Elections in England explained

There are five types of elections in England: elections to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, elections to the devolved London Assembly, local council elections, metro mayor elections, and the Police and crime commissioner elections, in addition to by-elections for each aforementioned election. Elections are held on Election Day, which is conventionally a Thursday.

Under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011, all five types of elections are held after fixed periods, though early elections to the UK parliament occurred in both 2017 and 2019.[1] [2] After winning the 2019 election, the Conservative Party committed to repealing the FTPA.[3] On 1 December 2020, in fulfilment of this manifesto pledge, the government published a draft Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 (Repeal) Bill, which would repeal the FTPA and revive the royal prerogative power of dissolving Parliament as it existed before the Act.[4] The legislation was formally announced as the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill in the Queen's Speech of 11 May 2021, and granted Royal Assent on 24 March 2022.[5]

The three electoral systems used for elections in England are: first-past-the-post (for UK elections and local elections, though individual local authorities are able to move to STV under recent legislation), the additional member system (for Mayor and London Assembly elections) and the supplementary vote (for Police and Crime Commissioner elections; although proposals by the UK Government to change Assembly, Mayor and PCC elections to FPTP have been made).[6]

UK Parliament

Since 1918, the Conservative Party has predominantly received the most English votes in UK general elections, winning a plurality 21 times out of 29. The other seven elections (1945, 1950, 1951, 1966, October 1974, 1997, 2001 and 2024) saw the popular vote in England being won by the Labour Party.[7]

1918

See main article: 1918 United Kingdom general election.

Party! colspan="5"
SeatsVotes
TotalGainsLossesNet +/-% seatsTotal votes% votesChange
315N/A65.0~3,140,00039.5N/A
10722.1~2,140,00026.4
428.7~1,810,00022.5
212.5~690,0008.5
485100~8,050,000100

1922

See main article: 1922 United Kingdom general election.

Party! colspan="5"
SeatsVotes
TotalGainsLossesNet +/-% seatsTotal votes% votesChange
307N/A863.3~4,810,00041.1N/A
954319.6~3,370,00028.8
753215.5~3,210,00027.2
8131.6~310,0002.5
485N/A100~11,700,000100

1923

See main article: 1923 United Kingdom general election.

Party! colspan="5"
SeatsVotes
TotalGainsLossesNet +/-% seatsTotal votes% votesChange
221N/A8645.6~4,730,00039.8N/A
1384328.5~3,550,00029.7
1234825.4~3,570,00029.9
350.62~70,0000.6
485N/A100~11,930,000100

1924

See main article: 1924 United Kingdom general election.

Party! colspan="5"
SeatsVotes
TotalGainsLossesNet +/-% seatsTotal votes% votesChange
347N/A12671.5~6,460,00047.7N/A
1092922.4~4,470,00032.8
191043.9~3,390,00017.6
1071.9~250,0000.6
485N/A100~13,560,000100

1929

See main article: 1929 United Kingdom general election.

Party! colspan="5"
SeatsVotes
TotalGainsLossesNet +/-% seatsTotal votes% votesChange
226N/A11746.6~6,850,00036.9N/A
22112645.5~7,180,00038.8
35167.2~4,340,00023.6
372.0~130,0000.7
485N/A100~18,500,000100

1931

See main article: 1931 United Kingdom general election.

Party! colspan="5"
SeatsVotes
TotalGainsLossesNet +/-% seatsTotal votes% votesChange
436N/A21589.9~11,480,00063.3N/A
291975.98~7,180,00030.2
19163.91~1,040,0006.0
120.2~100,0000.5
485N/A100~18,080,000100

1935

See main article: 1935 United Kingdom general election.

Party! colspan="5"
SeatsVotes
TotalGainsLossesNet +/-% seatsTotal votes% votesChange
357N/A8173.6~9,990,00054.5N/A
1168723.9~7,050,00038.5
11162.26~1,110,0006.3
120.2~120,0000.7
485N/A100~18,270,000100

1945

See main article: 1945 United Kingdom general election.

Party! colspan="5"
SeatsVotes
TotalGainsLossesNet +/-% seatsTotal votes% votesChange
331N/A21564.9~9,970,00048.5N/A
16719032.7~8,270,00040.2
560.98~1,910,0009.4
761.37~380,0001.9
510N/A100~20,540,000100

1950

See main article: 1950 United Kingdom general election.

