United Kingdom

House of Commons

Political system
Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament
Bicameral
IPU membership
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

Election date(s)
08 Jun 2017
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
03 May 2017
Timing of election
Early elections
Number of seats at stake
650
Scope of elections
Full renewal

Candidates

Number of parties contesting the election
71

Notes: At least 3 candidates were non-binary or gender neutral.

Total number of candidates
3,304
Number of male candidates
2,328
Number of female candidates
973
Number of other candidates
3
Percentage of women candidates
29.4%

Voter turnout

Registered voters
46,843,896

Results

About the election

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.

Number of parties winning seats
8
Percentage of parties winning seats
11.3%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition
48.8%
Alternation of power after elections
No
Number of parties in government
1
Names of parties in government
Conservative Party

The Democratic Unionist Party supports the minority government led by the Conservative Party.

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group Total
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
442
Number of women elected
208
Percentage of women elected
32.0%
Women Directly Elected
208
Other notes on the elections

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

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

Total number of men after the election
442
Total number of women after the election
208
Percentage of women after the election
32.0%
First-term parliamentarians
87
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
13.4%
Date of the first session
13 Jun 2017

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
John Bercow (Male)
Date of birth: 1963
Date of election
13 Jun 2017

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No