Election night in Britain has often been a display of democracy’s high drama, with the fate of the nation hanging in the balance as votes are counted.
Among these, some elections stand out for their razor-thin margins, where the difference of a few thousand votes—or sometimes even a few hundred—has altered the course of history. The upcoming election is unlikely to be close, by the way!
These elections not only reflect the political mood of the times but also leave a lasting impact on the country’s direction. Here, we delve into the closest general elections in British history, examining their significance and aftermath.
February 1974: A Hung Parliament in a Winter of Discontent
The February 1974 general election is often remembered as one of the most unpredictable and closest in British history. Harold Wilson’s Labour Party managed to win 301 seats, just four more than Edward Heath’s Conservatives, who secured 297 seats. However, neither party won the 318 seats necessary for a majority, resulting in a hung parliament.
The backdrop to this election was a period of economic turmoil and industrial strife. The country was reeling from the 1973 oil crisis, which had led to a surge in inflation and a series of crippling miners’ strikes. Heath’s government had called the election under the slogan “Who governs Britain?” expecting a clear mandate to tackle the unions. Instead, the result was inconclusive.
The hung parliament forced Heath to resign after failing to secure a coalition, leading Wilson to form a minority government. This election underscored the deep divisions in Britain at the time and highlighted the electorate’s ambivalence about the direction of the country. It also set the stage for another election in October 1974, which gave Labour a slim majority, allowing Wilson to govern more effectively.
1950: Labour’s Shaky Hold
The 1950 general election was another cliffhanger. Clement Attlee’s Labour Party, which had won a landslide victory in 1945, faced a resurgent Conservative Party under Winston Churchill. Labour secured 315 seats to the Conservatives’ 298, a margin of just 17 seats, and only narrowly held onto power.
This election came on the heels of Attlee’s ambitious post-war reforms, including the establishment of the National Health Service and the nationalization of key industries. Despite these achievements, the Labour government struggled with economic difficulties and the pressures of managing a war-ravaged economy.
Labour’s reduced majority made governing challenging, leading to a snap election in 1951. Although Labour won the popular vote in 1951, the quirks of the electoral system handed the Conservatives a majority of seats. The 1950 election thus marked the beginning of a period of Conservative dominance in British politics, demonstrating how a close election can precipitate a significant shift in political power.
1929: The Fluctuating Fortunes of Labour
The 1929 general election, known as the “Flapper Election” for being the first in which women under 30 could vote, resulted in a hung parliament with Ramsay MacDonald’s Labour Party winning 287 seats against the Conservatives’ 260. This was the first time Labour emerged as the largest party, though without an overall majority.
MacDonald formed a minority government with the support of the Liberals. This election was significant not just for its narrow outcome but also for its timing just before the Great Depression. The economic crisis that followed tested MacDonald’s government severely, leading to political instability and his eventual formation of a National Government with the Conservatives in 1931.
The 1929 election highlighted the shifting political landscape and the volatility of interwar British politics. It also illustrated the growing influence of Labour as a major political force, capable of challenging the long-established Conservative and Liberal parties.
2010: Coalition Government in the Modern Era
The 2010 general election is a more recent example of a tightly contested race. David Cameron’s Conservatives won 306 seats, short of the 326 needed for a majority, while Gordon Brown’s Labour secured 258 seats. The result was another hung parliament, leading to the first coalition government since World War II.
The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition, formed after five days of negotiations, brought Nick Clegg’s party into government in exchange for support on key legislative issues. This election marked the end of 13 years of Labour government and introduced austerity measures aimed at reducing the national deficit.
The 2010 election underscored the evolving nature of British politics in the 21st century, where coalition governments became a viable solution in the face of fragmented electoral outcomes. It also demonstrated the electorate’s desire for change amid economic uncertainty following the 2008 financial crisis.
2017: Theresa May’s Gamble
The 2017 general election, called by Theresa May to strengthen her hand in Brexit negotiations, ended in a surprising loss of the Conservative majority. The Tories won 317 seats, a reduction from the 330 they held before the election, while Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour gained 30 seats to reach 262.
The election results forced the Conservatives to rely on a confidence-and-supply agreement with Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to stay in power. This election highlighted the deep divisions over Brexit and the miscalculations by May, who had hoped for a decisive mandate.
The aftermath of the 2017 election saw a weakened government struggling to navigate the complexities of Brexit, leading to significant political turbulence and, ultimately, May’s resignation. It demonstrated how electoral gambles can backfire, leaving governments vulnerable and politically unstable.