United Kingdom general election, 2005

Election results

:* For results by constituency, see Results of the United Kingdom general election, 2005

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:* For details by MP, see MPs elected in the UK general election, 2005

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:*For full election results by constituency, see

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At 0428 BST, it was announced that Labour had won Corby, giving them 324 of the 646 seats in the House of Commons, and as a result an overall majority. This was despite polling only 36% of the popular vote, equating to approximately 22% of the electorate based on the estimated turnout of 61.3%. However, turnout rose from 59.2% in 2001, a change that has been mostly attributed to the extension and promotion of postal voting.

Related Topics:
Corby - 2001 - Postal voting

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The results were interpreted by the UK media as an indicator of a breakdown in trust in the government, and in the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, in particular. As expected, voter disenchantment led to an increase of support for the opposition parties, and caused many Labour voters to remain home on election day. However, ultimately, domestic policy factors helped Labour achieve a historic third term in office. In this context, the new, reduced Labour majority of 67, (as it was before the declaration of South Staffordshire), was viewed by many across the political spectrum as a positive development, a counter to an alleged presidential style of government. After Labour victory became clear, Michael Howard, the leader of the Conservative party, announced that he would be resigning once the internal affairs of his party are stabilised. The final seat to declare was the delayed poll in South Staffordshire, at just after 1 AM on Friday 24 June.

Related Topics:
UK media - Remain home - Presidential - Michael Howard

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The election was also characterised by a number of smaller battles. In Bethnal Green and Bow, London, former Labour MP George Galloway, running as a candidate for the anti-war Respect, successfully defeated Oona King (Labour), despite a previous majority of 10,000. Following the result, a hostile interview with Jeremy Paxman attracted press attention. In Blaenau Gwent, Peter Law, a former Labour politician, ran as an Independent in protest at the impostion of an all-female candidate shortlist by the national Labour Party. He successfully overturned a 19,313 Labour majority. In Enfield Southgate, Conservative David Burrowes ousted Labour Stephen Twigg, who had famously defeated Michael Portillo for that seat in the 1997 elections. Labour regained one of its by-election losses, Leicester South, but saw an increased Liberal Democrat majority in the other, Brent East.

Related Topics:
Bethnal Green and Bow - London - George Galloway - Respect - Jeremy Paxman - Blaenau Gwent - Peter Law - Enfield Southgate - David Burrowes - Stephen Twigg - Michael Portillo - 1997 elections - By-election - Leicester South - Brent East

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Others were less fortunate. Robert Kilroy-Silk, a former BBC presenter who joined UKIP, and then set up his own party, Veritas, failed to win a seat in Erewash. He was placed fourth, receiving only 2,957 votes. (The seat was taken by Liz Blackman, Labour) The so-called decapitation policy of targetting Conservative front-benchers, allegedly pursued by the Lib Dems, was also unsuccessful, removing only Tim Collins in Westmorland and Lonsdale. The election also saw regional surges in support for the British National Party, a development that was greeted by many with alarm. However, they failed to win any seats, their highest poll being 16.9% in Barking, East London.

Related Topics:
Robert Kilroy-Silk - UKIP - Veritas - Erewash - Liz Blackman - Tim Collins - Westmorland and Lonsdale - British National Party - Barking

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The election was followed by further criticism of the UK electoral system. Calls for reform came particularly from Lib Dem supporters, citing that they received only 10% of the overall seats, despite having over 20% of the popular vote. There have also been calls for reform by some in England, where the Conservative party actually got 60,000 more votes than Labour yet got 90 fewer seats (though there is some controversy as to whether this figure included Postal Votes). Postal Votes have themselves been criticised amid fears the system at present is not secure enough and makes electoral fraud too easy.

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Interpretation of Result

The Labour party claimed that being returned to office for a record-breaking third term showed the remarkable achievements of New Labour and the continued unpopularity of the Conservatives.

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The Conservatives claimed that their increased number of seats showed disenchantment with the Labour government and was a precursor of a Conservative breakthrough at the next election.

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The Liberal Democrats claimed that their continued gradual increase showed they were in a position to make further gains from both parties. They pointed in particular to the 2005 election being the first at which Labour lost seats and Liberals/Liberal Democrats gained them, and to the fact that they were now in second place in roughly 190 constituencies.

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Total seats for each party

(As of 8 October 2005)

Related Topics:
8 October - 2005

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:Ordered by number of votes; for the results in order number of seats won, see results by number of seats won.

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