31.
George Edwards was 73 when he returned to the House of Commons, after a year's absence, as member for South Norfolk. He had sat for the same constituency 1920-22.
Cahir Healy was 72 when he returned to the House of Commons, after a 15-year voluntary absence, as member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone. He had sat for the predecessor constituency between 1922–24 and 1931-35.
Tommy Lewis was 71 when he returned after a 14-year absence, as member for Southampton. He had sat previously for the seat between 1929-31.
John Kinley was 67 when he returned after a 14-year absence, as member for Bootle. He had sat previously for the seat between 1929-31.

First women general election victors

Constance Markievicz, Dublin St Patrick's, 1918^x
Nancy Astor, Plymouth Sutton, 1922
Margaret Wintringham, Louth, 1922

Notes: ^x did not take her seat

First ethnic minority general election victors

Dadabhai Naoroji, Finsbury Central, 1892
Mancherjee Bhownagree, Bethnal Green, 1895 and 1900
Shapurji Saklatvala, Battersea North, 1922 and 1924

First general election victors from specific religions

When the UK Parliament was established in 1801, non-Anglicans were prevented from taking their seats as MPs under the Test Act 1672. However, Methodists took communion at Anglican churches until 1795, and some continued to do so, and many Presbyterians were prepared to accept Anglican communion, thus ensuring that members of these creeds were represented in the Parliament.^[5] Some Unitarians were also elected.

The first Roman Catholic general election victors in the UK Parliament were at the 1830 general election. They included Daniel O'Connell and James Patrick Mahon in Clare.

The first Quaker general election victor was Edward Pease, at the 1832 general election.

Lionel de Rothschild was the first Jewish general election victor, at the 1847 general election. He was not permitted to take his seat.

The first declared atheist to win a general election was Charles Bradlaugh at the 1880 general election. He was not permitted to take his seat.

Dadabhai Naoroji was the first Parsi general election victor at the 1892 general election.

Piara Khabra became the first Sikh general election victor, at the 1992 general election.

Terry Rooney became the first Mormon general election victor at the 1992 general election (previously taking his seat at a by-election in 1990).

The first Muslim general election victor was Mohammed Sarwar at the 1997 general election.

The first Hindu general election victor was Shailesh Vara at the 2005 general election.

General elections losers awarded seats on disqualification of winner

Lord Robert Grosvenor: Fermanagh and South Tyrone, 1955

Two or more sitting MPs contest general election

It is of course common for former (defeated) MPs to seek re-election, often in their old constituencies, especially if they are marginal or bellwether seats. What is quite unusual is for two MPs both sitting in the same parliament to seek re-election in the same seat. This usually occurs by reason of boundary changes or party splits.

