United Kingdom general election, 1966

1964 ← members 31 March 1966 Members elected → 1970 members

All 630 seats in the House of Commons 316 seats needed for a majority   First party Second party Third party   Leader Harold Wilson Edward Heath Jo Grimond Party Labour Conservative Liberal Leader since 14 February 1963 28 July 1965 5 November 1956 Leader's seat Huyton Bexley Orkney and Shetland Last election 317 seats, 44.1% 304 seats, 43.4% 9 seats, 11.2% Seats won 364* 253 12 Seat change 48 52 3 Popular vote 13,096,629 11,418,455 2,327,457 Percentage 48.0% 41.9% 8.5% Swing 3.9% 1.5% 2.7%

PM before election Harold Wilson Labour Subsequent PM Harold Wilson Labour

The 1966 United Kingdom general election on 31 March 1966 was called by sitting Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson. Wilson's decision to call an election turned on the fact that his government, elected a mere 17 months previously in 1964 had an unworkably small majority of only 4 MPs. Wilson's hope that he would be returned to office with a larger majority had been encouraged by the government's victory in a by-election in Kingston upon Hull North. In the end the hope was vindicated: the Labour government was returned with a much larger majority of 96.^[1]

Prior to the general election, in 1965, Labour had actually performed poorly in local elections, and lost at a crucial by-election, cutting their majority to just 2. Labour ran its campaign with the slogan "You know Labour government works".

Shortly after the local elections, Sir Alec Douglas-Home was replaced with Edward Heath, as leader of the Conservative party.

The Conservative campaign, although more professional than previously, had not really had time to prepare, and with Heath only having just settled in the year before, there had been little time for him to become well known among the British public. As for the Liberals money was an issue, 2 elections in the space of just 2 years had left the party in a tight financial position.^[2]

The election night was broadcast live on the BBC, and was presented by Cliff Michelmore, Robin Day, Robert McKenzie and David Butler. The election was replayed on the BBC parliament channel on the 40th anniversary of the event.^[3]

  Timeline

The Prime Minister Harold Wilson announced on 28 February that Parliament would be dissolved on 10 March, for an election to be held on 31 March. The key dates were as follows:

  National opinion poll summary

Research Services : 3% swing to Labour (forecast majority of 101)
National Opinion Polls : 3.5% swing to Labour (forecast majority of 115)
Gallup : 4.5% swing to Labour (forecast majority of 150)
Express (known as Harris): 7.5% swing to Labour (forecast majority of in excess of 255)

  Results

All parties shown. The Conservative figure includes Ulster Unionists and National Liberals.

  Votes summary

Headline Swing: 2.70% to Labour

  Seats summary

  Seats changing hands

From Conservative to Labour (46 seats): Aberdeen South, Bebington, Bedford, Bedfordshire South, Berwick and East Lothian, Billericay, Birmingham Perry Barr, Bradford West, Brentford and Chiswick, Bristol North East, Bristol North West, Cambridge, Cardiff North, Chislehurst, Conway, Croydon South, Eton and Slough, Exeter, Hampstead, Harrow East, High Peak, Hornchurch, Ilford South, Lancaster, Lewisham North, Lewisham West, Middleton and Prestwich, Monmouth, Norwood, Nottingham South, Oxford, Plymouth Sutton, Portsmouth South, Preston North, Reading, Rugby, Rushcliffe, Sheffield Heeley, Smethwick, Southampton Test, Stretford, The Wrekin, Uxbridge, Walthamstow East, Yarmouth and York
From Conservative to Liberal (4 seats): Aberdeenshire West, Cheadle, Cornwall North, and Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles
From Labour to Liberal (1 seat): Colne Valley
From Liberal to Labour (2 seats): Cardiganshire and Caithness and Sutherland

  Televised declarations

(From BBC Parliament Replay.) These declarations were covered live by the BBC where the returning officer was heard to say "duly elected".

• The 5,117 votes polled for the "Others" in Nelson and Colne were all polled for Patrick Downey, uncle of Lesley Ann Downey who had been murdered by the Moors Murderers. Downey advocated the return of hanging.

  See also

• MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1966

  References

• F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987
• United Kingdom election results - summary results 1885-1979

  Manifestos

• Action Not Words: The New Conservative Programme - 1966 Conservative manifesto.
• Time for Decision - 1966 Labour Party manifesto.
• For All the People: the Liberal Plan of 1966 - 1966 Liberal Party manifesto.

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Harold Wilson James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx Premierships 1964-1970 1974-1976 General elections 1964 1966 1970 February 1974 October 1974 Party elections 1960 1963 Constituencies Omskirk Huyton Resignation Honours 1970 1976 Family Mary Wilson, Lady Wilson of Rievaulx Hon. Robin Wilson Related articles D-notice affair Gnomes of Zürich Harold Wilson conspiracy theories Clockwork Orange The Lavender List Wilson Doctrine Bibliography Book:Harold Wilson Category:Harold Wilson

Edward Heath 9 July 1916 - 17 July 2005 Premiership 1970-1974 General elections 1966 1970 February 1974 October 1974 Party elections 1965 1975 Constituencies Bexley Sidcup Old Bexley and Sidcup Related articles European Community Conservative Government 1970–1974 Father of the House Margaret Thatcher

  Notes