UK general election, 1974 (October)

UK general election, 1974 (October)

The UK general election of October 1974 took place on October 10, 1974. It was the second of two United Kingdom general elections held that year. Prime Minister Harold Wilson, having taken power in a minority government after the February election, returned to the polls and won a tiny majority.

It was at this election that the SNP secured their best ever representation inside the House of Commons, 11 MPs.

Party Votes Seats Loss/Gain Share of Vote (%)

Labour 11,457,079 319 + 18 39.2

Conservative 10,462,565 277 - 20 35.8

Liberal 5,346,704 13 - 1 18.3

SNP 839,617 11 + 4 2.9

Ulster Unionist 256,065 7 0.9

Plaid Cymru 166,321 3 + 1 0.6

SDLP 154,193 1 0.6

National Front 113,843 0 - 1 0.4

VUPP 92,262 3 0.3

Democratic Unionist 59,451 1 0.3

Alliance (NI) 44,644 0 0.2

UUUP 39,856 0 0.2

Independent Nationalist 32,795 0 0.2

Independent Labour 31,747 0 0.2

Republican Clubs 21,633 0 0.1

UPNI 20,454 0 0.1

Communist 17,426 0 0.1

Social Democrat 13,714 0 0.0

Labour (NI) 11,539 0 0.0

Party	Votes	Seats	Loss/Gain	Share of Vote (%)
Labour	11,457,079	319	+ 18	39.2
Conservative	10,462,565	277	- 20	35.8
Liberal	5,346,704	13	- 1	18.3
SNP	839,617	11	+ 4	2.9
Ulster Unionist	256,065	7		0.9
Plaid Cymru	166,321	3	+ 1	0.6
SDLP	154,193	1		0.6
National Front	113,843	0	- 1	0.4
VUPP	92,262	3		0.3
Democratic Unionist	59,451	1		0.3
Alliance (NI)	44,644	0		0.2
UUUP	39,856	0		0.2
Independent Nationalist	32,795	0		0.2
Independent Labour	31,747	0		0.2
Republican Clubs	21,633	0		0.1
UPNI	20,454	0		0.1
Communist	17,426	0		0.1
Social Democrat	13,714	0		0.0
Labour (NI)	11,539	0		0.0