Poplar and Limehouse, 2010: Jim Fitzpatrick^* and George Galloway
Brent Central, 2010: Dawn Butler and Sarah Teather^*
Dumfries and Galloway, 2005: Russell Brown^* and Peter Duncan
Bethnal Green and Bow, 2005: Oona King and George Galloway^*
Brentwood and Ongar, 2001: Eric Pickles^* and Martin Bell
Glasgow Garscadden, 1992: Donald Dewar^* and Dick Douglas
South Hams, 1987: Anthony Steen^* and Willie Hamilton¹
Meriden, 1983: Iain Mills^* and John Sever
Islington North, 1983: John Grant and Michael O'Halloran
Southwark and Bermondsey, 1983: Simon Hughes^* and John Tilley
Crosby, 1983: Shirley Williams and Malcolm Thornton^*
Glasgow Hillhead, 1983: Roy Jenkins^* and Neil Carmichael
Bradford West, February 1974: John Wilkinson and Edward Lyons^*
Blyth, February 1974: Eddie Milne^* and Ivor Richard
Plymouth Devonport, February 1974: Joan Vickers and David Owen^*
Brentford and Isleworth, February 1974: Michael Barnes and Barney Hayhoe^*
Paddington, February 1974: Arthur Latham^* and Nicholas Scott
Grantham, 1955: Joseph Godber^* and Woodrow Wyatt
Reading, 1955: Ian Mikardo^* and Frederic Bennett
Bradford North, 1955: William Taylor^* and Maurice Webb
Carmarthen, 1950: Rhys Hopkin Morris^* and Lynn Ungoed-Thomas
Renfrewshire West, 1950: John Maclay^* and Thomas Scollan
Glasgow Kelvingrove, 1950: Walter Elliot^* and John Lloyd Williams
Newport, 1950: Peter Freeman^* and Ivor Thomas
Sudbury and Woodbridge, 1950: John Hare^* and Roland Hamilton
Stafford and Stone, 1950: Hugh Fraser^* and Stephen Swingler
Newark, 1950: George Deer^* and Sidney Shephard
Carlton, 1950: Kenneth Pickthorn^* and Florence Paton
Thurrock, 1950: Hugh Delargy^* and Leslie Solley
Walthamstow West, 1950: Clement Attlee^* and Lester Hutchinson
Walsall, 1950: William Wells^* and John Barlow
Poole, 1950: Mervyn Wheatley^* and Evelyn King
Middlesbrough East, 1950: Hilary Marquand^* and Alfred Edwards
Liverpool West Derby, 1950: David Maxwell Fyfe^* and Bertie Kirby
Gateshead East, 1950: Arthur Moody^* and Konni Zilliacus
Exeter, 1950: John Maude^* and Thomas Horabin
Blackburn West, 1950: Ralph Assheton^* and John Edwards
Stepney, 1950: Walter Edwards^* and Philip Piratin
Shoreditch and Finsbury, 1950: Ernest Thurtle^* and John Platts-Mills
Lewisham East, 1945: Assheton Pownall and Herbert Morrison^*
St. Marylebone, 1945: Alec Cunningham-Reid and Wavell Wakefield^*
Putney, 1945: Hugh Linstead^* and Richard Acland
Harrow West, 1945: Norman Bower^* and Hugh Lawson
Stratford West Ham, 1945: Thomas Groves and Redvers Michael Prior
Mossley, 1945: Austin Hopkinson and George Woods^*

Notes: ¹after announcing his retirement as member for Central Fife, long-serving Scottish Labour MP Willie Hamilton obtained his party's nomination in the hopeless prospect of South Hams in southern England. Hamilton insisted that he knew local parties often found themselves without candidates shortly before nominations closed, and was offering because it would help them out of difficulty; however by standing again and being "defeated" he qualified for an additional allowance.

^* Winner

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Frequency and duration records

Longest period without a general election

The longest possible duration of a Parliament is currently five years. All period of six years or more between general elections are listed:

10 years: 1935 - 1945

8 years: December 1910 - 1918

6 years: 1812 - 1818

6 years: 1820 - 1826

6 years: 1841 - 1847

6 years: 1859 - 1865

6 years: 1868 - 1874

6 years: 1874 - 1880

6 years: 1886 - 1892

6 years: 1900 - 1906

Shortest period between general elections

All period of less than a year between general elections are listed:

7 months: November 1806 - June 1807

7 months: November/December 1885 - July 1886

8 months: September 1830(?) - April/May/June 1831

8 months: February - October 1974

10 months: December 1923 - October 1924

11 months: January - December 1910

Longest period without a change in government

The longest continuous Conservative government was in office for almost 18 years, between 4 May 1979 and 2 May 1997.

The longest continuous Labour government was in office for over 13 years, between 2 May 1997 and 11 May 2010.

The longest continuous Liberal government was in office for over 9 years, between 5 December 1905 and 25 May 1915.

The longest continuous coalition government was in office for almost 14 years, between 24 August 1931 and 26 July 1945, although its components changed significantly during that period.

Election days

Currently, all British Parliamentary elections are invariably held on a Thursday. The last general election not held on a Thursday was the 1931 election, which was held on Tuesday 27 October. Prior to this, it was common to hold general elections on any day of the week (other than Sunday), and until the 1918 general election, polling (and the declaration of results) was held over a period of several weeks.

Suspended Elections

On rare occasions, polling in an individual constituency may be suspended, usually as a result of the death of a candidate. The last occasion was at Thirsk and Malton in 2010, where polling was delayed for three weeks owing to the death of the UKIP candidate.

