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United Kingdom general election, 1959
All 630 seats to the House of Commons
8 October 1959
		First party	Second party	Third party
Leader		Harold Macmillan	Hugh Gaitskell	Jo Grimond
Party		Conservative	Labour	Liberal
Leader since		10 January 1957	14 December 1955	5 November 1956
Leader's seat		Bromley	Leeds (S)	Orkney and Shetland
Last election		345 seats, 49.7%	277 seats, 46.4%	6 seats, 2.7%
Seats won		365	258	6
Seat change		+20	-19	0
Popular vote		13,750,875	12,216,172	1,640,760
Percentage		49.4%	43.8%	5.9%
Swing		%	%	%
Incumbent PM Harold Macmillan Conservative Subsequent PM Harold Macmillan Conservative

This United Kingdom general election was held on 8 October 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.

[edit] Background

Following the Suez Crisis in 1956, Anthony Eden the Conservative Prime Minister became unpopular and resigned the following year. At this stage, the Labour Party, with its new leader Hugh Gaitskell enjoyed large opinion poll leads over the Conservatives, and it looked as if they could win. However Anthony Eden's successor Harold Macmillan revived the Conservatives' fortunes as the economy improved, and his personal approval ratings remained high. By September 1958 the Conservatives had moved ahead of Labour in the opinion polls.

[edit] 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 Party fought a generally effective campaign, with television broadcasts masterminded by Anthony Wedgwood Benn. Hugh Gaitskell made a mistake by declaring that a Labour government would not raise taxes if it came to power. This was 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]

[edit] Results

Early on election night it became clear that the Conservative government had been returned with an increased majority. However there were swings to Labour in parts of North West England, and in Scotland. The BBC's election coverage, presented by Richard Dimbleby was shown on BBC Parliament on 9 October 2009 to mark the 50th anniversary of the election.

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

[edit] Votes summary

Headline Swing: 1.32% to Conservative

[edit] Seats summary

[edit] 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

[edit] References

[edit] Bibliography

• F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987
• United Kingdom election results - summary results 1885-1979
• Thorpe, Andrew. (2001) A History Of The British Labour Party, Palgrave, ISBN 0-333-92908-x

[edit] See also

• MPs elected in the UK general election, 1959

[edit] 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.

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