United Kingdom general election records

• 1931 general election – 14.4% swing from Labour to National Government[1]^:20
• 1945 general election – 11.8% swing from Conservative/National Liberal to Labour[1]
• 1997 general election – 10.2% swing from Conservative to Labour
• 1906 general election – 5.4% swing from Conservative to Liberal
• 1979 general election – 5.3% swing from Labour to Conservative
• 2010 general election – 5.1% swing from Labour to Conservative

• Brent North, 1997 – 18.8% (Labour gain)

• Bassetlaw, 2019 – 18.4% (Conservative gain)

• Brent East, 2005 – 29% (Liberal Democrat gain)

• Glasgow North East, 2015 – 39.3%[2] (SNP gain)

• Brent Central, 2015 – 28.3% (Labour gain)

• Ross, Skye and Lochaber, 2015 – 24.9% (SNP gain)

• Gordon, 2017 – 20.4% (Conservative gain)

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 since 1911, reductions of 10% or more (on the national level) or around 30% or more (in individual constituencies) are unusual.

• 2015 general election – Liberal Democrats: −15.1%
• 1945 general election – Conservatives: −11.6%
• 1997 general election – Conservatives: −11.2%
• 2017 general election – UKIP: −10.8%
• 2019 general election – Labour: −7.9%

The Conservative, Scottish National, and Democratic Unionist parties have never lost a 30% or larger percentage share of the vote in a single constituency.

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.

The five largest shares of the vote won by any candidate, since 1918, are as follows:

• George Currie, Ulster Unionist, North Down, 1959: 98.0%[1]^:104
• 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%

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.[1]^:101

The largest majority received by an individual is also Sir Cooper Rawson, reelected with a majority of 62,253 (35.2% of votes) at Brighton in 1931.[1]^:101 The largest majority received by a woman is 38,823 (71.4% of votes) by the Countess of Iveagh elected MP for Southend in 1931.

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.

Since 1918:

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 Samuel McLaren in Glasgow Bridgeton in 1935 and in 2010 for Jonathan Todd in Westmorland and Lonsdale.

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

Both W. M. Somerville in Bewdley at the 1874 United Kingdom general election and F. R. Lees in Drogheda at the 1852 United Kingdom general election received no votes.[1]^:102

• 0 votes: John Edmund Wentworth Addison, Conservative, Ashton-under-Lyne, 1886[lower-alpha 1]
• 1 vote: Henry Duke, Conservative, Exeter, December 1910[lower-alpha 2]
• 2 votes: Abraham Flint, National Labour, Ilkeston, 1931[1]^:101

Since 1945

• 2 votes: Stephen Gethins, SNP, North East Fife, 2017
• 2 votes: Mark Oaten, Liberal Democrat, Winchester, 1997[lower-alpha 3]
• 3 votes: Gwynoro Jones, Labour, Carmarthen, February 1974
• 3 votes: Harmar Nicholls, Conservative, Peterborough, 1966[1]^:101
• 4 votes: Michelle Gildernew, Sinn Féin, Fermanagh and South Tyrone, 2010
• 4 votes: George Ward, Conservative, Worcester, 1945[1]^:101
• 6 votes: Eric Gandar Dower, Scottish Unionist, Caithness and Sutherland, 1945[1]^:101
• 7 votes: Derek Spencer, Conservative, Leicester South, 1983
• 7 votes: Dennis Hobden, Labour, Brighton Kemptown, 1964[1]^:101
• 9 votes: Paul Tyler, Liberal, Bodmin, February 1974
• 10 votes: Peter Emery, Conservative, Reading, 1964
• 10 votes: Lester Hutchinson, Labour, Manchester Rusholme, 1945
• 11 votes: Anthony Meyer, Conservative, Eton and Slough, 1964
• 12 votes: Adrian Sanders, Liberal Democrat, Torbay, 1997
• 12 votes: John Jackson, Conservative, South East Derbyshire, 1959
• 13 votes: Ernle Money, Conservative, Ipswich, 1970
• 14 votes: Julian Amery, Conservative, Preston North, 1964
• 15 votes: John Foster, Conservative, Northwich, 1945
• 16 votes: Edward Shackleton, Preston South, 1951
• 19 votes: Walter Sweeney, Conservative, Vale of Glamorgan, 1992
• 20 votes: Emma Dent Coad, Labour, Kensington, 2017
• 20 votes: John Hollingworth, Conservative, Birmingham All Saints, 1959
• 21 votes: Ken Hargreaves, Conservative, Hyndburn, 1983
• 21 votes: Pete Wishart, SNP, Perth and North Perthshire, 2017.
• 22 votes: Ian Austin, Labour, Dudley North, 2017
• 22 votes: Harmar Nicholls, Conservative, Peterborough, February 1974
• 22 votes: Margaret Bain, SNP, East Dunbartonshire, October 1974[lower-alpha 4]
• 25 votes: Jack Beattie, Irish Labour, Belfast West, 1951
• 27 votes: William Molloy, Labour, Ealing North, 1964
• 27 votes: Byron Davies, Conservative, Gower, 2015
• 28 votes: Walter Robert Dempster Perkins, Conservative, Stroud and Thornbury, 1950
• 29 votes: Robert Atkins, Conservative, Preston North, 1979
• 30 votes: Paul Farrelly, Labour, Newcastle-under-Lyme, 2017
• 30 votes: George Thompson, SNP, Galloway, October 1974