Previous examples occurred at

South Staffordshire, 2005
Barnsley, 1951
Manchester Moss Side, 1950
Hull Central, 1945
Rugby, 1929
West Derbyshire, 1923
Kennington, 1918

Causes of general elections

Loss of a vote of confidence

1979
1924

New Prime Minister seeks a mandate

1955
1923

Prime Minister without a working majority seeks to gain one

October 1974
1966
1951

Prime Minister's choice of date

2005
2001
1987
1983
February 1974
1970
1959
1950

Parliament had run its course

2015 (pending election day 7 May)
2010
1997
1992
1964

End of World War

1945
1918

Miscellaneous records

Incumbents fall directly from first place to fourth place

Belfast North, 2001 ¹ UUP loss, gained by the DUP
Plymouth Devonport, 1992 ² SDP loss, gained by Labour
Glasgow Shettleston, 1950 ³ ILP loss, gained by Labour

¹ UUP had been unopposed by DUP at previous elections.

² SDP had been unopposed by the Liberals at previous elections.

³ The sitting Independent Labour Party MP had defected to Labour.

Incumbents fall directly from first place to third place

Bristol North West, 2010 Labour loss, gained by the Conservatives
Colne Valley, 2010 Labour loss, gained by the Conservatives
Watford, 2010 Labour loss, gained by the Conservatives
Belfast South, 2005 Ulster Unionist loss, gained by the SDLP
Conwy, 1997 Conservative loss, gained by Labour
Aberdeen South, 1997 Conservative loss, gained by Labour
Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, 1997, Liberal Democrat loss, gained by Labour
Stockton South, 1983 ¹ Labour loss, gained by the SDP
Plymouth Devonport, 1983 ¹ Labour loss, gained by the SDP
Caithness and Sutherland, 1983 ¹ Labour loss, gained by the SDP
Erith and Crayford, 1983 ¹ Labour loss, gained by the Conservatives
Renfrew West and Inverclyde, 1983 ¹ Labour loss, gained by the Conservatives
Southampton Itchen, 1983 ¹ Labour loss, gained by the Conservatives
Clwyd South West, 1983 ¹ Labour loss, gained by the Conservatives
West Hertfordshire, 1983 Labour loss, gained by the Conservatives
Stevenage, 1983 Labour loss, gained by the Conservatives
East Dunbartonshire, 1979 SNP loss, gained by Labour
North Down, 1979 ² UUP loss, gained by Independent Unionist
Mid Ulster, February 1974 Unity loss, gained by Vanguard Progressive Unionist
Bolton West, 1964 Liberal loss, gained by Labour
Glasgow Bridgeton, 1950 ³ ILP loss, gained by Labour
Rugby, 1950 Independent loss, gained by Labour
Hammersmith North, 1950 Independent Labour loss, gained by Labour
Grantham, 1950 Independent loss, gained by the Conservatives
Cheltenham, 1950 Independent loss, gained by the Conservatives
Stepney, 1950 Communist loss, gained by Labour
West Fife, 1950 Communist loss, gained by Labour
Caithness and Sutherland, 1945 Liberal loss, gained by the Conservatives

¹ The sitting Labour MP had defected to the SDP in 1981.

² The sitting Ulster Unionist Party MP had defected to sit as an Independent Unionist.

³ The sitting Independent Labour Party MP had defected to Labour.

Outgoing Government gains seats

When there is a decisive change in electoral sentiment, a tiny number of seats will not only buck the trend by not moving as expected, but may actually move in the opposite direction. Only elections that saw a change of government are listed, since it is fairly common for a few seats to move in divergent directions when an incumbent government is re-elected; 2005 was an exception to this case, when the Labour party scored no gains.

Conservative

1997

By-election losses regained

Christchurch, from the Liberal Democrats

February 1974

Gains

Berwick and East Lothian, from Labour
East Dunbartonshire, from Labour
Upminster, from Labour
Ipswich, from Labour
North West Norfolk, from Labour

By-election losses regained

Ripon, from the Liberals
Sutton and Cheam, from the Liberals
Bromsgrove and Redditch, from Labour

1964

Gains

Birmingham Perry Barr, from Labour
Eton and Slough, from Labour
Smethwick, from Labour
South West Norfolk, from Labour

By-election losses regained

South Dorset, from Labour

1945

Gains

Caithness and Sutherland, from the Liberals
Berwick upon Tweed, from the Liberals
Caernarvon, from the Liberals
Isle of Ely, from the Liberals
Barnstaple, from the Liberals

By-election losses regained

Wallasey, from Independent
Skipton, from Common Wealth

1929

Gains

Birmingham King's Norton, from Labour

By-election losses regained

Midlothian and Peebles Northern, from Labour
Lancaster, from the Liberals

Labour

2010

Gains

Bethnal Green and Bow, from Respect
Blaenau Gwent, from an independent
Chesterfield, from the Liberal Democrats

