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United Kingdom general election, 1951
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The 1951 United Kingdom general election was held eighteen months after the 1950 general election, which the Labour Party won, but with a very slim majority of just five seats. Labour called the election on 25 October 1951 hoping to increase their majority.
In the event, despite Labour polling over a million votes more than the Conservative Party - and more votes than in the 1950 election - it was the Conservatives who went on to form the next government.
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Encyclopedia
The 1951 United Kingdom general election was held eighteen months after the 1950 general election, which the Labour Party won, but with a very slim majority of just five seats. Labour called the election on 25 October 1951 hoping to increase their majority.
In the event, despite Labour polling over a million votes more than the Conservative Party - and more votes than in the 1950 election - it was the Conservatives who went on to form the next government. This was because under the first past the post electoral system, the Labour votes translated into increased majorities for MPs in already safe seats, rather than into gaining new seats.
This was one of only three elections where this happened, the others being 1929 and February 1974. It was also the last general election in which some candidates were elected unopposed, in this case four Conservatives, although there have been later unopposed by-elections.
The Conservatives, under Winston Churchill, formed the next government with the help of the National Liberals - giving the Government a majority of 16 seats over all other parties.
Results
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Total votes cast: 28,596,594. All parties shown. Conservative result includes the Ulster Unionists.
Votes summary
Headline Swing: 1.13% to Conservative
Seats summary
Seats changing hands
From Conservative to Liberal (0 seats):
From Labour to Conservative (23 seats): Barry, Battersea South, Bedfordshire South, Berwick and East Lothian, Bolton East, Buckingham, Conway, Darlington, Doncaster, Dulwich, King's Lynn, Manchester Blackley, Middlesbrough West, Norfolk South West, Nottingham North West, Oldham East, Plymouth Sutton, Reading North, Rochdale, Rutherglen, Workington, Wycombe and Yarmouth
From Labour to Liberal (1 seat): Bolton West
From Liberal to Conservative (2 seats): Eye and Roxburgh
From Liberal to Labour (2 seats): Anglesey and Meirioneth
See also
Manifestos
- - 1951 Conservative manifesto.
- - 1951 Labour Party manifesto.
- - 1951 Liberal Party manifesto.
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