Party! colspan="5"
SeatsVotes
TotalGainsLossesNet +/-% seatsTotal votes% votesChange
251N/A8046.1~11,050,00048.5N/A
2538643.8~10,500,00040.2
230.98~2,250,0009.4
071.37~160,0001.9
506N/A100~23,950,000100

1951

See main article: 1951 United Kingdom general election.

1955

See main article: 1955 United Kingdom general election.

1959

See main article: 1959 United Kingdom general election.

1964

See main article: 1964 United Kingdom general election.

1966

See main article: 1966 United Kingdom general election.

1970

See main article: 1970 United Kingdom general election.

February 1974

See main article: February 1974 United Kingdom general election.

October 1974

See main article: October 1974 United Kingdom general election.

1979

See main article: 1979 United Kingdom general election in England.

1983

See main article: 1983 United Kingdom general election in England.

Party[8] ! colspan="5"
SeatsVotes
Total Gains LossesNet +/-% seatsTotal votes% votesChange
align=“right” 362align=“right” N/Aalign=“right” N/Aalign=“right” 37align=“right” 69.2align=“right” 11,711,519align=“right” 46.0align=“right” 1.2
align=“right” 148align=“right” N/Aalign=“right” N/Aalign=“right” 45align=“right” 28.3align=“right” 6,862,422align=“right” 26.8align=“right” 9.8
align=“right” 13align=“right” N/Aalign=“right” N/Aalign=“right” 8align=“right” 2.5align=“right” 6,714,957align=“right” 26.4align=“right” 11.5
align=“right” 0align=“right” N/Aalign=“right” N/Aalign=“right” —align=“right” 183,748align=“right” 0.7align=“right” 0.5
align=“right” 25,472,646align=“right” 72.5align=“right”

1987

See main article: 1987 United Kingdom general election in England.

Party[9] ! colspan="5"
SeatsVotes
Total Gains LossesNet +/-% seatsTotal votes% votesChange
align=“right” 358align=“right” 9align=“right” 13align=“right” 4align=“right” 68.5align=“right” 12,546,186align=“right” 46.2align=“right” 0.2
align=“right” 155align=“right” 13align=“right” 6align=“right” 7align=“right” 29.6align=“right” 8,006,466align=“right” 29.5align=“right” 2.5
align=“right” 10align=“right” 2align=“right” 5align=“right” 3align=“right” 1.9align=“right” 6,467,350align=“right” 23.8align=“right” 2.4
align=“right” 0align=“right” 0align=“right” 0align=“right” —align=“right” 113,520align=“right” 0.4align=“right” 0.3
align=“right” 27,133,522align=“right” 75.4align=“right” 2.9

1992

See main article: 1992 United Kingdom general election in England.

Party[10] ! colspan="5"
SeatsVotes
Total Gains LossesNet +/-% seatsTotal votes% votesChange
align=“right” 319align=“right” 1align=“right” 40align=“right” 39align=“right” 60.9align=“right” 12,796,772align=“right” 45.5align=“right” 0.8
align=“right” 195align=“right” 40align=“right” 0align=“right” 40align=“right” 37.2align=“right” 9,551,910align=“right” 33.9align=“right” 4.4
align=“right” 10align=“right” 4align=“right” 4align=“right” align=“right” 1.9align=“right” 5,398,293align=“right” 19.2align=“right” 4.7
align=“right” 0align=“right” 0align=“right” 0align=“right” —align=“right” 401,531align=“right” 1.4align=“right” 1.0
align=“right” 28,148,506align=“right” 78.0align=“right”

1997

See main article: 1997 United Kingdom general election in England.

Party[11] ! colspan="5"
SeatsVotes
Total Gains LossesNet +/-% seatsTotal votes% votesChange
328133113262.011,347,88243.59.6
165015915931.28,780,88133.711.8
34261256.44,677,56518.01.3
000—746,6242.9N/A
000—103,5210.4N/A
11010.269,4640.30.2
000—60,0130.20.4
000—44,5160.2
000—44,1140.2N/A
000—35,1810.10.1
000—25,9580.10.1
000—24,4470.1
11010.224,4470.1N/A
000—18,6670.1
Prolife Alliance000—13,8900.1N/A
000—42,0200.2N/A
26,058,71271.56.5

2001

See main article: 2001 United Kingdom general election in England.

