View source for October 1974 United Kingdom general election

{{Short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = October 1974 United Kingdom general election
| country = United Kingdom
| type = parliamentary
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = February 1974 United Kingdom general election
| previous_year = Feb 1974
| outgoing_members = List of MPs elected in the February 1974 United Kingdom general election
| next_election = 1979 United Kingdom general election
| next_year = 1979
| elected_members = List of MPs elected in the October 1974 United Kingdom general election
| seats_for_election = All [[List of United Kingdom Parliament constituencies (1974–1983)|635 seats]] in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]]
| majority_seats = 318
| elected_mps = List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, October 1974
| election_date = 10 October 1974
| turnout = 29,189,104<br>72.8% ({{decrease}}6.0 [[Percentage point|pp]])
<!--      Labour      -->| image1 = {{CSS image crop|Image =Harold Wilson 1975.jpg|bSize = 120|cWidth = 120|cHeight = 160|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}
| leader1 = [[Harold Wilson]]
| leader_since1 = [[1963 Labour Party leadership election (UK)|14 February 1963]]
| party1 = Labour Party (UK)
| leaders_seat1 = [[Huyton (UK Parliament constituency)|Huyton]]
| last_election1 = 301 seats, 37.2%
| seats1 = '''319'''
| seat_change1 = {{increase}}18
| popular_vote1 = '''11,457,079'''
| percentage1 = '''39.2%'''
| swing1 = {{increase}}2.0 [[Percentage point|pp]]
<!--      Conservative     -->| image2 = {{CSS image crop|Image =Golda Meir and Edward Heath cropped (cropped).jpg|bSize = 140|cWidth = 120|cHeight = 160|oTop = 0|oLeft = 6}}
| leader2 = [[Edward Heath]]
| leader_since2 = [[1965 Conservative Party leadership election|28 July 1965]]
| party2 = Conservative Party (UK)
| leaders_seat2 = [[Sidcup (UK Parliament constituency)|Sidcup]]
| last_election2 = 297 seats, 37.9%
| seats2 = 277{{refn|group=note|name=speaker|The seat and vote count figures for the Conservatives given here include the Speaker of the House of Commons}}
| seat_change2 = {{decrease}}20
| popular_vote2 = 10,462,565
| percentage2 = 35.8%
| swing2 = {{decrease}}2.1 [[Percentage point|pp]]

<!--       Liberal     -->| image4 = {{eppt|Liberal Party (UK)}}
| leader4 = [[Jeremy Thorpe]]
| leader_since4 = [[1967 Liberal Party leadership election|18 January 1967]]
| party4 = Liberal Party (UK)
| leaders_seat4 = [[North Devon (UK Parliament constituency)|North Devon]]
| last_election4 = 14 seats, 19.3%
| seats4 = 13
| seat_change4 = {{decrease}}1
| popular_vote4 = 5,346,704
| percentage4 = 18.3%
| swing4 = {{decrease}}1.0 [[Percentage point|pp]]
<!-- SNP -->| image5 = {{eppt|Scottish National Party}}
| leader5 = [[William Wolfe]]
| leader_since5 = [[1969 Scottish National Party leadership election|1 June 1969]]
| party5 = Scottish National Party
| leaders_seat5 = None<br>''(Contested [[West Lothian (UK Parliament constituency)|West Lothian]])''
| last_election5 = 7 seats, 2.0%
| seats5 = 11
| seat_change5 = {{increase}}4
| popular_vote5 = 839,617
| percentage5 = 2.9%
| swing5 = {{increase}}0.9 [[Percentage point|pp]]
| map_image = UK General Election, October 1974.svg
| map_size = 200px
| map_caption = Colours denote the winning party—as shown in {{slink||Results}}
| map2_image = File:Oct 1974 UK GE Westminster diagram.svg
| map2_caption = Composition of the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] after the election
| title = [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]]
| posttitle = Prime Minister after election
| before_election = [[Harold Wilson]]
| before_party = Labour Party (UK)
| after_election = [[Harold Wilson]]
| after_party = Labour Party (UK)
| opinion_polls = Opinion polling for the 1974 United Kingdom general elections
}}
The '''October 1974 United Kingdom general election''' took place on Thursday 10 October 1974 to [[List of MPs elected in the October 1974 United Kingdom general election|elect 635 members]] of the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]]. It was the second general election held that year; the first year in which two general elections had been held in the same year since [[1910 United Kingdom general election (disambiguation)|1910]]; and the first time that two general elections had been held less than a year apart from each other since the [[1923 United Kingdom general election|1923]] and [[1924 United Kingdom general election|1924]] elections, which took place 10 months apart. 

