United Kingdom general election, 1951

Infobox Election
election_name = United Kingdom general election, 1951
country = United Kingdom
type = parliamentary
ongoing = no
previous_election = United Kingdom general election, 1950
previous_year = 1950
previous_mps = MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1950
next_election = United Kingdom general election, 1955
next_year = 1955
next_mps = MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1955
seats_for_election = All 625 seats to the House of Commons
election_date = 25 October 1951

leader1 = Winston Churchill
leader_since1 = 10 May 1940
party1 = Conservative Party (UK)
leaders_seat1 = Woodford
last_election1 = 282 seats, 40%
seats1 = 302
seat_change1 = +20
popular_vote1 = 12,660,061
percentage1 = 44.3%
swing1 = %

leader2 = Clement Attlee
leader_since2 = 25 October 1935
party2 = Labour Party (UK)
leaders_seat2 = Walthamstow (W)
last_election2 = 315 seats, 46.1%
seats2 = 295
seat_change2 = -20
popular_vote2 = 13,948,883
percentage2 = 48.8%
swing2 = %

leader3 = Clement Davies
leader_since3 = 2 August 1945
party3 = Liberal Party (UK)
leaders_seat3 = Montgomeryshire
last_election3 = 9 seats, 9.1%
seats3 = 6
seat_change3 = -3
popular_vote3 = 730,546
percentage3 = 2.5%
swing3 = %
title = PM
before_election = Clement Attlee
before_party = Labour Party (UK)
after_election = Winston Churchill
after_party = Conservative Party (UK)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 sysytem, 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. (See also 1929 and 1974). It was also the last election in which some candidates were elected unopposed: in this case four Conservatives. [ [http://www.election.demon.co.uk/geresults.html] ]

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

Election Summary Party with Candidates
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidates = 617
seats = 295
gain = 3
loss = 23
net = - 20
votes = 13,948,883
votes % = 48.8
seats % = 47.200
plus/minus = Election Summary Party with Candidates
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidates = 562
seats = 302
gain = 20
loss = 0
net = + 20
votes = 12,660,061
votes % = 44.3
seats % = 48.320
plus/minus =
government = yesElection Summary Party with Candidates
party = National Liberal Party (UK)
candidates = 55
seats = 19
gain = 3
loss = 0
net = + 3
votes = 1,058,138
votes % = 3.7
seats % = 2.400
plus/minus = Election Summary Party with Candidates
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidates = 109
seats = 6
gain = 1
loss = 4
net = - 3
votes = 730,546
votes % = 2.5
seats % = 0.960
plus/minus = Election Summary Party with Candidates
party = Independent Nationalist
candidates = 3
seats = 2
gain = 0
loss = 0
net = 0
votes = 92,787
votes % = 0.3
seats % =
plus/minus = Election Summary Party with Candidates
party = Irish Labour Party
candidates = 1
seats = 1
gain = 1
loss = 0
net = 0
votes = 33,174
votes % = 0.1
seats % =
plus/minus = Election Summary Party with Candidates
party = Communist Party of Great Britain
candidates = 10
seats = 0
gain = 0
loss = 0
net = 0
votes = 21,640
votes % = 0.1
seats % =
plus/minus = Election Summary Party with Candidates
party = Independent (politician)
candidates = 6
seats = 0
gain = 0
loss = 0
net = 0
votes = 19,791
votes % = 0.1
seats % =
plus/minus = Election Summary Party with Candidates
party = Plaid Cymru
candidates = 4
seats = 0
gain = 0
loss = 0
net = 0
votes = 10,920
votes % = 0.0
seats % =
plus/minus = Election Summary Party with Candidates
party = Scottish National Party
candidates = 2
seats = 0
gain = 0
loss = 0
net = 0
votes = 7,299
votes % = 0.0
seats % =
plus/minus = Election Summary Party with Candidates
party = Independent Conservative
candidates = 1
seats = 0
gain = 0
loss = 0
net = 0
votes = 5,904
votes % = 0.0
seats % =
plus/minus = Election Summary Party with Candidates
party = Independent Labour Party
candidates = 3
seats = 0
gain = 0
loss = 0
net = 0
votes = 4,057
votes % = 0.0
seats % =
plus/minus = Election Summary with Candidates
party = British Empire
candidates = 1
seats = 0
gain = 0
loss = 0
net = 0
votes = 1,643
votes % = 0.0
seats % =
plus/minus = Election Summary Party with Candidates
party = Anti-Partition of Ireland League
candidates = 1
seats = 0
gain = 0
loss = 0
net = 0
votes = 1,340
votes % = 0.0
seats % =
plus/minus = Election Summary with Candidates
party = United Socialist
candidates = 1
seats = 0
gain = 0
loss = 0
net = 0
votes = 411
votes % = 0.0
seats % =
plus/minus =

"Total votes cast: 28,596,594. All parties shown. Conservative result includes the Ulster Unionists."

Votes summary

bar box
title=Popular vote
titlebar=#ddd
width=600px
barwidth=350px
bars=

Headline Swing: 1.13% to Conservative

eats summary

bar box
title=Parliamentary seats
titlebar=#ddd
width=600px
barwidth=350px
bars=

eats 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

References

*F. W. S. Craig, "British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987"
* [http://www.election.demon.co.uk/geresults.html United Kingdom election results - summary results 1885-1979]

ee also

*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1951
* 1951 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours

Manifestos

* [http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/man/con51.htm CONSERVATIVE PARTY: 1951] - 1951 Conservative manifesto.
* [http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/man/lab51.htm Labour Party Election Manifesto] - 1951 Labour Party manifesto.
* [http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/man/lib51.htm The Nation's Task] - 1951 Liberal Party manifesto.