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:-

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 in Great Britain 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.

Glossary

For comparison purposes the following definitions have been adopted.

Numerical records

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

Largest swings

National two-party swings

National swings since 1945

From Conservative to Labour

From Labour to Conservative

From Labour to SNP

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.

National

Constituency

Decrease Party Constituency Election
60.6 Ind. Labour Party Glasgow Bridgeton 1950
53.1 UUP North Down 1979
45.8 Labour Merthyr Tydfil 1970
45.7 Labour Blyth 1974 Feb
41.5 UUP North Antrim 1970
39.8 UUP Belfast North 2001
39.7 Labour Blaenau Gwent 2005
37.4 Ind. Labour Party Merthyr 1935
36.8 UKIP Clacton 2017
35.8 Liberal Democrat Brent Central 2015[4]
34.7 Respect Bradford West 2015
34.7 Labour Glasgow North East 2015[4]
33.0 Ind. Labour Party Glasgow Shettleston 1950
32.7 Labour Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill 2015[4]
31.7 Labour Glenrothes 2015[4]
31.6 Sinn Féin Fermanagh and South Tyrone 1959
31.2 Labour Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath 2015[4]
31.2 Liberal Democrat Sheffield Central 2015[4]
31.1 Liberal Democrat Dunfermline and West Fife 2015[4]
30.5 Liberal Democrat Hereford and South Herefordshire 2015[4]
30.5 Democratic Labour Lincoln 1979
30.3 Liberal Democrat Edinburgh South 2015[4]
30.0 UUP North Down 2010
30.0 Labour West Dunbartonshire 2015[4]

Other parties

Decrease Party Constituency Election
27.0 Conservative North Down 1997
26.0 SNP Western Isles 1987
25.3 DUP Belfast West 1979
24.7 Conservative Tatton 1997

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.

Increase Party Constituency Election
74.1 Labour Glasgow Gorbals 1945
43.9 SNP Glasgow North East 2015[4]
41.3 DUP Lagan Valley 2005
41.2 SNP Glasgow North 2015[4]
40.8 SNP Glasgow South West 2015[4]
39.8 SNP Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill 2015[4]
39.6 SNP Dunfermline and West Fife 2015[4]
39.3 SNP Glasgow North West 2015[4]
38.9 SNP West Dunbartonshire 2015[4]
38.3 SNP Motherwell and Wishaw 2015[4]
38.2 SNP Glenrothes 2015[4]
37.9 SNP Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath 2015[4]
37.6 SNP Inverclyde 2015
36.9 Liberal Democrat Brent East 2005
36.5 SNP Rutherglen and Hamilton West 2015
36.1 SNP Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East 2015
36.1 Labour Glasgow Shettleston 1950
35.0 SNP Glasgow Central 2015
34.7 SNP Glasgow South 2015
34.2 SNP Aberdeen North 2015
34.1 SNP Central Ayrshire 2015
33.0 SNP Dundee West 2015
33.0 SNP Ross, Skye and Lochaber 2015
32.8 SNP Paisley and Renfrewshire South 2015
32.6 SNP East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow 2015
32.2 SNP Glasgow East 2015
31.7 SNP East Renfrewshire 2015
31.7 SNP Paisley and Renfrewshire North 2015
31.6 UUP Fermanagh and South Tyrone 1959
31.4 SNP Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey 2015
31.3 SNP Edinburgh North and Leith 2015
31.0 SNP Livingston 2015
30.8 SNP Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock 2015
30.8 SNP Edinburgh South West 2015
30.6 SNP Dundee East 1974 Feb
30.4 SNP Airdrie and Shotts 2015
30.3 Labour Bristol West 2017
30.0 SNP Midlothian 2015

Other parties

Increase Party Constituency Election
29.6 UKIP Heywood and Middleton 2015
29.0 Conservative Gordon 2017
24.2 Unity Fermanagh and South Tyrone 1970
23.7 Republican Labour Belfast West 1966
23.0 Green Bristol West 2015