The election resulted in a narrow victory for the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], led by Prime Minister [[Harold Wilson]], which won a wafer-thin majority of three seats, the narrowest in modern British history. It was to remain the last general election victory for the Labour Party until [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997]], with the Conservative Party winning majorities in the next four general elections. It would also be the last time Labour won more seats at a national election than the Conservatives until the [[1989 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1989 European Parliament election]]. This remains the most recent General Election that Labour made net gains in seats whilst in government.

The narrowness of the majority meant that the [[1974–1979 Labour government|Labour government]] saw a gradual loss of its majority by 1977 through a series of [[by-election]] losses and defections, thus requiring deals with the Liberals, the Ulster Unionists, the Scottish Nationalists and the [[Plaid Cymru|Welsh Nationalists]]. It led to the eventual defeat of the government in a no-confidence motion in March 1979, six months before the mandatory dissolution of Parliament was set to take place.

This election was held just seven months after the previous general election, held in [[February 1974 United Kingdom general election|February 1974]], had led to a [[hung parliament]], with Labour winning 301 seats and the Conservatives left with 297. Following the inconclusive nature of coalition talks between the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]] and other parties such as the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberals]] and the [[Ulster Unionists]], the Labour Leader Harold Wilson went on to form a [[minority government]].

The October campaign was not as vigorous or exciting as the one in February. Despite continuing high [[inflation]], Labour boasted that it had ended the miners' strike, which had dogged Heath's premiership, and had returned some stability. The Conservative Party, led by Leader of the Opposition and former Prime Minister [[Edward Heath]], released a manifesto promoting national unity, but its chances of forming a government were hindered by the Ulster Unionist Party refusing to take the Conservative [[whip (politics)|whip]] at Westminster in response to the [[Sunningdale Agreement]] of 1973.

Both the Conservatives and the Liberals saw their vote share decline, and Heath, who had lost three of the four elections that he contested, was ousted as Conservative leader in February 1975 and replaced with future Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]]. The [[Scottish National Party]] won 30% of the Scottish popular vote and 11 of Scotland's 71 seats in the party's most successful general election result until [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015]].

The election was broadcast live on the BBC and was presented by [[David Butler (psephologist)|David Butler]], [[Alastair Burnet]], [[Robert McKenzie (psephologist)|Robert McKenzie]], [[Robin Day]] and [[Sue Lawley]].<ref>{{YouTube |id=N2EQeftPkEw&amp |title=Election 1974 (October){{snd}}Part 1}}, {{YouTube |id=TYveS5L17CU|title=UK General Election 1974{{snd}}Results Round-up}}</ref>
{{UK general election navigation|clear=none|1970|February 1974|October 1974|1979|1983}}

Since Jeremy Thorpe's death in December 2014, this is the latest election where all the three major party leaders are deceased.

==Campaign==
The brief period between the elections gave Wilson the opportunity to demonstrate reasonable progress. Despite high inflation and high [[balance of trade|balance-of-trade]] deficits, the miners' strike, which had dogged Heath was over, and some stability had been restored. After the February election, Heath had remained largely out of the public eye.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}

As was expected, the campaign was not as exciting as the one in February, and overall coverage by broadcasters was significantly scaled back. The Conservatives campaigned on a manifesto of national unity in response to the mood of the public. Labour campaigned on its recent successes in government, and although the party was divided over Europe, the party's strengths outweighed that of Heath, who knew that his future relied on an election victory. [[Devolution]] was a key issue for the Liberals and the Scottish National Party, and it was now one that the two main parties also felt the need to address. The Liberals did not issue a new manifesto but simply reissued the one they had created for the last election.<ref>{{citation |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/basics/4393307.stm |title=1974 Oct: Wilson makes it four |date=5 April 2005 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=8 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/background/pastelec/ge74oct.shtml |title=10 October 1974 |work=BBC Politics 97 |access-date=8 June 2018}}</ref>

