United Kingdom general election, February 1974

The UK general election of February 1974 was held on February 28, 1974. It was the first of two United Kingdom general elections held that year, and the only election since the Second World War not to produce an overall majority in the House of Commons for the winning party, instead producing a hung parliament. The incumbent Conservative government of Edward Heath polled the most votes by a tiny margin, but the Tories were overtaken in terms of Commons seats by Harold Wilson's Labour Party due to the decision by Ulster Unionist MPs not to take the Conservative whip. After failed negotiations between Heath and Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe, Heath resigned and Wilson returned for his second spell as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He would call another election in October of the same year.

Related Topics:
February 28 - 1974 - United Kingdom general elections - Second World War - House of Commons - Hung parliament - Conservative - Edward Heath - Harold Wilson - Labour Party - Ulster Unionist - Whip - Liberal - Jeremy Thorpe - Prime Minister of the United Kingdom - Another election

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This election saw Northern Ireland diverging heavily from the rest of the UK, with all twelve MPs elected being from local parties, following the decision of the Ulster Unionists to withdraw support from the Conservative Party in protest over the Sunningdale Agreement. It also saw the first Plaid Cymru MPs to be elected in a general election, in Wales (they had previously won a by-election).

Related Topics:
Northern Ireland - Ulster Unionists - Conservative Party - Sunningdale Agreement - Plaid Cymru - Wales

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