Largest winning share of the vote

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

Largest number of votes

The most votes received by a single individual in a general election was Sir Cooper Rawson who polled 75,205 votes when being reelected as MP for Brighton in 1931. Brighton was a two-member constituency with a larger than average electorate. The most votes received by an individual in a single-seat constituency was 69,762 for Reginald Blair in Hendon in 1935.[6]

Largest majority

The largest majority received by an individual is also Sir Cooper Rawson, reelected with a majority of 62,253 at Brighton in 1931.[6] The largest majority received by a woman is 38,823 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
McDonnell, AlasdairAlasdair McDonnell SDLP Belfast South 2015 24.5[4]
Johnston, RussellRussell Johnston Liberal Democrat Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber 1992 26.0
Privett, FrankFrank Privett Conservative Portsmouth Central 1922 26.8[7]
McQuade, JohnJohn McQuade DUP Belfast North 1979 27.6
Lake, BenBen Lake Plaid Cymru Ceredigion 2017 29.2
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 SNP Perth 2001 29.7
Reid, AlanAlan Reid Liberal Democrat Argyll and Bute 2001 29.9
McCrea, WilliamWilliam McCrea DUP Mid Ulster 1983 30.0
Robertson, AngusAngus Robertson SNP Moray 2001 30.3
Pengelly, EmmaEmma Pengelly DUP Belfast South 2017 30.4
Pugh, JohnJohn Pugh Liberal Democrat Southport 2015 31.0[4]
Owen, AlbertAlbert Owen Labour Ynys Môn 2015 31.1[4]
Bain, MargaretMargaret Bain SNP 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 DUP 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 DUP East Londonderry 2001 32.1
McDonnell, AlasdairAlasdair McDonnell SDLP Belfast South 2005 32.3
Johnston, RussellRussell Johnston Liberal Inverness 1974 October 32.4
Cunningham, JimJim Cunningham Labour Coventry South East 1992 32.6
Crawley, AngelaAngela Crawley SNP Lanark and Hamilton East 2017 32.6
McCurley, AnnaAnna McCurley Conservative Renfrew West and Inverclyde 1983 32.7
Simpson, DavidDavid Simpson DUP Upper Bann 2015 32.7[4]
Kinahan, DannyDanny Kinahan UUP South Antrim 2015 32.7[4]
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 less than 1% of the vote

Since 1918:
% share Candidate Party Constituency Election
0.1 Paul Shea Conservative Belfast West 2015
0.3 Lucille Nicholson Conservative Mid Ulster 2015
0.4 Claire-Louise Leyland Conservative Tyrone West 2015
0.4 Hamish Badenoch Conservative Foyle 2015
0.4 Robert Rigby Conservative Newry and Armagh 2015
0.4 Amandeep Singh Bhogal Conservative Upper Bann 2015
0.6 Clare Salier Conservative Belfast South 2017
0.7 Felicity Buchan Conservative South Down 2015
0.7 Gary McLelland Liberal Democrat Glasgow East 2015[4]
0.8 Eileen Baxendale Liberal Democrat Glasgow North East 2015[4]
0.8 Karen Roberts Liberal Democrat Rhondda 2017
0.8 Liz St Clair-Legge Conservative East Londonderry 2017
0.9 Flo Clucas Liberal Democrat West Bromwich West 2017
0.9 Ben France Liberal Democrat Dudley North 2017
0.9 Carol Freeman Conservative Antrim North 2015
0.9 Brian Price Conservative Upper Bann 1997
0.9 Rodney Smith Liberal South Antrim 1970
0.9 Cameron Sullivan Liberal Democrat Blaenau Gwent 2017
The Conservatives' worst vote outside Northern Ireland was 1.1% for A. Seaton in Pontypridd in 1918.
Labour's worst vote was 2.2% for S. P. Gordon in Glasgow Bridgeton in 1935 and in 2010 for Jonathan Todd in Westmorland and Lonsdale.