==Timeline==
Prime Minister [[Harold Wilson]]'s decision to call a general election on 10 October was reported in the newspapers that were dated back to 9 September. The announcement was made through a ministerial broadcast on television on 18 September to announce that the election would be held on 10 October, less than eight months since the previous election. The key dates were as follows:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| style="width:25%;"|Friday 20 September||Dissolution of the [[List of MPs elected in the February 1974 United Kingdom general election|46th Parliament]] and campaigning officially begins
|-
|Monday 30 September||Last day to file nomination papers
|-
|Wednesday 9 October|| Campaigning officially ends
|-
|Thursday 10 October|| Polling day
|-
|Friday 11 October|| The Labour Party wins control with a majority of 3 
|-
|Tuesday 22 October||[[List of MPs elected in the October 1974 United Kingdom general election|47th Parliament]] assembles
|-
|Tuesday 29 October||[[State Opening of Parliament]]
|}

==Results==
Labour achieved a swing of 2% against the Conservatives. It was the first time since [[1922 United Kingdom general election|1922]] that a government had won an overall majority with less than 40% of the vote, albeit a majority of only three seats. The Conservatives won just under 36% of the vote, their worst share since [[1918 United Kingdom general election|1918]]. A slight drop in the Liberals' vote saw them suffer a net loss of one seat. In Scotland, the Scottish National Party added another 4 seats to their successes in the previous election and became the fourth-largest party.

Turnout was 72.8%, which was a significant decline on the February election's 78.8% turnout.