Party[12] ! colspan="5"
SeatsVotes
Total Gains LossesNet +/-% seatsTotal votes% votesChange
align=“right” 323align=“right” 1align=“right” 6align=“right” 5align=“right” 61.1align=“right” 9,056,824align=“right” 41.4align=“right” 2.1
align=“right” 165align=“right” 8align=“right” 8align=“right” align=“right” 31.2align=“right” 7,705,870align=“right” 35.2align=“right” 1.5
align=“right” 40align=“right” 8align=“right” 2align=“right” 6align=“right” 8.1align=“right” 4,246,853align=“right” 19.4align=“right” 1.5
align=“right” 0align=“right” 0align=“right” 0align=“right” align=“right” —align=“right” 374,775align=“right” 1.7align=“right” 1.3
align=“right” 0align=“right” 0align=“right” 0align=“right” align=“right” —align=“right” 158,173align=“right” 0.7align=“right” 0.5
align=“right” 0align=“right” 0align=“right” 1align=“right” 1align=“right” —align=“right” 79,559align=“right” 0.4align=“right” 0.1
align=“right” 0align=“right” 0align=“right” 0align=“right” align=“right” —align=“right” 55,295align=“right” 0.3align=“right” N/A
align=“right” 0align=“right” 0align=“right” 0align=“right” align=“right” —align=“right” 51,299align=“right” 0.2align=“right” 0.1
align=“right” 0align=“right” 0align=“right” 0align=“right” align=“right” —align=“right” 46,851align=“right” 0.2align=“right” 0.1
align=“right” 1align=“right” 1align=“right” 0align=“right” 1align=“right” 0.2align=“right” 28,487align=“right” 0.1align=“right” N/A
align=“right” 0align=“right” 0align=“right” 0align=“right” align=“right” —align=“right” 13,302align=“right” 0.1align=“right” 0.1
align=“right” 0align=“right” 0align=“right” 01align=“right” —align=“right” 53,474align=“right” 0.2align=“right” N/A
align=“right” 21,870,762align=“right” 59.1align=“right” 12.2

2005

See main article: 2005 United Kingdom general election in England.

Party[13] ! colspan="5"
SeatsVotes
TotalGainsLossesNet +/-% seatsTotal votes% votesChange
2860373754.18,043,46135.46.0
1943232936.78,116,00535.70.5
4712578.95,201,28622.93.6
11010.267,4220.30.3
1000.218,7390.1
0000.0592,4172.60.9
0000.0251,0511.10.4
0000.0189,570 0.80.6
0000.039,044 0.2New
0000.017,5470.1
Others0000.0177,3430.8N/A
22,713,85561.01.9

2010

See main article: 2010 United Kingdom general election in England.

Party[14] ! colspan="5"
SeatsVotes
Total Gains LossesNet +/-% seatsTotal votes% votesChange
2979549155.79,908,16939.53.8
1912898735.87,042,39828.17.4
4381248.16,076,18924.21.3
000—866,6333.50.9
000—532,3332.11.3
10010.2258,9541.00.1
000—64,8260.30.2
0001—33,2510.10.2
11010.222,8600.1
0001—16,1500.1
0000—15,8410.1N/A
0000—10,4000.0
0000—8,4040.0N/A
0000—4,3680.0
0000—224,341 0.9
25,085,09765.54.5

2015

See main article: 2015 United Kingdom general election in England.

Party[15] ! colspan="5"
SeatsVotes
Total Gains LossesNet +/-% seatsTotal votes% votesChange
31832112159.710,483,26140.91.4
2062161538.68,087,68431.63.6
11010.23,611,36714.110.7
6037371.12,098,4048.216.0
1000.21,073,2424.23.2
1000.234,6170.1
000—32,8680.10.1
000—20,2100.1New
000—9,9890.00.1
000—6,8110.0New
000—6,4310.00.2
000—4,5690.0New
000—3,4320.0
000—3,2600.0
000—1,6670.02.1
000—5260.0New
000—127,133 0.50.2
25,571,20465.90.4

2017

See main article: 2017 United Kingdom general election in England.

