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): 12 Dec 2019
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 06 Nov 2019
Timing of election: Early elections
Expected date of next elections: 04 Jul 2024
Number of seats at stake: 650
Scope of elections: Full renewal

Candidates

Number of parties contesting the election: 68
Total number of candidates: 3,320

Notes: An estimated 2,194 men and 1,121 women stood for the 2019 elections. At least 5 candidates identified as non-binary or gender-neutral.
Number of male candidates: 2,194
Number of female candidates: 1,121
Number of other candidates: 5
Percentage of women candidates: 33.8%

Results

About the election: Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party regained the majority in early elections, the third general elections held in less than five years. It increased its share from 317 to 365 seats in the 650-member House of Commons. On the other hand, the Labour Party, led by Mr. Jeremy Corbyn, reduced its share of seats from 265 to 202. The Scottish National Party, led by Ms. Nicola Sturgeon, took a record 47 seats, up from 35. Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson lost her seat. A record 220 women were elected, up from 208 in 2017: Both the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats have more women MPs than men.

The 2019 snap elections followed parliamentary deadlock over Brexit (see note), which worsened after the 2017 snap elections when the Conservative Party lost its majority. Amid mounting criticism over the handling of Brexit, Prime Minister Theresa May (Conservative) resigned and was succeeded by Mr. Johnson in July 2019. He initially announced that the United Kingdom would leave the European Union (EU) by 31 October 2019 with or without a deal but the Government requested a new three-month extension from the EU in October. Following the ensuing parliamentary deadlock, the new Prime Minister called snap elections for 12 December. During the election campaign, the Conservative Party promised that it would leave the EU by 31 January 2020. The Labour Party promised to renegotiate Brexit and call a second referendum on the new deal. The Scottish National Party said it would support a second referendum, adding that Scotland would join the EU if it became independent. The Liberal Democrats pledged to cancel Brexit altogether.

Note:

A referendum on Brexit (from a 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. Brexit was initially due to happen on 29 March 2019, but the deadline was extended twice after Parliament rejected the deal negotiated by the then Prime Minister, Theresa May. Following the December 2019 elections, the United Kingdom left the EU on 31 January 2020.
Number of parties winning seats: 10
Percentage of parties winning seats: 14.7%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition: 56.2%
Alternation of power after elections: No
Number of parties in government: 1
Names of parties in government: Conservative Party

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group	Total
Conservative Party	365
Labour Party	202
Scottish National Party	47
Liberal Democrats	11
Democratic Unionist Party	8
Sinn Féin	7
Plaid Cymru	4
Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP)	2
Green Party	1
Alliance Party	1
Independents	1
The Speaker	1

Members elected, by sex

Number of men elected: 430
Number of women elected: 220
Percentage of women elected: 33.8%
Women Directly Elected: 220
Other notes on the elections
Sources: British IPU Group (16.12.2019);

BRIEFING PAPER Number CBP 8749, 28 January 2020, General Election 2019: results and analysis Second edition;

www.parliament.uk;

BBC;

CNN

New legislature

Total number of men after the election: 430
Total number of women after the election: 220
Percentage of women after the election: 33.8%
First-term parliamentarians: 140
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians: 21.5%
Date of the first session: 17 Dec 2019

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature: Sir Lindsay Hoyle (Male)
Date of birth: 10 Jun 1957
Date of election: 17 Dec 2019