[[File:1974 (2) UK parliament.svg|center|300px]]
{{Election summary begin with leaders| title = UK General Election October 1974}}
{{Election summary party with leaders
  |party = Labour Party (UK)
  |leader = [[Harold Wilson]]
  |candidates = 623{{efn| Includes 22 [[Co-operative Party]] candidates, as part of the [[Labour and Co-operative Party|Labour-Co-op]] alliance |name=|group=}}
  |seats = 319{{efn| Includes 14 [[Co-operative Party]] MPs, as part of the [[Labour and Co-operative Party|Labour-Co-op]] alliance |name=|group=}}
  |gain = 19
  |loss = 1
  |net = +18
  |votes = 11,457,079{{efn| Includes 465,592 for the [[Co-operative Party]], as part of the [[Labour and Co-operative Party|Labour-Co-op]] alliance |name=|group=}}
  |votes % = 39.2{{efn| Includes 1.6% for the [[Co-operative Party]], as part of the [[Labour and Co-operative Party|Labour-Co-op]] alliance |name=|group=}}
  |seats % = 50.2{{efn| Includes 2.2% for the [[Co-operative Party]], as part of the [[Labour and Co-operative Party|Labour-Co-op]] alliance |name=|group=}}
  |plus/minus = +2.0{{efn| Includes -0.1% for the [[Co-operative Party]], as part of the [[Labour and Co-operative Party|Labour-Co-op]] alliance |name=|group=}}
  |government = yes
}}
{{Election summary party with leaders
  |party = Conservative Party (UK)
  |leader = [[Edward Heath]]
  |candidates = 622
  |seats = 277{{refn|group=note|name=speaker}}
  |gain = 2
  |loss = 22
  |net = −20
  |votes = 10,462,565
  |votes % = 35.8
  |seats % = 43.6
  |plus/minus = −2.1
}}
{{Election summary party with leaders
  |party = Liberal Party (UK)
  |leader = [[Jeremy Thorpe]]
  |candidates = 619
  |seats = 13
  |gain = [[Truro (UK Parliament constituency)|1]]
  |loss = 2
  |net = −1
  |votes = 5,346,704
  |votes % = 18.3
  |seats % = 2.1
  |plus/minus = −1.0
}}
{{Election summary party with leaders
  |party = Scottish National Party
  |leader = [[William Wolfe]]
  |candidates = 71
  |seats = 11
  |gain = 4
  |loss = 0
  |net = +4
  |votes = 839,617
  |votes % = 2.9
  |seats % = 1.7
  |plus/minus = +0.9
}}
{{Election summary party with leaders
  |party = Ulster Unionist Party
  |leader = [[Harry West]]
  |candidates = 7
  |seats = 6
  |gain = 0
  |loss = [[Fermanagh and South Tyrone (UK Parliament constituency)|1]]
  |net = −1
  |votes = 256,065
  |votes % = 0.9
  |seats % = 0.9
  |plus/minus = +0.1
}}
{{Election summary party with leaders
  |party = Plaid Cymru
  |leader = [[Gwynfor Evans]]
  |candidates = 36
  |seats = 3
  |gain = [[Carmarthen (UK Parliament constituency)|1]]
  |loss = 0
  |net = +1
  |votes = 166,321
  |votes % = 0.6
  |seats % = 0.5
  |plus/minus = +0.1
}}
{{Election summary party with leaders
  |party = Social Democratic and Labour Party
  |leader = [[Gerry Fitt]]
  |candidates = 9
  |seats = [[Belfast West (UK Parliament constituency)|1]]
  |gain = 0
  |loss = 0
  |net = 0
  |votes = 154,193
  |votes % = 0.6
  |seats % = 0.2
  |plus/minus = +0.1
}}
{{Election summary party with leaders
  |party = National Front (UK)
  |leader = [[John Kingsley Read]]
  |candidates = 90
  |seats = 0
  |gain = 0
  |loss = 0
  |net = 0
  |votes = 113,843
  |votes % = 0.4
  |seats % = 
  |plus/minus = +0.2
}}
{{Election summary party with leaders
  |party = Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party
  |leader = [[William Craig (Northern Ireland politician)|William Craig]]
  |candidates = 3
  |seats = 3
  |gain = 0
  |loss = 0
  |net = 0
  |votes = 92,262
  |votes % = 0.3
  |seats % = 0.5
  |plus/minus = +0.1
}}
{{Election summary party with leaders
  |party = Democratic Unionist Party
  |leader = [[Ian Paisley]]
  |candidates = 2
  |seats = [[North Antrim (UK Parliament constituency)|1]]
  |gain = 0
  |loss = 0
  |net = 0
  |votes = 59,451
  |votes % = 0.3
  |seats % = 0.2
  |plus/minus = +0.1
}}
{{Election summary party with leaders
  |party = Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
  |leader = [[Oliver Napier]]
  |candidates = 5
  |seats = 0
  |gain = 0
  |loss = 0
  |net = 0
  |votes = 44,644
  |votes % = 0.2
  |seats % = 
  |plus/minus = +0.1
}}
{{Election summary party with leaders
  |party = Independent Labour
  |leader = ''N/A''
  |candidates = 7
  |seats = 0
  |gain = 0
  |loss = [[Blyth (UK Parliament constituency)|1]]
  |net = −1
  |votes = 33,317
  |votes % = 0.2
  |seats % = 
  |plus/minus = +0.1
}}
{{Election summary party with leaders
  |party = Independent Republican (Ireland)
  |leader = ''N/A''
  |candidates = [[Fermanagh and South Tyrone (UK Parliament constituency)|1]]
  |seats = [[Fermanagh and South Tyrone (UK Parliament constituency)|1]]
  |gain = [[Fermanagh and South Tyrone (UK Parliament constituency)|1]]
  |loss = 0
  |net = +1
  |votes = 32,795
  |votes % = 0.2
  |seats % = 0.2
  |plus/minus = +0.2
}}
{{Election summary party with leaders
  |party = Republican Clubs
  |leader = [[Tomás Mac Giolla]]
  |candidates = 5
  |seats = 0
  |gain = 0
  |loss = 0
  |net = 0
  |votes = 21,633
  |votes % = 0.1
  |seats % = 
  |plus/minus = +0.1
}}
{{Election summary party with leaders
  |party = Unionist Party of Northern Ireland
  |leader = [[Brian Faulkner]]
  |candidates = 2
  |seats = 0
  |gain = 0
  |loss = 0
  |net = 0
  |votes = 20,454
  |votes % = 0.1
  |seats % = 
