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‹ 2010 •  members Next United Kingdom general election2020 ›
United Kingdom general election, 2015
All 650 seats to the House of Commons
326 seats needed for a majority.
7 May 2015
David Cameron official Ed Miliband NickClegg
Leader David Cameron Ed Miliband Nick Clegg
Party Conservative (UK) Labour (UK) Liberal Democrats (UK)
Leader since 6 December 2005 25 September 2010 18 December 2007
Leader's seat Witney Doncaster North Sheffield Hallam
Last election 306 seats, 36.1% 258 seats, 29% 57 seats, 23%
Seats needed Increase 20 Increase 68 Increase 269

Overview[]

As the first meeting of the present UK Parliament was on 11 May 2005, that Parliament must be dissolved on or before 11 May 2010.

The average length of time for a Parliament is about four years, but governments facing likely electoral defeat do sometimes leave the election until just before the expiry of the maximum five year term (as in 1964 and 1997). A new Prime Minister, appointed in the middle of a normal Parliamentary term, might also be inclined to call a snap election to try to get a mandate before his honeymoon period wears off.

The last seven UK general elections have taken place in April, May or June. A tendency has developed to combine the general election with local Council elections which normally take place in May, although the local election timetable can be re-arranged by Act of Parliament. Another possible opportunity to reduce the expense of multiple elections in a short period would be to combine the UK general election with the European Parliament election due in June 2009.

The next general election in the United Kingdom is likely to take place in either 2009 or 2010. Gordon Brown replaced Tony Blair as Prime Minister in 2007.

Current political situation[]

Currently, the House of Commons contains 646 seats.

The Labour Party has 353 members of Parliament, giving it a majority of 66. The Conservative Party are the offical opposition, with 196 members, while the Liberal Democrats hold 63 seats. The other seats in the Parliament are held by- the Democratic Unionist Party (9), Scottish National Party (6), Sinn Fein (5), Plaid Cymru (3), Social Democratic and Labour Party (3), Ulster Unionist Party (1), RESPECT The Unity Coalition (1), and Health Concern (1). One seat is held by an independent. In addition, 4 seats are non-partisan, being held by the Speaker and 3 deputy speakers.

External links[]

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