By-election losses regained

Dunfermline and West Fife, from the Liberal Democrats
Glasgow East, from the SNP

1979

Gains

Glasgow Cathcart, from the Conservatives
East Dunbartonshire, from the SNP
Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire, from the SNP
Carmarthen, from Plaid Cymru

By-election losses regained

Ashfield, from the Conservatives
Birmingham Stechford, from the Conservatives
Walsall North, from the Conservatives
Workington, from the Conservatives

1970

Gains

Colne Valley, from the Liberals

By-election losses regained

Birmingham Ladywood, from the Liberals
Swindon, from the Conservatives
Oldham West, from the Conservatives
Dudley, from the Conservatives
Acton, from the Conservatives
Hamilton, from the SNP
Walthamstow West, from the Conservatives
Glasgow Pollok, from the Conservatives
Carmarthen, from Plaid Cymru

1951

Gains

Anglesey, from the Liberals
Merioneth, from the Liberals

Incoming Government loses seats

Conservative

Eastbourne, 2010 to the Liberal Democrats
Wells, 2010 to the Liberal Democrats
Solihull, 2010 to the Liberal Democrats
Glasgow Cathcart, 1979 to Labour
North Antrim, 1970 (from Ulster Unionist) to Protestant Unionist Party
Fermanagh and South Tyrone, 1970 (from Ulster Unionist) to Unity
Mid Ulster, 1970¹ (from Ulster Unionist) to Unity
Belfast West, 1951 (from Ulster Unionist) to Irish Labour
Motherwell, 1924 to Labour
Barrow-in-Furness, 1924 to Labour
Lincoln, 1924 to Labour
Liverpool West Toxteth, 1924 to Labour¹
Birmingham King's Norton, 1924 to Labour
Bilston, 1924 to Labour
Peckham, 1924 to Labour
London University, 1924 to Independent

Labour

Berwick and East Lothian, February 1974 to the Conservatives
East Dunbartonshire, February 1974 to the Conservatives
Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire, February 1974 to the SNP
Dundee East, February 1974 to the SNP
Blyth, February 1974 to Independent Labour
Lincoln, February 1974¹ to Lincoln Democratic Labour
Cardigan, February 1974 to the Liberals
Colne Valley, February 1974 to the Liberals
Rochdale, February 1974¹ to the Liberals
Birmingham Perry Barr, 1964 to the Conservatives
Eton and Slough, 1964 to the Conservatives
Smethwick, 1964 to the Conservatives
South West Norfolk, 1964 to the Conservatives
Carmarthen, 1945 to the Liberals
Mile End, 1945 to the Communists
Birmingham King's Norton, 1929 to the Conservatives
Bethnal Green North East, 1929 to the Liberals
Newcastle East, 1929 to the Liberals

Liberal Democrats

Dunfermline and West Fife, 2010 to the Labour Party
Camborne and Redruth, 2010 to the Conservatives
Chesterfield, 2010 to the Labour Party
Cornwall South East, 2010 to the Conservatives
Harrogate and Knareborough, 2010 to the Conservatives
Hereford and South Herefordshire, 2010 to the Conservatives
Montgomeryshire, 2010 to the Conservatives
Newton Abbot, 2010 to the Conservatives
Oxford West and Abingdon, 2010 to the Conservatives
Richmond Park, 2010 to the Conservatives
Romsey and Southampton North, 2010 to the Conservatives
Truro and Falmouth, 2010 to the Conservatives
Winchester, 2010 to the Conservatives
York Outer, 2010 to the Conservatives

Notes: ¹ by-election loss confirmed at the General Election

Seats gained from fourth place^*

Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, 1997 gained by Labour from the Liberal Democrats
Ceredigion and Pembroke North, 1992 gained by Plaid Cymru from the Liberals