Notes:

• 7: Peterborough, 1966[1]^:102
• 7: Brighton Kemptown, 1964
• 6: Hyndburn, 1983
• 5: Hastings and Rye, June 2017
• 5: Carmarthen, February 1974
• 5: Ilkeston, 1931

Highest turnouts in any general election since 1918:

• Fermanagh and South Tyrone, 1951: 93.4%[5]
• Darwen, 1924: 92.7%[5]

All turnouts below 35% from 1918 onwards:

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

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:

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,[12] 7 in Tottenham in February 1974 and 9 in Devon North in 1979.

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 seats in Great Britain 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 United Kingdom general election, there were 21 seats with only three candidates and in 2019 there were 20.

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

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.

• George Galloway, 2010^b and 2015
• William McCrea, 1997^b 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

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, 2010 and 2015^a
• Mike Carr, 1997, 2001 and 2005^a
• Tom Mitchell, 1959, 1964 and 1966^b
• Tom Howard, 1935, 1945, 1950 and 1951 (and a by-election in 1947)^e
• Sydney Walter Robinson, 1929, 1931 and 1945 (and a by-election in 1926)^a
• Maurice Alexander, 1923, 1924, 1931^e
• Thomas Edward Wing, 1922, 1924 and 1929 (and a by-election in 1920)^c
• Alexander Boulton, Dec 1910, 1923 and 1924^d

Notes:

• ^a in various seats
• ^b in the same seat
• ^c two previous seats and another
• ^d one previous seat and another
• ^e one previous seat and others

Attempts at a comeback usually occur almost immediately. Those who succeeded after further general elections include:

• Joseph Cleary, 1955: 20 years after his defeat
• Paul Tyler, 1992: 18 years after his defeat
• Walter Ayles, George Isaacs, Somerville Hastings, Jennie Lee, Leah Manning and Lucy Noel-Buxton, 1945: 14 years after their defeat
• Jonathan Evans, 2010: 13 years after his defeat

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

• Roger Mullin, elected for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath in 2015, after standing in South Ayrshire in February 1974 and October 1974, Kirkcaldy in 1987, Paisley North in a by-election in 1990 and in 1992.
• 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.
• Tommy Lewis, elected for Southampton in 1929, after standing in 1918, 1922, 1923 and 1924.
• 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).
• Daniel Zeichner, elected for Cambridge in 2015, after standing in 2010, and previously in Mid Norfolk in 2005, 2001 and 1997.

Among women, namely:

• Felicity Buchan, elected for Kensington in 2019, after previously standing in South Shields in 2017 and South Down in 2015.
• Theodora Clarke, elected for Stafford in 2019, after previously standing in Bristol East in 2017 and 2015.
• Daisy Cooper, elected for St Albans in 2019, after standing in 2017, and previously in Mid Sussex in 2015 and Suffolk Coastal in 2010.
• Dehenna Davison, elected for Bishop Auckland in 2019, after standing in Sedgefield in 2017 and Kingston upon Hull North in 2015.
• Jane Hunt, elected for Loughbrough in 2019, after standing in Nottingham South in 2017 and 2015, and Leicester East in 2010 (and also a 2011 by-election).
• Wera Hobhouse, elected for Bath in 2017, after standing in North East Somerset in 2015 and Heywood and Middleton in 2010.
• Nicky Morgan, elected for Loughborough in 2010, after standing in 2005, and previously in Islington South and Finsbury in 2001.
• Tessa Munt, elected for Wells in 2010, after standing in 2005, and previously in South Suffolk in 2001 (and also a by-election that year).
• Liz Truss, elected for South West Norfolk in 2010, after standing in Calder Valley in 2005 and Hemsworth in 2001.
• Rosie Cooper, elected for West Lancashire in 2005, after standing in Liverpool Broadgreen in 1992, Knowsley North in 1987 (and also a 1986 by-election) and Liverpool Garston in 1983.
• Ann Keen, elected for Brentford and Isleworth in 1997, after standing in 1992 and 1987.
• Margaret Thatcher, elected for Finchley in 1959, after previously standing in Dartford as Margaret Roberts in 1951 and 1950.
• Barbara Ayrton-Gould, elected for Hendon North in 1945, after standing in Manchester Hulme in 1935, Northwich in 1929 and 1924, and Lambeth North in 1922.
• Grace Colman, elected for Tynemouth in 1945, after standing in Sheffield Hallam in 1935 and Hythe in 1931 and 1929.
• Jean Mann, elected for Coatbridge in 1945, after standing in West Renfrewshire in 1935 and 1931.
• Ethel Bentham, elected for Islington East in 1929, after standing in 1924, 1923 and 1922.
• Helen Shaw, elected for Bothwell in 1929, after standing in 1924 and 1923.

• 2019: Caroline Ansell, James Davies, Flick Drummond, Margaret Ferrier, Richard Fuller, Jason McCartney, Karl McCartney, Anne McLaughlin, John Nicolson, Sarah Olney, Kirsten Oswald, Amanda Solloway, Owen Thompson, Edward Timpson, Craig Williams
• 2017: Vince Cable, Ed Davey, David Drew, Michelle Gildernew, Zac Goldsmith, John Grogan, Stephen Lloyd, Tony Lloyd, Esther McVey, Chris Ruane, Jo Swinson, Chris Williamson
• 2015: Boris Johnson, Joan Ryan, Dawn Butler, Rob Marris, Alex Salmond
• 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 Glyn, 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

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

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 elected on abstentionist tickets, and serving jail sentences at the time, so the calculated length of service is somewhat theoretical.

• Mhairi Black, Scottish National Party, elected in 2015 aged 20 years 237 days.[13]

See Baby of the House of Commons

• Thomas 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 ^2x
• Arthur Evans 1923, aged 25 ¹ (re-elected 1924)
• Denis Shipwright 1923, aged 25 ¹
• John Esmonde 1918, aged 25 ³
• Stuart Donaldson 2017, aged 25 ¹
• 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 ^2x
• 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
• Pamela Nash 2015, aged 30 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 ^1x
• Kirstene Hair 2019, aged 30 ¹
• John Profumo 1945, aged 30 ¹
• 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

¹Based on Hardie's earliest estimated birth year of "c. 1860", although some biographers cite a date as late as 27 January 1871, making him only 60 years old at time of that election.[14]

Possibly the oldest known first-time seat winner was Bernard Kelly (born 1808) who was aged 77 when he became the first MP for the then new seat of South Donegal in Ireland at the 1885 general election. He died aged reportedly 78 on 1 January 1887. Others:

• Caleb Wright, 1885: 75
• Sir George Harrison, 1885: 74¹
• Frank Smith, 1929: 74
• William Beadel, 1885: 73
• Ashton Lister, 1918: 73
• Robert Williams, 1807: 71
• Sir John Elley, 1835: 71
• John Fleming, 1818: 70–71²
• James Caulfeild, 1852: 70
• Frank James, 1892: 70
• Samuel Young, 1892: 70
• Robert Cameron, 1895: 70³
• George Walker, 1945: 70⁴
• Piara Khabra, 1992: 70⁵
• William Cobbett, 1832: 69
• Robert Brooks, 1859: 69
• Robert Stickney Blaine, 1885: 69
• Sir Robert Hobart, 1906: 69
• Sir William Peter Griggs, 1918: 69
• Sir George Andreas Berry, 1922: 69
• Alfred Smith, 1929: 69
• Sir William Earle Welby, 1802: 68
• William Nicol, 1859: 68
• William Raeburn, 1918: 68
• Sir Alfred Waldron Smithers, 1918: 68
• Ethel Bentham, 1929: 68
• Marie Rimmer, 2015: 68
• George Williams, 1832: 67
• Sir George Berkeley, 1852: 67
• William Henry Sykes, 1857: 67
• William John Lysley, 1859: 67
• Spencer Charrington, 1885: 67
• Henry Howe Bemrose, 1895: 67
• Sir Maurice Dockrell, 1918: 67
• Edwin Perkins, 1922: 67
• Andrew Gilzean, 1945: 67
• Albert Stubbs, 1945: 67
• John McQuade, 1979: 67
• Ernest Roberts, 1979: 67
• Roger Mullin, 2015, 67
• John Forster FitzGerald, 1852: 66–67
• William Beckett, 1841: 66
• Sir Benjamin Guinness, 1865: 66
• Dadabhai Naoroji, 1892: 66
• William Beale, 1906: 66
• George Henry Faber, 1906: 66
• David Sanders Davies, 1918: 66
• Henry Foreman, 1918: 66
• Marshall Stevens, 1918: 66
• Albert Edward Jacob, 1924: 66
• Sir Frederick Mills, 1931: 66
• William Allan Reid, 1931: 66
• Richard Taylor, 2001: 66
• Gordon Birtwistle, 2010: 66
• Glyn Davies, 2010: 66
• Marion Fellows, 2015: 66
• William Moffat, 1802: 65
• James Simmons, 1806: 65
• Peter Rainier, 1807: 65
• Thomas Bernard, 1874: 65
• Hugh Law, 1874: 65
• Alfred Lafone, 1886: 65
• Robert Pearce, 1906: 65
• Alexander Sprot, 1918: 65
• Joseph Leckie, 1931: 65
• Caroline Ganley, 1945: 65
• Mervyn Wheatley, 1945: 65
• George Kerevan, 2015, 65

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 Exact birthdate not known but Cameron is normally stated to have been born in 1825 and was reportedly this age at election.

⁴ Exact birthdate not known but Walker is normally stated to have born in 1874 and was reportedly this age at election.

⁵ 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.

• Charles Pelham Villiers, Wolverhampton South, 1895: 93
• Samuel Young, East Cavan, 1910(D): 88
• David Logan, Liverpool Scotland, 1959: 87
• Sir Charles Burrell, New Shoreham, 1859: 85
• Isaac Holden, Keighley, 1892: 85
• Robert Cameron, Houghton-le-Spring, 1910(D): 85
• Dennis Skinner, Bolsover, 2017: 85
• Walter Wilkins, Radnorshire, 1826: 84
• Winston Churchill, Woodford, 1959: 84
• Gerald Kaufman, Manchester Gorton, 2015: 84
• William Plumer, Higham Ferrers, 1820: 83
• Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot, Mid Glamorganshire, 1886, 83
• S. O. Davies, Merthyr Tydfil, 1970: 83 ¹
• Piara Khabra, Ealing Southall, 2005: 83
• The Earl of Carhampton, Ludgershall, 1820: 82
• William Ewart Gladstone, Midlothian, 1892: 82
• Paul Flynn, Newport West, 2017: 82
• Sir Thomas Miller, Portsmouth, 1812: 81
• Manny Shinwell, Easington, 1966: 81
• John Rankin, Glasgow Govan, 1970, 81
• David Winnick, Walsall North, 2015: 81
• Whitshed Keene, Montgomery Boroughs, 1812: c.80–81²
• Sir John Aubrey, Horsham, 1820: 80
• William Gore-Langton, Somerset East, 1841: 80
• Lord Palmerston, Tiverton, 1865: 80
• Joseph Warner Henley, Oxfordshire, 1874: 80
• Michael Thomas Bass, Derby, 1880: 80
• James Patrick Mahon, Clare, 1880: 80
• Sir Gilbert Greenall, Warrington, 1886: 80
• John Mowbray, Oxford University, 1895: 80
• John Rankin, Glasgow Govan, 1970: 80
• Edward Heath, Old Bexley and Sidcup, 1997: 80
• Peter Tapsell, Louth and Horncastle, 2010: 80
• Ann Clwyd, Cynon Valley, 2017: 80
• Murdoch Macdonald, Inverness, 1945: 79
• Ian Paisley, Antrim North, 2005: 79
• Margaret Beckett, Derby South, 2019: 76
• Alice Cullen, Glasgow Gorbals, 1966: 75
• Irene Ward, Tynemouth, 1970: 75
• Gwyneth Dunwoody, Crewe and Nantwich, 2005: 74
• Eleanor Rathbone, Combined English Universities, 1945: 73
• Glenda Jackson, Hampstead and Kilburn, 2010: 73
• Angela Watkinson, Hornchurch and Upminster, 2015: 73
• Marie Rimmer, St Helens South and Whiston, 2019: 72
• Louise Ellman, Liverpool Riverside, 2017: 71
• Caroline Ganley, Battersea South, 1950: 70
• Ann Coffey, Stockport, 2017: 70
• Kate Hoey, Vauxhall, 2017: 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.

