United Kingdom general election, 1955

Infobox Election
election_name = United Kingdom general election, 1955
country = United Kingdom
type = parliamentary
ongoing = no
previous_election = United Kingdom general election, 1951
previous_year = 1951
previous_mps = MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1951
next_election = United Kingdom general election, 1959
next_year = 1959
next_mps = MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1959
seats_for_election = All 630 seats to the House of Commons
election_date = 26 May 1955

leader1 = Anthony Eden
leader_since1 = 7 April 1955
party1 = Conservative Party (UK)
leaders_seat1 = Warwick
last_election1 = 302 seats, 44.3%
seats1 = 345
seat_change1 = +23
popular_vote1 = 13,310,891
percentage1 = 49.7%
swing1 = %

leader2 = Clement Attlee
leader_since2 = 25 October 1935
party2 = Labour Party (UK)
leaders_seat2 = Walthamstow (W)
last_election2 = 295 seats, 48.8%
seats2 = 277
seat_change2 = -18
popular_vote2 = 12,405,254
percentage2 = 46.4%
swing2 = %

leader3 = Clement Davies
leader_since3 = 2 August 1945
party3 = Liberal Party (UK)
leaders_seat3 = Montgomeryshire
last_election3 = 6 seats, 2.5%
seats3 = 6
seat_change3 = 0
popular_vote3 = 722,402
percentage3 = 2.7%
swing3 = %
title = PM
before_election = Anthony Eden
before_party = Conservative Party (UK)
after_election = Anthony Eden
after_party = Conservative Party (UK)The 1955 United Kingdom general election was held on 26 May 1955, four years after the previous general election. It resulted in a substantially increased majority of 60 for the Conservative government under Sir Anthony Eden against the Labour Party under Clement Attlee. Boundary changes however make a direct comparison with 1951 impossible.

This was the earliest general election in the United Kingdom of which television coverage survives (the 1950 and 1951 election nights were not recorded). Only three hours of the coverage was kept and this was rebroadcast on BBC Parliament on the fiftieth anniversary of the date.

Results

Election Summary Party with Candidates
party = Conservative Party (UK)
candidates = 624
seats = 345
gain =
loss =
net = + 23
votes = 13,310,891
votes % = 49.7
seats % =
plus/minus = + 1.7
government = yesElection Summary Party with Candidates
party = Labour Party (UK)
candidates = 620
seats = 277
gain = 1
loss = 19
net = - 18
votes = 12,405,254
votes % = 46.4
seats % =
plus/minus = - 2.4Election Summary Party with Candidates
party = Liberal Party (UK)
candidates = 110
seats = 6
gain = 0
loss = 0
net = 0
votes = 722,402
votes % = 2.7
seats % =
plus/minus = + 0.2Election Summary Party with Candidates
party = Sinn Féin
candidates = 12
seats = 2
gain = 2
loss = 0
net = + 2
votes = 152,310
votes % = 0.6
seats % =
plus/minus = + 0.5Election Summary Party with Candidates
party = Plaid Cymru
candidates = 11
seats = 0
gain = 0
loss = 0
net = 0
votes = 45,119
votes % = 0.2
seats % =
plus/minus = + 0.2Election Summary Party with Candidates
party = Independent (politician)
candidates = 8
seats = 0
gain = 0
loss = 0
net = 0
votes = 43,791
votes % = 0.2
seats % =
plus/minus = + 0.1Election Summary Party with Candidates
party = Communist Party of Great Britain
candidates = 17
seats = 0
gain = 0
loss = 0
net = 0
votes = 33,144
votes % = 0.1
seats % =
plus/minus = 0.0Election Summary Party with Candidates
party = Irish Labour Party
candidates = 1
seats = 0
gain = 0
loss = 1
net = - 1
votes = 16,050
votes % = 0.1
seats % =
plus/minus = 0.0Election Summary Party with Candidates
party = Independent Labour
candidates = 2
seats = 0
gain = 0
loss = 0
net = 0
votes = 15,322
votes % = 0.0
seats % =
plus/minus = "N/A"Election Summary Party with Candidates
party = Scottish National Party
candidates = 2
seats = 0
gain = 0
loss = 0
net = 0
votes = 12,112
votes % = 0.0
seats % =
plus/minus = 0.0Election Summary Party with Candidates
party = Independent Labour Party
candidates = 2
seats = 0
gain = 0
loss = 0
net = 0
votes = 3,334
votes % = 0.0
seats % =
plus/minus = 0.0

"Total votes cast: 26,759,729. All parties shown. Conservatives include National Liberal Party and Ulster Unionists."

Votes summary

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

Headline Swing: 1.62% to Conservative

eats summary

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

elected Declarations

First Declaration: Cheltenham (Con: 24,259, Lab:16,638. Con hold)
Prime Minister's Seat: Warwick and Leamington (Con: 29,979, Lab: 16,513. Con hold)

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, 1955

Manifestos

* [http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/man/con55.htm United for Peace and Progress: The Conservative and Unionist Party's Policy] - 1955 Conservative manifesto.
* [http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/man/lab55.htm Forward With Labour: Labour's Policy for the Consideration of the Nation] - 1955 Labour Party manifesto.
* [http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/man/lib55.htm Crisis Unresolved] - 1955 Liberal Party manifesto.