Candidates winning fewer than ten votes

Candidates in general elections since 1918 who won fewer than ten votes:

Votes Candidate Party Constituency Election
1 Catherine Taylor-Dawson Vote For Yourself Rainbow Dream Ticket Cardiff North 2005[8]
3 Bobby Smith Give Me Back Elmo Maidenhead 2017[9]
5 Martin Kyslun Independent West Derbyshire 2005[8]
7 Dorian Vanbraam Renaissance Democrat Putney 1997[10]
7 Andres Mendoza Communist League Islington North 2017[11]

Both W. M. Somerville in Bewdley at the 1874 UK general election and F. R. Lees in Drogheda at the 1852 UK general election received no votes.[12]

Smallest majorities

Since 1945

Notes:

Most recounts

Highest turnout

Highest turnouts in any general election since 1918:

Lowest turnout

All turnouts below 35% from 1918:
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.

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

Candidates Constituency Election Incumbent
15 Sedgefield 2005 Tony Blair[8]
13 Maidenhead 2017 Theresa May
13 Uxbridge and South Ruislip 2015 None
12 Hackney South and Shoreditch 2010 Meg Hillier
12 Luton South 2010 None
12 Witney 2015 David Cameron
11 Finchley 1983 Margaret Thatcher[13]
11 Isle of Wight 2010 Andrew Turner
11 Bethnal Green and Bow 2010 None
11 Camberwell and Peckham 2010 Harriet Harman
11 Bethnal Green and Bow 2015 Rushanara Ali
11 Camberwell and Peckham 2015 Harriet Harman
11 Hackney South and Shoreditch 2015 Meg Hillier
11 Thanet South 2015 None

The two cases from before 2010 were both the constituency of the Prime Minister. Before 1983, the consecutive records were 6 candidates in Paddington North in 1918,[14] 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. Traditionally, the Speaker of the House of Commons is not opposed by major parties, so the only opposition to John Bercow was candidates from the Green Party and from UKIP. However, in the 2017 UK general election, there were 21 seats with only three candidates, all in England.

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 ChurchillLiberal, Conservative, Constitutionalist161419001959Stood in five by-elections, first in 1899
Charles Pelham VilliersLiberal, Liberal Unionist151518351895
Kenneth ClarkeConservative151319642017
Edward HeathConservative141419501997
T. P. O'ConnorNationalist141418851929
Peter TapsellConservative141319592010Also stood in 1957 by-election
Gerald KaufmanLabour141219552015Did not stand 1964 or 1966
Manny ShinwellLabour141219181966Also stood in 1928 by-election
Michael FootLabour141119351987Also stood in 1960 by-election
David WinnickLabour Party141019642017Did not stand February 1974
David Lloyd GeorgeLiberal131318921935Also stood in 1890 by-election
Edward TurnourConservative131319061950Also stood in 1904 by-election
Tony BennLabour131219511997Stood in four by-elections, first in 1950
Dennis SkinnerLabour Party131319702017

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.

Notes:

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.

Notes:

Interval

Attempts at a comeback usually occur almost immediately

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.

Former MPs making a comeback at a general election

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 Party 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 1523x
Thomas Mitchell Sinn Féin Mid-Ulster 1955 1523x
Harry West UUP Fermanagh and South Tyrone February 1974 2242
James Godfrey MacManaway UUP Belfast West 1950 2383
Judith Chaplin Conservative Newbury 1992 3161
Peter Law Independent Blaenau Gwent 2005 3551

Pre-1945

Candidate Party 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 1261b
George Henry Williamson Conservative Worcester 1906 1283
Harold St. Maur Liberal Exeter December 1910 1293
John Gibb Thom Conservative Dunbartonshire 1931 1424b
Richard Mathias Liberal Cheltenham December 1910 1443
George Brown Hillman Conservative Wakefield 1931 1441
John Barker Liberal Maidstone 1900 1473a
Edward George Clarke Conservative City of London 1906 1504b
Frederick Guest Liberal East Dorset January 1910 1543a
Eugene O'Sullivan Irish Parliamentary East Kerry January 1910 1703
David Henderson MacDonald Conservative Bothwell 1918 1761
Thomas Agar-Robartes Liberal Bodmin 1906 1833a
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 2103a
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 2524b
William Ward Conservative Wednesbury 1931 2735b
Alfred Holland Labour Clay Cross 1935 2901
Charles Harvey Dixon Conservative Rutland and Stamford 1922 3111b
Arthur Henniker-Hughan Conservative Galloway 1924 3401
George Ernest Spero Labour Fulham West 1929 3414b
Martin Morris Conservative Galway Borough 1900 3425