Party[16] ! colspan="5"
SeatsVotes
Total Gains LossesNet +/-% seatsTotal votes% votesChange
2968302255.512,344,90145.44.4
2272762142.611,390,09941.910.3
85321.52,121,8107.80.4
0011—557,3902.112.1
1000.2506,9691.92.3
1000.234,2990.1
000—20,9580.10.1
000—16,1190.1
000—5,8690.0
000—4,642 0.0
000—3,7330.0
000—3,0660.0
000—1,9130.0
000—1,8750.0
000—7710.0
000—3210.0
 Others000—151,0540.60.4
Total53327,165,789Turnout69.1

2019

See main article: 2019 United Kingdom general election in England.

Party[17] ! colspan="5"
SeatsVotes
Total Gains LossesNet +/-% seatsTotal votes% votesChange
3455234964.712,710,84547.21.7
1801484733.79,152,03434.07.9
72311.33,340,83512.44.6
1000.2819,7513.01.2
000—545,1722.02.0
000—29,2010.1
000—18,8910.12.0
000—10,8760.0
000—10,0060.0new
000—9,3940.0
000—6,2460.0
000—3,0860.0
000—3,0000.0
000—1,9870.0
000—1,3750.0
000—5240.0
000—3510.0new
Others000—246,0940.90.8
26,909,66867.41.7

Note: the above figures include the Speaker being counted in the Labour totals, despite the Speaker being non-partisan.

2024

See main article: 2024 United Kingdom general election in England.

Party[18] SeatsAggregate votes
TotalGainsLossesNetOf all (%)TotalOf all (%)Differ­ence
347173716663.98,339,88434.30.5
116123022921.46,279,41125.921.3
55050.9 3,726,22415.313.3
655905912.03,199,06013.20.8
43030.71,780,2267.34.3
55050.9513,2662.11.4
000—208,2340.90.9
1000.225,2380.1
000—33,3850.10.1
000—17,2270.0
000—10,5070.0
000—9,2450.0
000—5,8940.0
000—5,6170.0
000—5,6040.0
000—5,4410.0
000—5,4210.0
000—5,1820.0
000—5,0770.0
000—2,8720.0
000—2,3970.0
000—1,8630.0
000—1,5850.0
Others000—99,2620.9
Total54324,288,12260.07.4

London mayor

See main article: London mayoral elections. The mayor of London is elected by the supplementary vote method for a fixed term of four years, with elections taking place in May. As with most elected posts in the United Kingdom, there is a deposit (in this case of £10,000), which is returnable on the candidate's winning of at least 5% of the first-choice votes cast.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Theresa May's snap election: historic or Pyrrhic?. Worthy. Ben. 19 April 2017. London School of Economics. 20 May 2022.
  2. News: General election 2019: UK snap election to be held on 12 December after Boris Johnson wins Commons vote 438-20. Butterworth. Benjamin. 29 October 2019. i. 20 May 2022.
  3. Web site: Get Brexit Done: the Conservative and Unionist Party Manifesto 2019. Conservative and Unionist Party. 48. 20 May 2022.
  4. Web site: Government to fulfil manifesto commitment and scrap Fixed-term Parliaments Act. gov.uk. 1 December 2020. 20 May 2022.
  5. News: A brief look at the Bills included in the Queen's Speech. Blewett. Sam. Evening Standard. 11 May 2021. 20 May 2022.
  6. News: Priti Patel under fire over plan to change voting system for London mayor. Woodcock. Andrew. 16 March 2021. The Independent. 30 September 2021.
  7. Web site: UK Election Statistics: 1918-2021: A Century of Elections. Pilling. Sam. Cracknell. Richard. 18 August 2021. House of Commons Library. 20–21. 30 September 2021.
  8. Web site: GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS, 9 JUNE 1983. 1984. 6 October 2021.
  9. Web site: GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS, 11 JUNE 1987. 1989 . 30 July 2018.
  10. Web site: GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS, 9 APRIL 1992 . 1993 . 30 July 2018.
  11. Web site: General election results 1 May 1997 . 9 May 1997 . 22 July 2018.
  12. General election results, 7 June 2001. Morgan. Bryn. 12 June 2021. 12. en-GB. 6 October 2021.
  13. Web site: Election 2005 Results England. 10 May 2005. BBC News. 6 October 2021.
  14. News: Election 2010 Results England. BBC News.
  15. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2015/results/england Election 2015 Results England
  16. Web site: England Results. BBC News.
  17. Web site: Results of the 2019 General Election in England. BBC News.
  18. News: Results of the 2024 General Election in England. BBC News.

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