² Keene's birthdate is given as "c. 1731" in reference works though he was reportedly 90 years old on his death in February 1822. On this the figure is based. Unopposed return, his last contested election was in 1802 when aged 70–71.

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

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:

• Sir Gilbert Greenall was 79 when he returned to the house in 1885, after a 5-year absence, as the member for Warrington, for which he previously sat from 1874–1880.
• Robert Carden was 78 when he returned to the house in 1880, after a 21-year absence, as the member for Barnstaple. He had sat for Gloucester from 1857–59.
• Sir Harry Verney was 78 when he returned to the house in 1880, after a 6-year absence, as the member for Buckingham, for which he previously sat from 1857–74.
• Sir John Chetwode was 77 when he returned to the house in 1841, after a 22-year absence, as member for Buckingham. He was previously MP for Newcastle under Lyme in 1815–18.
• Sir John Baker was 77 when he returned to the house in 1906, after a 5-year absence, as member for Portsmouth, for which he previously sat in 1892–1900.
• Sir Richard Green-Price was 76 when he returned to the house in 1880, after an 11-year absence, as member for Radnorshire. He had previously sat for Radnor Boroughs 1863–69.
• Sir Mark MacTaggart-Stewart was 75 when he returned to the house in January 1910 after a 4-year absence, as member for Kirkcudbrightshire, for which he previously sat in 1885–1906.
• John Courtenay was 74 when he returned to the house in 1812, after a 5-year absence, as member for Appleby, which he had previously sat for until 1807.
• Alfred Lafone was 74 when he returned to the house in 1895, after a three-year absence, as member for Bermondsey, for which he previously sat in 1886–92.
• John Potts was 74 when he returned to the house in 1935, after a four-year absence. He had sat for Barnsley from 1922–31.
• Vince Cable was 74 when he returned to the house in 2017, after a 2-year absence, as member for Twickenham, for which he previously sat in 1997–2015.
• George Edwards was 73 when he returned to the house in 1923, after a year's absence, as member for South Norfolk, for which he previously sat in 1920–22.
• William Kirk was 72 or 73 when he returned to the house in 1868, after a 9-year absence, as member for Newry, for which he previously sat in 1852–59.
• James Barr was 72 or 73 when he returned to the house in 1935 as MP for Coatbridge, after four years' absence. He was previously MP for Motherwell 1924–31.
• Sir Nathaniel Dance-Holland was 72 when he returned to the house in 1807 as MP for East Grinstead, after five months' absence. He was previously MP for Great Bedwyn 1802–06, and East Grinstead before then.
• Sir Davison Dalziel was 72 when he returned to the house in 1924 as MP for Brixton, after nearly a year's absence. He previously sat for the same seat in 1910–23.
• Arthur Shirley Benn was 72 when he returned to the house in 1931 as MP for Sheffield Park, after two years' absence. He previously sat for Plymouth Drake in 1918–29.
• Joseph Alpass was 72 when he returned to the house in 1945 as MP for Thornbury, after 13 years absence. He previously sat for Bristol Central in 1929–31.
• Cahir Healy was 72 when he returned to the house in 1950, 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.
• John Arthur Roebuck was 71 when he returned to the house in 1874, after a 6-year absence, as member for Sheffield, for which he previously sat in 1847–68.
• Mathew Wilson was 71 when he returned to the house in 1874, after a 20-year absence, as member for Northern West Riding of Yorkshire. He had previously sat in two periods for Clitheroe between 1841–53.
• Sir Alexander Sprot was 71 when he returned to the house in 1924 after nearly two years' absence, as member for North Lanarkshire. He had previously sat for East Fife in 1918–22.
• Tommy Lewis was 71 when he returned to the house after a 14-year absence in 1945, as member for Southampton, for which he previously sat between 1929–31.
• William Gore-Langton was 70 when he returned to the house after a five-year absence in 1831, as member for Somerset which he previously represented until 1826.
• Edward Greene was 70 when he returned to the house after seven months' absence in 1886 United Kingdom general election, as member for Stowmarket. He had been MP for Bury St Edmunds until 1885.
• William Joseph Corbet was 70 when he returned to the house after a three-year absence in 1895, as member for East Wicklow, for which he previously sat in 1885–92.
• Charles James Monk was 70 when he returned to the house after nearly 10-year absence in 1895, as member for Gloucester. He previously sat for the borough constituency of that name in two periods between 1859 and 1885.
• Edward Reed was 70 when he returned to the house after a 5-year absence in 1900, as member for Cardiff, for which he previously sat in 1880–95.
