The elections held in the November and December of 1701 produced substantial gains for the Whigs, who enthusiasticaly supported the War of the Spanish Succession

War of the Spanish Succession

The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...

. The Tories had been critcised in the press for their ambivalence towards the war, and public opinion had turned against them; they consequently lost a number of seats. 91 constituencies, 34% of the total in England and Wales, were contested.

Summary of the Constituencies

See British general election, 1796

British general election, 1796

The British general election, 1796 returned members to serve in the 18th and last House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain to be held before the formation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland on 1 January 1801...

for details. The constituencies used in England and Wales were the same throughout the period. In 1707 alone the 45 Scottish members were not elected from the constituencies, but were returned by co-option of a part of the membership of the last Parliament of Scotland elected before the Union.

Party strengths are an approximation, with many MPs' allegiances being unknown.