Notes

Youngest general election victors

Babies of the House elected at general elections

See Baby of the House of Commons

Youngest to leave the House

Notes:
1 Defeated
2 Constituency abolished
3 Retired
x did not take his seat

Oldest to lose their seats

1Based on Hardie's earliest estimated birth year of "ca.1860", although some biographers cite a date as late as 27 January 1871, making him only 60 years old at time of that election.[16]

Oldest general election victors

At first election

1 Exact birth date not known but Harrison was reportedly this age when he died 5 days after the general election closed and before he took his seat.
2 Exact birth date not known but Fleming, who was brought up as an adopted orphan, is usually stated to have been born in 1747.
3 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

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

A contender for the longest gap prior to returning at a general election was possibly Henry Drummond (1786-1860), who returned to the House of Commons in the 1847 general election as member for West Surrey, after a near 35-year absence, though aged only 60. He was previously MP for Plympton Erle from 1810-12.

Others, who returned at older ages than Drummond's:

First women general election victors

Notes: x did not take her seat

First ethnic minority general election victors

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.[17] 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.

The first Moravian general election victor was Charles Hindley, at the 1835 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 until the passage of the Jews Relief Act 1858.

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 in that parliament, but was elected again at the 1885 general election and allowed to take the oath.

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.

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

Causes of general elections

Loss of a vote of confidence

New Prime Minister seeks a mandate

Prime Minister without a working majority seeks to gain one

Prime Minister's choice of date

Parliament had run its course

End of World War

Miscellaneous records

Incumbents fall directly from first place to fourth place

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

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
February 1974
Gains
By-election losses regained
1964
Gains
By-election losses regained
1945
Gains
By-election losses regained
1929
Gains
By-election losses regained

Labour

2010
Gains
By-election losses regained
1979
Gains
By-election losses regained
1970
Gains
By-election losses regained
1951
Gains

Incoming Government loses seats

Conservative

Note: In 2010 the Conservatives entered government as the largest party in a coalition and in 2015 they went from being part of a coalition to being a majority government in their own right.

Labour

Liberal Democrats

Note: In 2010 the Liberal Democrats entered government as a junior partner in a coalition.

Liberal Party (pre-Liberal Democrats)

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

Seats gained from fourth place*

Seats gained from third place*

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.

Notes:

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 Incumbent party 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

Conservative

Labour

Liberal Democrats

Liberal Party (pre-Liberal Democrats)

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.

Independent candidates winning 10% or more

Independent candidates who did not win, but took 10% or more of the vote in their constituency

Constituency Election Candidate Votes Percentage Position Notes
Bradford West 2017 Salma Yaqoob 6,345 13.9 3
Ealing Southall 2001 Avtar Lit 5,764 12.3 3
East Devon 2015 Claire Wright 13,140 24.0 2
East Devon 2017 Claire Wright 21,270 35.2 2
Fermanagh and South Tyrone 2001 Jim Dixon 6,843 13.2 4
Fermanagh and South Tyrone 2010 Rodney Connor 21,300 41.5 2 Supported by the DUP and UUP
Fylde 2015 Mike Hill 5,166 11.9 4
Hereford and South Herefordshire 2017 Jim Kenyon 5,560 11.0 3
Sedgefield 2005 Reg Keys 4,252 10.3 4 Standing against the then-Prime Minister Tony Blair
West Bromwich West 1997 Richard Silvester 8,546 23.3 2 Standing against the then Speaker of the House of Commons, Betty Boothroyd
West Tyrone 2005 Kieran Deeny 11,905 27.4 2

