UNITED KINGDOM GENERAL ELECTION, 1959

This United Kingdom general election was held on October 8, 1959. It marked a third successive victory for the ruling Conservative Party, led by Harold Macmillan. The Conservatives increased their overall majority again, to 100 seats over the Labour Party under Hugh Gaitskell.

Contents

Campaign

Results

Summary of GB vote (excluding Northern Ireland)

Seats Changing Hands

See also

Manifestos

Campaign

The Conservatives fought under the slogan "Life is better with the Conservatives, don't let Labour ruin it" and were aided by a pre-election economic boom. The Labour leader Hugh Gaitskell made a mistake by declaring that a Labour government would not raise taxes if it came to power. This being despite the fact that the Labour manifesto contained pledges to increase spending, especially with regard to raising pensions. This led voters to doubt Labour's spending plans, and is usually cited as a key reason for their defeat [1].

Results

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''Total votes cast: 27,862,652. All parties shown. Conservatives include the National Liberal Party, Scottish Unionist Party and Ulster Unionists.''

Summary of GB vote (excluding Northern Ireland)

'Headline Swing': 1.32% to Conservative

Seats Changing Hands

From Conservative to Labour (6 seats): Ayrshire Central, Glasgow Craigton, Glasgow Scotstoun, Lanark, Oldham East and Rochdale

From Conservative to Liberal (1 seat): Devon North

From Conservative to Independent (1 seat): Caithness and Sutherland

From Labour to Conservative (28 seats): Acton, Barons Court, Birmingham All Saints, Birmingham Sparkbrook, Birmingham Yardley, Brierley Hill, Bristol North East, Bristol North West, Clapham, Cleveland, Coventry South, Derbyshire South East, Holborn and St Pancras South, Keighley, Lowestoft, Meriden, Newcastle upon Tyne East, Nottingham West, Reading, Rochester and Chatham, Rowley Regis and Tipton, Rugby, Swansea West, The Hartlepools, Uxbridge, Wellingborough, Willesden East and Willesden West

From Liberal to Labour (1 seats): Carmarthen

See also

★ MPs elected in the UK general election, 1959

Manifestos

★ The Next Five Years- 1959 Conservative manifesto.

★ Britain Belongs to You: The Labour Party's Policy for Consideration by the British People - 1959 Labour Party manifesto.

★ People Count - 1959 Liberal Party manifesto.