  |plus/minus = ''N/A''
}}
{{Election summary party with leaders
  |party = Communist Party of Great Britain
  |leader = [[John Gollan]]
  |candidates = 29
  |seats = 0
  |gain = 0
  |loss = 0
  |net = 0
  |votes = 17,426
  |votes % = 0.1
  |seats % = 
  |plus/minus = 0.0
}}
{{Election summary party with leaders
  |party = Lincoln Democratic Labour Association
  |leader = [[Dick Taverne]]
  |candidates = [[Lincoln (UK Parliament constituency)|1]]
  |seats = 0
  |gain = 0
  |loss = [[Lincoln (UK Parliament constituency)|1]]
  |net = −1
  |votes = 13,714
  |votes % = 0.1
  |seats % = 
  |plus/minus = +0.1
}}
{{Election summary party with leaders
  |party = Northern Ireland Labour Party
  |leader = [[Alan Carr (politician)|Alan Carr]]
  |candidates = 3
  |seats = 0
  |gain = 0
  |loss = 0
  |net = 0
  |votes = 11,539
  |votes % = 0.0
  |seats % = 
  |plus/minus = 0.0
}}
{{Election summary party with leaders
  |party = Independent (politician)
  |leader = ''N/A''
  |candidates = 32
  |seats = 0
  |gain = 0
  |loss = 0
  |net = 0
  |votes = 8,812
  |votes % = 0.0
  |seats % = 
  |plus/minus = −0.1
}}
{{Election summary with leaders
  |party = [[Stanley McMaster|Independent Ulster Unionist]]
  |leader = ''N/A''
  |candidates = [[Belfast South (UK Parliament constituency)|1]]
  |seats = 0
  |gain = 0
  |loss = 0
  |net = 0
  |votes = 4,982
  |votes % = 0.0
  |seats % = 
  |plus/minus = ''N/A'' 
}}
{{Election summary with leaders
  |party = United Democratic
  |leader = James Tippett
  |candidates = 13
  |seats = 0
  |gain = 0
  |loss = 0
  |net = 0
  |votes = 4,810
  |votes % = 0.0
  |seats % = 
  |plus/minus = ''N/A''
}}
{{Election summary party with leaders
  |party = Independent Conservative
  |leader = ''N/A''
  |candidates = 4
  |seats = 0
  |gain = 0
  |loss = 0
  |net = 0
  |votes = 4,559
  |votes % = 0.0
  |seats % = 
  |plus/minus = 0.0
}}
{{Election summary party with leaders
  |party = Campaign for a More Prosperous Britain
  |leader = Tom Keen and Harold Smith
  |candidates = 25
  |seats = 0
  |gain = 0
  |loss = 0
  |net = 0
  |votes = 4,301
  |votes % = 0.0
  |seats % = 
  |plus/minus = 0.0
}}
{{Election summary party with leaders
  |party = Workers' Revolutionary Party (UK)
  |leader = [[Gerry Healey]]
  |candidates = 10
  |seats = 0
  |gain = 0
  |loss = 0
  |net = 0
  |votes = 3,404
  |votes % = 0.0
  |seats % = 
  |plus/minus = 0.0
}}
{{Election summary party with leaders
  |party = Independent Liberal
  |leader = ''N/A''
  |candidates = 3
  |seats = 0
  |gain = 0
  |loss = 0
  |net = 0
  |votes = 3,277
  |votes % = 0.0
  |seats % = 
  |plus/minus = −0.2
}}
{{Election summary with leaders
  |party = [[Volunteer Political Party|Volunteer Political]]
  |leader = [[Ken Gibson (loyalist)|Ken Gibson]]
  |candidates = [[Belfast West (UK Parliament constituency)|1]]
  |seats = 0
  |gain = 0
  |loss = 0
  |net = 0
  |votes = 2,690
  |votes % = 0.0
  |seats % = 
  |plus/minus = ''N/A''
}}
{{Election summary with leaders
  |party = [[Irish Civil Rights Association|Irish Civil Rights]]
  |leader = ''N/A''
  |candidates = 7
  |seats = 0
  |gain = 0
  |loss = 0
  |net = 0
  |votes = 2,381
  |votes % = 0.0
  |seats % = 
  |plus/minus = ''N/A'' 
}}
{{Election summary party with leaders
  |party = PEOPLE Party
  |leader = [[Tony Whittaker]]
  |candidates = 5
  |seats = 0
  |gain = 0
  |loss = 0
  |net = 0
  |votes = 1,996
  |votes % = 0.0
  |seats % = 
  |plus/minus = 0.0
}}
{{Election summary party with leaders
  |party = Communist Party of England (Marxist-Leninist)
  |leader = John Buckle
  |candidates = 8
  |seats = 0
  |gain = 0
  |loss = 0
  |net = 0
  |votes = 1,320
  |votes % = 0.0
  |seats % = 
  |plus/minus = 0.0
}}
{{Election summary party with leaders
  |party = English National Party
  |leader = [[Frank Hansford-Miller]]
  |candidates = 2
  |seats = 0
  |gain = 0
  |loss = 0
  |net = 0
  |votes = 1,115
  |votes % = 0.0
  |seats % = 
  |plus/minus = ''N/A''
}}
{{Election summary with leaders
  |party = United English National
  |leader = John Kynaston
  |candidates = 1
  |seats = 0
  |gain = 0
  |loss = 0
  |net = 0
  |votes = 793
  |votes % = 0.0
  |seats % = 
  |plus/minus = ''N/A''
}}
{{Election summary party with leaders
  |party = Communist Party of Ireland (Marxist-Leninist)
  |leader = Carole Reakes
  |candidates = 3
  |seats = 0
  |gain = 0
  |loss = 0
  |net = 0
  |votes = 540
  |votes % = 0.0
  |seats % = 
  |plus/minus = ''N/A''
}}
{{Election summary party with leaders
  |party = Mebyon Kernow
  |leader = [[Richard Jenkin]]
  |candidates = [[Truro (UK Parliament constituency)|1]]
  |seats = 0
  |gain = 0
  |loss = 0
  |net = 0
  |votes = 384
  |votes % = 0.0
  |seats % = 
  |plus/minus = ''N/A''
}}
{{Election summary party with leaders
  |party = Socialist Party of Great Britain
  |leader = ''N/A''
  |candidates = [[Hampstead (UK Parliament constituency)|1]]
  |seats = 0
  |gain = 0
  |loss = 0
  |net = 0
  |votes = 118
  |votes % = 0.0
  |seats % = 
  |plus/minus = ''N/A''
}}
|-
|+ style="caption-side: bottom; font-weight:normal" |All parties shown.
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="width:70%"
|-
|'''Government's new majority'''
|'''3'''
|-
|Total votes cast
|29,189,104
|-
|Turnout
|72.8%
|}

