The Two 1974 General Elections

Question 1

The February 1974 General Election

Answer 1

• Conservatives won the highest percentage of votes (39.9%)
• Labour won 301 seats and Conservatives won 287 seats causing Labour to win
• Before Heath resigned, he hoped to form a coalition government with the Liberals to gain an overall majority, however Thorpe was unwilling to accept
• Resulted in a hung parliament
• Wilson’s minority government was unable to form a coalition government therefore called another election in October

Question 2

The October 1974 General Election

Answer 2

• The second general election resulted in Wilson winning the narrowest majority recorded in history with 3 seats
• Labour: 319 seats, Conservatives: 277 seats, Liberals: 13 seats
• Enabled the remainder of the Labour gov to take place
• Last general election victory for Labour until 1997 (Tony Blair)