• Robert Pearce was 70 when he returned to the house after nearly a year's absence in December 1910, as member for Leek, for which he previously sat between 1906 and January 1910.
• John Ashley Warre was 69 when he returned to the house after a 23-year absence in 1857, as member for Ripon. He previously sat for Hastings in 1831–34.
• Henry Eaton was 69 when he returned to the house after a 5-year absence in 1885, as member for Coventry, for which he previously sat in 1865–80.
• Samuel Storey was 69 when he returned to the house after a 14-year absence in January 1910, as member for Sunderland, for which he previously sat in 1881–95.
• Harry Foster was 69 when he returned to the house after 13 years absence in 1924, as member for Portsmouth Central. He was previously MP for Lowestoft in two periods between 1892 and 1910.
• Alan Clark was 69 when he returned to the house after a 5-year absence in 1997, as member for Kensington and Chelsea. He previously sat for Plymouth Sutton between 1974–92.
• William Mitford was 68 when he returned to the house after a 6-year absence in 1812, as member for New Romney. He previously sat for Bere Alston until 1806.
• John Charles Herries was 68 when he returned to the house after a 6-year absence in 1847, as member for Stamford. He previously sat for Harwich between 1823–41.
• Philip Pleydell-Bouverie was 68 when he returned to the house after a 24-year absence in 1857 as member for Berkshire. He was previously MP for Downton 1831–32.
• George Clive was 68 when he returned to the house after a 5-year absence in 1874, as member for Hereford, for which he previously sat in 1857–68.
• John Hubbard was 68 when he returned to the house after a 5-year absence in 1874, as member for the City of London. He was previously MP for Buckingham in 1859–68.
• J. T. Hibbert was 68 when he returned to the house after a 6-year absence in 1892, as member for Oldham, for which he previously sat in 1877–86.
• George Renwick was 68 when he returned to the house after an 8-year absence in 1918, as member for Newcastle upon Tyne Central. He had previously sat for the undivided Newcastle upon Tyne seat in two periods between 1900 and 1910.
• Sir Alfred Law was 68 when he returned to the house after a 7-year absence in 1929, as member for High Peak. He was previously M.P. for Rochdale in 1918–22.
• Sir Harry Burrard-Neale was 67 when he returned to the house after an absence of 9 years, in 1832, as member for Lymington, for which he previously sat on several occasions, the last ending in 1823.
• Sir Frederick Smith was 67 when he returned to the house after an absence of 4 years, in 1857, as member for Chatham, for which he previously sat in 1852–53.
• Sir Henry Bulwer was 67 when he returned to the house after a voluntary absence of 21 years, in 1868 as member for Tamworth. He was previously MP for Marylebone in 1835–37.
• Somerville Hastings was 67 when he returned after a 14-year absence in 1945, as member for Barking. He had previously been MP for Reading in 1923–24 and 1929–31.
• Tony Lloyd was 67 when he returned after a 5-year absence in 2017 as member for Rochdale. He had previously sat as MP for Manchester Central in 1997–2012.
• Sir George Philips was 66 when he returned after a two years absence in 1832 as member for South Warwickshire. He was previously MP for Wootton Bassett 1820–30.
• Alfred Billson was 66 when he returned after a 5-year absence in 1906 as member for North West Staffordshire. He had previously sat as MP for Halifax in 1897–1900.
• Sir Thomas Bramsdon was 66 when he returned after a year's absence in 1923, as member for Portsmouth Central, for which he previously sat between 1918–22.
• Arthur Hayday was 66 when he returned after 5 years' absence in 1935, as member for Nottingham West, for which he previously sat in 1918–31.
• Jack Kinley was 66 when he returned after 14 years' absence in 1945, as member for Bootle, for which he previously sat in 1929–31.
• Robert Aglionby Slaney was 65 when he returned after near 5-year's absence in 1857, as member for Shrewsbury, for which he had previously sat in three periods between 1826 and 1852.
• Joseph Arch was 65 when he returned after 6 years absence in 1892 as member for North West Norfolk, for which he previously sat in 1885-86.
• Arthur Hayter was 65 when he returned after 5 years absence in 1900, as member for Walsall, for which he had previously sat in 1893–95.
• John Barker was 65 when he returned after nearly 5 years absence in 1906 as member for Penryn and Falmouth. He was previously MP for Maidstone in 1900–01.
• David Marshall Mason was 65 when he returned after 13 years absence in 1931 as member for Edinburgh East. He was previously MP for Coventry 1910–18.
• David Drew was 65 when he returned after 7 years absence in 2017, as member for Stroud, for which he had previously sat between 1997–2010.