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 15,443 36.0 2
Alliance Belfast East 2017 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 Belfast South 2017 Paula Bradshaw 7,946 18.2 3
Alliance East Antrim 1983 Seán Neeson 7,620 20.0 3
Alliance East Antrim 1987 Seán Neeson 8,582 25.6 2
Alliance East Antrim 1992 Seán Neeson 9,132 23.3 3
Alliance East Antrim 1997 Seán Neeson 6,929 20.2 2
Alliance East Antrim 2001 John Matthews 4,483 12.5 3
Alliance East Antrim 2005 Seán Neeson 4,869 15.3 3
Alliance East Antrim 2010 Gerry Lynch 3,377 11.1 3
Alliance East Antrim 2017 Stewart Dickson 5,950 15.6 2
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 Lagan Valley 2017 Aaron McIntyre 4,996 11.1 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
Alliance Strangford 2017 Kellie Armstrong 5,693 14.7 2
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
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
National Health Action Wyre Forest 2015 Richard Taylor 7,221 14.6 4 Taylor had served as MP for the constituency from 2001 to 2010
National Health Action South West Surrey 2017 Louise Irvine 12,093 20.0 2
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 Before Profit Belfast West 2015 Gerry Carroll 6,798 19.2 2 Represented in the Dáil
People Before Profit Belfast West 2017 Gerry Carroll 4,132 10.2 3 Represented in the Northern Ireland Assembly and Dáil
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
Moray 2017 Angus Robertson Deputy leader SNP
Belfast East 2015 Naomi Long Deputy leader Alliance
Bradford West 2015 George Galloway Leader Respect
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 West 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 West 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

First general elections for a new political party

Listed below parties which have returned MPs, either at the listed election or a later one.

Asterisked - first election where party fielded candidates but MPs elected at later general election. Otherwise all parties listed returned MPs at first contested election.

Last general elections for defunct political parties

Listed below are parties which had returned MPs and which ceased to exist after the listed election:

* After the Liberal Party and SDP merged to form the Liberal Democrats, some members opposed to the merger formed new parties, the continuation Liberal Party and continuation Social Democratic Party. These parties are legally distinct from their predecessors and have never won a seat in Parliament.

General elections following electoral developments

Participation in, and outcome of, general elections can be influenced by changes in electoral law or practice.

  • women (aged 30 upwards) were enfranchised
  • all adult males (aged 21 upwards) were enfranchised
  • polling was held on single day
  • postal voting (for armed forces personnel) was allowed
  • established a unified householder franchise
  • comprehensively redistributed parliamentary seats, abolishing many rotten boroughs
  • established 21 years as the youngest age of candidacy (reduced to 18 in 2006)

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Craig, F. W. S. (1968). British Parliamentary Election Statistics 1918-1968. Glasgow: Political Reference Publications. p. 20. ISBN 0900178000.
  2. ↑ http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/SN02608/electoral-swing
  3. ↑ Election 2015: SNP wins 56 of 59 seats in Scots landslide BBC News 8 May 2015
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Tim Carr, The Politicos Guide to the New House of Commons 2015
  5. ↑ Craig, F. W. S. (1968). British Parliamentary Election Statistics 1918-1968. Glasgow: Political Reference Publications. p. 104. ISBN 0900178000.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Craig, F. W. S. (1968). British Parliamentary Election Statistics 1918-1968. Glasgow: Political Reference Publications. p. 101. ISBN 0900178000.
  7. 1 2 3 Craig, F. W. S. (1968). British Parliamentary Election Statistics 1918-1968. Glasgow: Political Reference Publications. p. 103. ISBN 0900178000.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher, British electoral facts (Parliamentary Research Services)
  9. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000803
  10. ↑ http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/constit/073.htm
  11. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000763
  12. 1 2 Craig, F. W. S. (1968). British Parliamentary Election Statistics 1918-1968. Glasgow: Political Reference Publications. p. 102. ISBN 0900178000.
  13. ↑ Research Paper 05/33: General Election 2005 Archived 27 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine., House of Commons Library
  14. ↑ Craig, F. W. S. (1968). British Parliamentary Election Statistics 1918-1968. Glasgow: Political Reference Publications. p. 65. ISBN 0900178000.
  15. ↑ The Guardian
  16. ↑ James Keir Hardie 1856 - 1915 at Hunting Dead
  17. ↑ Chris Pond, Parliament and Religious Disabilities Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine.

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