Seats gained from third place^*

Belfast East, 2010 gained by Alliance from the DUP
Brighton Pavilion, 2010 gained by the Greens from Labour
Watford, 2010 gained by the Conservatives from Labour
Camborne and Redruth, 2010 gained by the Conservatives from the Liberal Democrats
Falmouth and Camborne, 2005 gained by the Liberal Democrats from Labour
Leeds North West, 2005 gained by the Liberal Democrats from Labour
Lagan Valley, 2005 gained by the DUP from the UUP ¹
West Tyrone, 2001 gained by Sinn Féin from the UUP
Sittingbourne and Sheppey, 1997 gained by Labour from the Conservatives
Shrewsbury and Atcham, 1997 gained by Labour from the Conservatives
St. Albans, 1997 gained by Labour from the Conservatives
Oldham East and Saddleworth, 1997 gained by Labour from the Conservatives ²
Leeds North West, 1997 gained by Labour from the Conservatives
Hastings and Rye, 1997 gained by Labour from the Conservatives
Falmouth and Camborne, 1997 gained by Labour from the Conservatives
Conwy, 1997 gained by Labour from the Conservatives
Bristol West, 1997 gained by Labour from the Conservatives
Aberdeen South, 1997 gained by Labour from the Conservatives
Mid Ulster, 1997 gained by Sinn Féin from the DUP
Cambridge, 1992 gained by Labour from the Conservatives
Plymouth Devonport, 1992 gained by Labour from the SDP
Clwyd South West, 1987 gained by Labour from the Conservatives
Edinburgh South, 1987 gained by Labour from the Conservatives
Strathkelvin and Bearsden, 1987 gained by Labour from the Conservatives
Renfrew West and Inverclyde, 1987 gained by Labour from the Conservatives
Colne Valley, 1983 gained by the Liberals from Labour
Leeds West, 1983 gained by the Liberals from Labour
Southwark and Bermondsey, 1983 gained by the Liberals from Labour ³
Liverpool Mossley Hill, 1983 gained by the Liberals from the Conservatives
Ross, Cromarty and Skye, 1983 gained by the SDP from the Conservatives ⁴
East Dunbartonshire, 1979 gained by Labour from the SNP
Lincoln, 1979 gained by the Conservatives from Labour
East Dunbartonshire, October 1974 gained by the SNP from the Conservatives
Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire, February 1974 gained by the SNP from Labour
Isle of Wight, February 1974 gained by the Liberals from the Conservatives
Ross and Cromarty, 1970 gained by the Conservatives from the Liberals
Ross and Cromarty, 1964 gained by the Liberals from the National Liberals

Notes:

^* only includes examples of genuine three-or-more party competition; does not include seats gained as a result of pacts

¹ sitting member had defected from UUP to DUP

² Liberal Democrats had won a by-election in predecessor constituency in which Labour finished second

³ by-election gain confirmed at General Election.

⁴ SDP candidate ran for the Alliance in seat with strong Liberal tradition.

General election victors had not contested previous election

It is unusual for a party that had not contested the seat at the previous election to win it. Since the major mainland parties now routinely contest all seats, except the Speaker's, such rare victories tend to come from independents or splinter-parties.

Blaenau Gwent, 2005: Independent Peter Law
Bethnal Green and Bow, 2005: Respect, George Galloway
Wyre Forest, 2001: IKHH, Richard Taylor
North Down, 1997³: UKUP, Robert McCartney
Tatton, 1997: Independent Martin Bell
Caithness and Sutherland, 1983: SDP, Robert Maclennan
Belfast West, 1983: Sinn Féin, Gerry Adams
Mid Ulster, 1983: Democratic Unionist, William McCrea
Belfast East, 1979: Democratic Unionist, Peter Robinson
Belfast South, 1979:¹ Ulster Unionist, Robert Bradford
Mid Ulster, 1979:² United Ulster Unionist, John Dunlop
Lincoln, February 1974³: Democratic Labour, Dick Taverne
North Antrim, February 1974⁴: DUP, Ian Paisley
Belfast West, February 1974⁵: SDLP, Gerry Fitt
Belfast East, February 1974: Vanguard, William Craig
Belfast South, February 1974: Vanguard, Robert Bradford
Mid Ulster, February 1974: Vanguard, John Dunlop
North Antrim, 1970: PUP, Ian Paisley
Mid Ulster, 1970: Unity, Bernadette Devlin
Western Isles, 1970: SNP, Donald Stewart
Caithness and Sutherland, 1964: Liberal, George Mackie

Notes:

¹ Vanguard broke up in the late 1970s; the sitting MP joined the Ulster Unionists.
² Vanguard broke up in the late 1970s; the sitting MP joined the United Ulster Unionists.
³ By-election gain confirmed at the General Election.
⁴ The Protestant Unionist Party merged into the Democratic Unionist Party in 1970.
⁵ Sitting MP Gerry Fitt had left the Republican Labour Party for the SDLP in 1970; by 1974 Republican Labour had disintegrated.

