United Kingdom
House of Commons
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Political system
Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
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Parliamentary system
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Structure of parliament
Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
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Bicameral
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IPU membership
Current membership status
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Yes
Election results
Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections.
Background
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Election date(s)
The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.
View field in the data dictionary -
08 Jun 2017
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Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.
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03 May 2017
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Timing of election
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
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Early elections
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Number of seats at stake
Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.
View field in the data dictionary -
650
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Scope of elections
Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
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Full renewal
Candidates
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Number of parties contesting the election
This field may include either the number of parties contesting the election, or the number of coalitions/electoral alliance.
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71
Notes: At least 3 candidates were non-binary or gender neutral.
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Total number of candidates
Total number of people who registered as candidates for election. Does not include people who stood as candidates to become "substitute members".
View field in the data dictionary -
3,304
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Number of male candidates
Number of male candidates
View field in the data dictionary -
2,328
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Number of female candidates
Number of female candidates
View field in the data dictionary -
973
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Number of other candidates
Number of other candidates
View field in the data dictionary -
3
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Percentage of women candidates
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.
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29.4%
Voter turnout
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Registered voters
Number of people registered to vote
View field in the data dictionary -
46,843,896
Results
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About the election
Short description of the context and results of the election.
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The first elections after the Brexit referendum (see note) resulted in a hung parliament. Prime Minister Theresa May of the Conservative Party had called early elections, calling on voters' support for "a strong and stable government to get the best Brexit deal". The Conservative Party won the elections but lost the parliamentary majority. The Labour Party, led by Mr. Jeremy Corbyn, increased its share of seats from 232 to 262, while promising to work for "a jobs-first Brexit that allows us to upgrade our economy for the 21st century". Ms. May subsequently formed a minority government, with the support of the Democratic Unionist Party led by Ms. Arlene Foster. A record number of 208 women (up from 191) were elected to the House of Commons in 2017 (32% of MPs).
During the election campaigning, the major parties focused more on social care and education than on Brexit. Two terror attacks occurred during the campaign - the Manchester Arena bombing on 22 May and the London Bridge attack on 4 June - pushing the security issue to the centre of the campaigning in run-up to the polling day.
Note:
A referendum on Brexit (merging of the words "Britain" and "exit") to decide whether the United Kingdom should leave or remain in the European Union was held in June 2016. Leave camps narrowly won the referendum. The then Prime Minister David Cameron (Conservative Party) resigned after the referendum and was succeeded by Ms. May in July of that year.
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Number of parties winning seats
The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
View field in the data dictionary -
8
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Percentage of parties winning seats
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of parties which won parliamentary representation by the number of parties contesting the election.
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11.3%
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Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of seats won by the largest party by the number of seats at stake in the election.
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48.8%
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Alternation of power after elections
The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.
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No
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Number of parties in government
The government may be formed by one or more political parties
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1
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Names of parties in government
The government may be formed by one or more political parties
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Conservative Party
The Democratic Unionist Party supports the minority government led by the Conservative Party.
Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group | Total |
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Conservative Party (CP) | 317 |
Scottish National Party | 35 |
Liberal Democrats | 12 |
Democratic Unionist Party | 10 |
Sinn Féin | 7 |
Plaid Cymru | 4 |
Green Party | 1 |
Independents | 1 |
The Speaker | 1 |
Labour Party | 262 |
Members elected, by sex
- Number of men elected
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442
- Number of women elected
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208
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Percentage of women elected
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected by the number of seats filled.
View field in the data dictionary -
32.0%
- Women Directly Elected
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208
- Other notes on the elections
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Expected date of next elections: 5 May 2022. In accordance with Article 1 (3) of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 , the next general elections will be held on "the first Thursday in May in the fifth calendar year".
Name of the new Speaker: Mr. John Bercow (former member of the Conservative Party)
- Sources
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British IPU Group (09.06.2017)
Houses of Parliament
BRIEFING PAPER Number CBP 7979, 11 July 2017, General Election 2017: results and analysis Second Edition
Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011
Conservative Party
Labour Party
BBC
New legislature
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Total number of men after the election
The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
View field in the data dictionary -
442
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Total number of women after the election
The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
View field in the data dictionary -
208
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Percentage of women after the election
The percentage is calculated by dividing the total number of women in this parliament/chamber by the current number of members.
View field in the data dictionary -
32.0%
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First-term parliamentarians
The number of members who are assuming their parliamentary mandate for the first time following the election or renewal, regardless of their mode of designation.
View field in the data dictionary -
87
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Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of first-term parliamentarians by the number of seats at stake in the election.
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13.4%
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Date of the first session
The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.
View field in the data dictionary -
13 Jun 2017
First Speaker of the new legislature
- Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
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John Bercow (Male)
Date of birth: 1963 -
Date of election
The date of the election of the Speaker may be different from the date of the first session of the new legislature.
View field in the data dictionary -
13 Jun 2017