===Votes summary===
{{bar box
|title=Popular vote
|titlebar=#ddd
|width=600px
|barwidth=360px
|bars=
{{bar percent|Labour|{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}|39.25}}
{{bar percent|Conservative|{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}|35.84}}
{{bar percent|Liberal|{{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}|18.32}}
{{bar percent|Scottish National|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}|2.88}}
{{bar percent|Others|#A9A9A9|3.71}}
}}

===Seats summary===
{{bar box
|title=Parliamentary seats
|titlebar=#ddd
|width=600px
|barwidth=360px
|bars=
{{bar percent|Labour|{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}|50.24}}
{{bar percent|Conservative|{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}|43.62}}
{{bar percent|Liberal|{{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}|2.05}}
{{bar percent|Scottish National|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}|1.73}}
{{bar percent|Others|#A9A9A9|2.36}}
}}

=== Results by voter characteristics ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Ethnic group voting intention<ref>{{Cite book |last=Saggar |first=Shamit |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/jj.15976631 |title=Race and representation: Electoral politics and ethnic pluralism in Britain |date=2000 |publisher=Manchester University Press}}</ref>
! rowspan="2" |Ethnic group
! colspan="3" |Party
|-
!Labour
!Conservative
!Other
|-
|Ethnic minority (non-White)
|81%
|9%
|10%
|-
|Asian<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Taylor |first=Stan |last2=Layton‐Henry |first2=Zig |date=1980-03-01 |title=Immigration and ethnic relations: Political aspects—no. 3 |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.1980.9975621 |journal=New Community |volume=8 |issue=1-2 |pages=138–145 |doi=10.1080/1369183X.1980.9975621 |issn=0047-9586|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
|78%
|12%
|n/a
|-
|Afro-Caribbean<ref name=":0" />
|79%
|6%
|n/a
|}