Incumbent party did not contest

The rare occasions where the party which won the previous election did not contest the seat. Independent candidates are not included, nor are Speakers of the House or Commons. Also excluded are occasions where the party had merged into an organisation which did contest the election, such as when the Social Democratic Party and Liberal Party formed the Liberal Democrats, or the Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party merged into the Ulster Unionist Party.

Election	Constituency		Notes
1997	North Down	Ulster Popular Unionist	Sole UPUP MP had died and party had subsequently collapsed.
1983	Mid Ulster	UUUP	UUUP had dissolved and former MP stood down.
1974 February	Belfast West	Republican Labour	MP had defected to the Social Democratic and Labour Party and RLP had dissolved.
1959	Caithness and Sutherland	Conservative	Stood aside for Independent Conservative David Robertson.
1955	Fermanagh and Tyrone	Nationalist	Stood aside for Sinn Féin candidate.
1950	Chelmsford	Common Wealth	MP had defected to Labour and party decided not to contest any further elections.
1950	Glasgow Camlachie	Ind. Labour Party	MP had defected to Labour, then the ILP had performed badly in the 1948 by-election.

Major party did not run

¹: An occasion where a major party stood aside against the Speaker of the British House of Commons.

Victories by minor parties

Victories by independent and minor party candidates since 1945. For a complete list, see the list of UK minor party and independent MPs elected.

Belfast East, 2010
Brighton Pavilion, 2010
Blaenau Gwent, 2005
Bethnal Green and Bow, 2005
Wyre Forest, 2005
Wyre Forest, 2001
Tatton, 1997
Lincoln, February 1974
Blyth, February 1974
Merthyr Tydfil, 1970

Minor parties other strong performance

Parties without representation in Parliament which won 10% or more of the votes cast:

