Results Of The British General Election - Statistical Data Included

Contemporary Review, July, 2001

The British General Election held on 7 June 2001 resulted in a second landslide victory for the Labour Party of Prime Minister Tony Blair. The Conservative leader, William Hague, resigned immediately after his party's second defeat. There was very little change in the parliamentary strength of the two main parties, Labour and Conservative, while the third party, the Liberal Democrats, led by Charles Kennedy, gained a few more seats. This election saw the lowest turnout -- under 60 per cent of the electorate -- since the Second World War.

In 1992 John Major led the Conservatives to a surprise victory following three previous triumphs under Margaret Thatcher. In 1997 Tony Blair achieved a stunning victory after eighteen years of Conservative government. The popular vote in the last three elections was:

1992:

Conservative 14,048,399 (43%)

Labour 11,560,484 (35%)

Lib. Dem. 5,999,606 (18%)

1997

Conservative 9,591,085 (31%)

Labour 13, 518,167 (44%)

Lib. Dem. 5, 242,947 (17%)

2001

Conservative 8,354,460 (31.7%)

Labour 10,740,168 (40.7%)

Lib. Dem. 4,815,249 (18.3%)