• Constance Markievicz, Dublin St Patrick's, 1918 – but did not take her seat.
• Nancy Astor, Plymouth Sutton,^y and Margaret Wintringham, Louth,^z 1922 – both first to take their seats after a general election.

Notes:

^y had entered parliament in by-election 1919 ^z had entered parliament in by-election 1921

• Dadabhai Naoroji, Finsbury Central, 1892
• Mancherjee Bhownagree, Bethnal Green, 1895 and 1900
• Shapurji Saklatvala, Battersea North, 1922 and 1924
• Diane Abbott, first woman to win, Hackney North and Stoke Newington, 1987

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.[15] 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 Catholic Apostolic general election victor was Henry Drummond also at the 1847 election.

The first Baptist general election victor was George Goodman at the 1852 general election.

The first Congregationalist general election victor was Samuel Morley at the 1865 general election.

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.

The first Buddhist general election victor was Suella Braverman as Suella Fernandes at the 2015 general election.

Lord Robert Grosvenor: Fermanagh and South Tyrone, 1955

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.

• Altrincham and Sale West, 2019: Graham Brady^* and Angela Smith
• Wokingham, 2019: John Redwood^* and Phillip Lee
• Finchley and Golders Green, 2019: Mike Freer^* and Luciana Berger
• Kensington, 2017: Emma Dent Coad and Sam Gyimah
• 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

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

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

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.

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.

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
• Kingston upon Hull Central, 1945
• Rugby, 1929
• West Derbyshire, 1923
• Kennington, 1918

• 1979
• 1924

• 2019
• 2017
• 1955
• 1935
• 1931
• 1923

• 2019
• October 1974
• 1966
• 1951

• 2017 (approved by a motion of the House of Commons under the provisions of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011)
• 2005
• 2001
• 1987
• 1983
• February 1974
• 1970
• 1959
• 1950
• 1929

• 2015
• 2010
• 1997
• 1992
• 1964

• 1922

• 1945
• 1918

¹ UUP had been unopposed by DUP at previous elections.

² Sitting Labour MP stood instead for the Independent Labour Party and took second 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.

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.

• Christchurch, from the Liberal Democrats

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

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

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

• South Dorset, from Labour

• 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

• Wallasey, from Independent
• Skipton, from Common Wealth

• Birmingham King's Norton, from Labour

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

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

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

• Glasgow Cathcart, from the Conservatives

• East Dunbartonshire, from the SNP
• Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire, from the SNP

• Carmarthen, from Plaid Cymru

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

• Colne Valley, from the Liberals

• 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

• Anglesey, from the Liberals
• Merioneth, from the Liberals

• Aberdeen South, 2019 to SNP
• Angus, 2019 to SNP
• Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock, 2019 to SNP
• Gordon, 2019 to SNP
• Ochil and South Perthshire, 2019 to SNP
• East Renfrewshire, 2019 to SNP
• Stirling, 2019 to SNP
• Putney, 2019 to Labour
• Enfield North, 2015 to Labour
• Ealing Central and Acton, 2015 to Labour
• Lancaster and Fleetwood, 2015 to Labour
• Dewsbury, 2015 to Labour
• Ilford North, 2015 to Labour
• Wolverhampton South West, 2015 to Labour
• Brentford and Isleworth, 2015 to Labour
• City of Chester, 2015 to Labour
• Wirral West, 2015 to Labour
• 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

Notes: 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.
In 2017 the Conservatives entered government without an overall majority and in 2019 they went from having a minority government to being a majority government in their own right.