Party	Constituency	Election	Candidate	Votes	Percentage	Position	Notes
Alliance	Belfast East	1983	Oliver Napier	9,373	24.1	3
Alliance	Belfast East	1987	John Alderdice	10,574	32.1	2
Alliance	Belfast East	1992	John Alderdice	10,650	29.8	2
Alliance	Belfast East	1997	Jim Hendron	9,288	23.8	3
Alliance	Belfast East	2001	David Alderdice	5,832	15.8	3
Alliance	Belfast East	2005	Naomi Long	3,746	12.2	3
Alliance	Belfast South	1983	David Cook	8,945	23.9	2
Alliance	Belfast South	1987	David Cook	6,963	21.3	2
Alliance	Belfast South	1992	John Montgomery	5,054	15.0	3
Alliance	Belfast South	1997	Steve McBride	5,112	12.9	4
Alliance	Belfast South	2010	Anna Lo	5,114	15.0	4
Alliance	East Antrim	1983	Séan Neeson	7,620	20.0	3
Alliance	East Antrim	1987	Séan Neeson	8,582	25.6	2
Alliance	East Antrim	1992	Séan Neeson	9,132	23.3	3
Alliance	East Antrim	1997	Séan Neeson	6,929	20.2	2
Alliance	East Antrim	2001	John Matthews	4,483	12.5	3
Alliance	East Antrim	2005	Séan Neeson	4,869	15.3	3
Alliance	East Antrim	2010	Gerry Lynch	3,377	11.1	3
Alliance	Lagan Valley	1983	Seamus Close	4,593	11.3	3
Alliance	Lagan Valley	1987	Seamus Close	5,728	13.8	2
Alliance	Lagan Valley	1992	Seamus Close	6,207	12.7	2
Alliance	Lagan Valley	1997	Seamus Close	7,635	17.2	2
Alliance	Lagan Valley	2001	Seamus Close	7,624	16.6	2
Alliance	Lagan Valley	2005	Seamus Close	4,316	10.1	3
Alliance	Lagan Valley	2010	Trevor Lunn	4,174	11.4	3
Alliance	North Antrim	1987	Gareth Williams	5,140	12.4	3
Alliance	North Down	1983	John Cushnahan	9,015	22.1	2
Alliance	North Down	1987	John Cushnahan	7,932	19.4	3
Alliance	North Down	1992	Addie Morrow	6,611	14.7	3
Alliance	North Down	1997	Oliver Napier	7,554	20.7	3
Alliance	South Antrim	1983	Gordon Mawhinney	4,612	11.9	3
Alliance	South Antrim	1987	Gordon Mawhinney	5,808	16.0	2
Alliance	South Antrim	1992	John Blair	5,244	12.4	3
Alliance	South Antrim	1997	David Ford	4,668	11.6	3
Alliance	Strangford	1983	Addie Morrow	6,171	15.8	3
Alliance	Strangford	1987	Addie Morrow	7,553	20.3	2
Alliance	Strangford	1992	Kieran McCarthy	7,585	16.9	3
Alliance	Strangford	1997	Kieran McCarthy	5,467	13.1	3
BNP	Barking	2005	Richard Barnbrook	4,916	16.9	3
BNP	Barking	2010	Nick Griffin	6,620	14.8	3
BNP	Burnley	2001	Steve Smith	4,151	11.3	4
BNP	Burnley	2005	Len Starr	4,003	10.1	5
BNP	Dewsbury	2005	David Exley	5,066	13.1	4
BNP	Oldham West and Royton	2001	Nick Griffin	6,552	16.4	3
BNP	Rotherham	2010	Marlene Guest	3,906	10.4	4
Buckinghamshire Campaign for Democracy	Buckingham	2010	John Stevens	10,331	21.4	2	Standing against the then Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow
Burnley First	Burnley	2005	Harry Brooks	5,786	14.8	3
Green	Brighton Pavilion	2005	Keith Taylor	9,571	22.0	3
Green	Lewisham Deptford	2005	Darren Johnson	3,367	11.4	4
Green	Norwich South	2010	Adrian Ramsay	7,095	14.9	4
Independent	Fermanagh and South Tyrone	2010	Rodney Connor	21,300	41.5	2	Supported by the DUP and UUP
Independent	Ealing Southall	2001	Avtar Lit	5,764	12.3	3
Independent	Fermanagh and South Tyrone	2001	Jim Dixon	6,843	13.2	4
Independent	Sedgefield	2005	Reg Keys	4,252	10.3	4	Staning against the then Prime Minister Tony Blair
Independent	West Tyrone	2005	Kieran Deeny	11,905	27.4	2
Independent Labour	West Bromwich West	1997	Richard Silvester	8,546	23.3	2	Standing against the then Speaker of the House of Commons, Betty Boothroyd
Liberal	Liverpool West Derby	2001	Steve Radford	4,601	14.9	2
Liberal	Liverpool West Derby	2005	Steve Radford	3,606	11.8	3
National Democrats	West Bromwich West	1997	Steve Edwards	4,181	11.4	3	Standing against the then Speaker of the House of Commons, Betty Boothroyd
NI Labour	Belfast East	1974 Oct	David Bleakley	8,122	14.1	3
Orkney and Shetland Movement	Orkney and Shetland	1987	John Goodlad	3,095	14.5	4
People's Justice	Birmingham Sparkbrook and Small Heath	2001	Shafaq Hussain	4,770	13.0	3
PUP	Belfast East	2001	David Ervine	3,669	10.0	4
PUP	Belfast South	1997	David Ervine	5,687	14.4	3
Protestant Unionist	Belfast North	1987	George Seawright	5,671	15.4	3
Real Unionist	North Down	1987	Bob McCartney	14,467	35.4	2
Respect	Birmingham Sparkbrook and Small Heath	2005	Salma Yaqoob	10,498	27.5	2
Respect	East Ham	2005	Abdul Khaliq Mian	8,171	20.7	2
Respect	Poplar and Canning Town	2005	Oliur Rahman	6,573	17.2	3
Respect	West Ham	2005	Lindsey German	6,039	19.5	2
Scottish Militant Labour	Glasgow Pollok	1992	Tommy Sheridan	6,287	19.3	2
Scottish Socialist	Glasgow Pollok	1997	Tommy Sheridan	3,639	11.1	3
Sinn Féin	Belfast North	1997	Gerry Kelly	8,375	20.2	3
Sinn Féin	Fermanagh and South Tyrone	1997	Gerry McHugh	11,174	23.1	2
Sinn Féin	Foyle	1997	Mitchel McLaughlin	11,445	23.9	2
Sinn Féin	Newry and Armagh	1997	Pat McNamee	11,218	21.1	3
Sinn Féin	South Down	1997	Mick Murphy	5,127	10.4	3
Sinn Féin	Upper Bann	1997	Bernadette O'Hagan	5,773	12.1	3
Sinn Féin	West Tyrone	1997	Pat Doherty	14,280	30.9	3
Socialist Labour	Glasgow North East	2005	Doris Kelly	4,036	14.2	3	Standing against the then Speaker of the House of Commons, Michael Martin
TUV	North Antrim	2010	Jim Allister	7,114	16.8	2
UKIP	Buckingham	2010	Nigel Farage	8,410	17.4	3	Standing against the then Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow
UKIP	South Staffordshire	2005	Malcolm Hurst	2,675	10.4	4	Polling day delayed following death of Liberal Democrat candidate from original ballot.