• 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

• Dunfermline and West Fife, 2010 to Labour
• Camborne and Redruth, 2010 to the Conservatives
• Chesterfield, 2010 to the Labour Party
• Cornwall South East, 2010 to the Conservatives
• Harrogate and Knaresborough, 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

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

• Ayr Burghs, 1906 to the Conservatives
• Barkston Ash, 1906 to the Conservatives
• Govan, 1906 to the Conservatives
• Hastings, 1906 to the Conservatives
• Maidstone, 1906 to the Conservatives
• North Lonsdale, 1906 to the Liberal Unionists
• Oswestry, 1906 to the Conservatives
• Rye, 1906 to the Conservatives
• St Albans, 1906 to the Conservatives
• St Andrews Burgh, 1906 to the Conservatives
• Whitby, 1906 to the Conservatives

Notes: ¹ by-election loss confirmed at the general election

• Argyll and Bute, 2015 gained by SNP from the Liberal Democrats
• Edinburgh West, 2015 gained by SNP from the Liberal Democrats
• 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

• North Down, 2019 gained by Alliance from an Independent
• Aberdeen South, 2017 gained by the Conservatives from the SNP
• Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock, 2017 gained by the Conservatives from the SNP
• East Renfrewshire, 2017 gained by the Conservatives from the SNP
• Gordon, 2017 gained by the Conservatives from the SNP
• Ochil and South Perthshire, 2017 gained by the Conservatives from the SNP
• Portsmouth South, 2017 gained by Labour from the Conservatives
• Stirling, 2017 gained by the Conservatives from the SNP
• Cambridge, 2015 gained by Labour from the Liberal Democrats
• 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.

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.

• Fermanagh and South Tyrone, 2015, Ulster Unionist Tom Elliot
• 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.

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.

• Chorley, 2019¹
• Buckingham, 2017¹
• Buckingham, 2015¹
• Buckingham, 2010¹
• Glasgow North East, 2005¹
• Glasgow Springburn, 2001¹
• West Bromwich West, 1997¹
• Croydon North East, 1987¹
• Cardiff West, 1979¹
• Wirral, October 1974¹
• Wirral, February 1974¹
• Greenock, 1970
• Huddersfield West, 1959
• Pembrokeshire, 1955
• Carmarthen, 1955
• Huddersfield West, 1955
• Carmarthen, 1951
• Colne Valley, 1951
• Huddersfield West, 1951
• Carmarthen, 1950
• Huddersfield West, 1950

• Chorley, 2019¹
• Buckingham, 2017¹
• Buckingham, 2015¹
• Buckingham, 2010¹
• Glasgow North East, 2005¹
• Glasgow Springburn, 2001¹
• West Bromwich West, 1997¹
• Tatton, 1997
• Cardiff West, 1979¹
• Chelmsford, 1945
• Woodford, 1945

• Arfon, 2019^2P
• Beaconsfield, 2019^2I
• Brighton Pavilion, 2019^2G
• Bristol West, 2019^2G
• Broxtowe, 2019^2I
• Bury St Edmunds, 2019^2G
• Caerphilly, 2019^2P
• Cannock Chase, 2019^2G
• Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, 2019^2P
• Chorley, 2019¹
• Dulwich and West Norwood, 2019^2G
• Dwyfor Meirionnydd, 2019^2P
• Exeter, 2019^2G
• Forest of Dean, 2019^2G
• Isle of Wight, 2019^2G
• Llanelli, 2019^2P
• Luton South, 2019^2I
• Pontypridd, 2019^2P
• Stroud, 2019^2G
• Vale of Glamorgan, 2019^2G
• Ynys Môn, 2019^2P
• Buckingham, 2017¹
• Brighton Pavilion, 2017
• Skipton and Ripon, 2017
• Buckingham, 2015¹
• Buckingham, 2010¹
• Glasgow North East, 2005¹
• Wyre Forest, 2005
• Glasgow Springburn, 2001¹
• Wyre Forest, 2001
• West Bromwich West, 1997¹
• Tatton, 1997

• Birmingham Handsworth, 1979
• Cardiff West, 1979¹
• Dudley West, 1979
• Ormskirk, 1979
• Salford East, 1979

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

²: As part of the Unite to Remain pact, the Liberal Democrats stood aside in favour of Green (2G), Plaid Cymru (2P) and independent (2I) candidates in some seats.

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

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