Miscellaneous notable results

Party Leaders or Deputy Leaders losing their seats

Constituency	Election	MP	Position	Party
Belfast East	2010	Peter Robinson	Leader	DUP
Upper Bann	2005	David Trimble	Leader	UUP
North Down	2001	Robert McCartney	Leader	UK Unionist
Belfast West	1992	Gerry Adams	Leader	Sinn Féin
Glasgow Govan	1992	Jim Sillars	Deputy Leader	SNP
Dundee East	1987	Gordon Wilson	Leader	SNP
Carmarthen	1979	Gwynfor Evans	Leader	Plaid Cymru
Cornwall North	1979	John Pardoe	Deputy Leader	Liberal
Fermanagh and South Tyrone	1974 October	Harry West	Leader	UUP
Belper	1970	George Brown	Deputy Leader	Labour
Carmarthen	1970	Gwynfor Evans	Leader	Plaid Cymru
Huddersfield West	1964	Donald Wade	Deputy Leader	Liberal
Anglesey	1951	Megan Lloyd George	Deputy Leader	Liberal
Caithness and Sutherland	1945	Archibald Sinclair	Leader	Liberal
Edinburgh Leith	1945	Ernest Brown	Leader	Liberal National
Darwen	1935	Herbert Samuel	Leader	Liberal
Seaham	1935	Ramsay MacDonald	Leader	National Labour
Burnley	1931	Arthur Henderson	Leader	Labour
Manchester Platting	1931	John Robert Clynes	Deputy Leader	Labour
Paisley	1924	H. H. Asquith	Leader	Liberal
East Fife	1918	H. H. Asquith	Leader	Liberal
East Mayo	1918	John Dillon	Leader	Irish Parliamentary
Manchester East	1906	Arthur Balfour	Leader	Conservative
West Ham South	1895	Keir Hardie	Leader	Ind. Labour Party
Londonderry City	1892	Justin McCarthy¹	Leader	Irish National Federation
South Lancashire	1868	William Ewart Gladstone²	Leader	Liberal

¹: McCarthy was defeated in Londonderry City, the seat for which he had sat in the previous Parliament. He also stood in North Longford, where he was elected.

²: Gladstone was defeated in South Lancashire, the seat for which he had sat in the previous Parliament. He also stood in Greenwich, where he was elected.

General elections having historic significance

2010: the first Coalition government to arise from a general election result.
1997: Blair, New Labour
1979: Thatcher, end of the post-war consensus
1945: Labour, Welfare State
1931: National Government presides over the Great Depression and Appeasement
1923: First Labour government emerges
1910 (two Liberal general election victories) Establishment of supremacy of the Commons. The Parliament Act 1911.
1906: Liberal landslide

References

↑ David Boothroyd
↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher, British electoral facts (Parliamentary Research Services)
↑ As well as being the smallest majority at this election only 429 votes separated the top three candidates.
↑ Research Paper 05/33: General Election 2005, House of Commons Library
↑ Chris Pond, Parliament and Religious Disabilities

Who's Who of British MPs: Volume IV, 1945-1979 by Michael Stenton and Stephen Lees (Harvester, Brighton, 1979) ISBN 0-85527-335-6
British Parliamentary Constituencies - A Statistical Compendium by Ivor Crewe and Anthony Fox (Faber and Faber, London, 1984) ISBN 0-571-13236-7
British Political Facts 1900-1994 by David Butler and Gareth Butler (St. Martin's Press, New York, 1994) ISBN 0-312-12147-4