==Incumbents defeated==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%;"
! colspan="2" |Party
!Name
!Constituency
!Office held whilst in Parliament
!Year elected
!Defeated by
! colspan="2" |Party
|-
| rowspan="21" style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan="21" |{{party shortname linked|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|[[Jock Bruce-Gardyne]]
|[[South Angus (UK Parliament constituency)|Angus South]]
|
|[[1964 United Kingdom general election|1964]]
|[[Andrew Welsh (politician)|Andrew Welsh]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish National Party}}" |
|{{party shortname linked|Scottish National Party}}
|-
|[[Michael Ancram]]
|[[Berwick and East Lothian]]
|
|[[February 1974 United Kingdom general election|Feb 1974]]
|[[John Mackintosh (Scottish politician)|John Mackintosh]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
|{{party shortname linked|Labour Party (UK)}}
|-
|[[Harold Gurden]]
|[[Birmingham Selly Oak]]
|
|[[1955 United Kingdom general election|1955]]
|[[Tom Litterick]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
|{{party shortname linked|Labour Party (UK)}}
|-
|[[Robert Redmond]]
|[[Bolton West]]
|
|[[1970 United Kingdom general election|1970]]
|[[Ann Taylor, Baroness Taylor of Bolton|Ann Taylor]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
|{{party shortname linked|Labour Party (UK)}}
|-
|[[Martin McLaren]]
|[[Bristol North West]]
|
|[[1970 United Kingdom general election|1970]]
|[[Ronald Thomas (politician)|Ronald Thomas]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
|{{party shortname linked|Labour Party (UK)}}
|-
|[[Michael Fidler]]
|[[Bury and Radcliffe]]
|
|[[1970 United Kingdom general election|1970]]
|[[Frank White (British politician)|Frank White]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
|{{party shortname linked|Labour Party (UK)}}
|-
|[[Barry Henderson]]
|[[East Dunbartonshire (UK Parliament constituency)|East Dunbartonshire]]
|
|[[February 1974 United Kingdom general election|Feb 1974]]
|[[Margaret Bain]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish National Party}}" |
|{{party shortname linked|Scottish National Party}}
|-
|[[James Allason]]
|[[Hemel Hempstead (UK Parliament constituency)|Hemel Hempstead]]
|
|[[1959 United Kingdom general election|1959]]
|[[Robin Corbett]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
|{{party shortname linked|Labour Party (UK)}}
|-
|[[Tom Iremonger]]
|[[Ilford North]]
|
|[[1954 Ilford North by-election|1954 by-election]]
|[[Millie Miller]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
|{{party shortname linked|Labour Party (UK)}}
|-
|[[Ernle Money]]
|[[Ipswich (UK Parliament constituency)|Ipswich]]
|
|[[1970 United Kingdom general election|1970]]
|[[Ken Weetch]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
|{{party shortname linked|Labour Party (UK)}}
|-
|[[Tom Boardman, Baron Boardman|Tom Boardman]]
|[[Leicester South]]
|[[Chief Secretary to the Treasury]] (1974)
|[[1967 Leicester South West by-election|1967 by-election]]
|[[Jim Marshall (British politician)|Jim Marshall]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
|{{party shortname linked|Labour Party (UK)}}
|-
|[[Jack d'Avigdor-Goldsmid]]
|[[Lichfield and Tamworth]]
|
|[[1970 United Kingdom general election|1970]]
|[[Bruce Grocott]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
|{{party shortname linked|Labour Party (UK)}}
|-
|[[David Waddington]]
|[[Nelson and Colne]]
|
|[[1968 Nelson and Colne by-election|1968 by-election]]
|[[Doug Hoyle]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
|{{party shortname linked|Labour Party (UK)}}
|-
|[[Montague Woodhouse, 5th Baron Terrington|Montague Woodhouse]]
|[[Oxford (UK Parliament constituency)|Oxford]]
|
|[[1970 United Kingdom general election|1970]]
|[[Evan Luard]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
|{{party shortname linked|Labour Party (UK)}}
|-
|[[Ian MacArthur]]
|[[Perth and East Perthshire]]
|
|[[1959 United Kingdom general election|1959]]
|[[Douglas Crawford]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish National Party}}" |
|{{party shortname linked|Scottish National Party}}
|-
|[[Harmar Nicholls]]
|[[Peterborough (UK Parliament constituency)|Peterborough]]
|
|[[1950 United Kingdom general election|1950]]
|[[Michael Ward (British politician)|Michael Ward]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
|{{party shortname linked|Labour Party (UK)}}
|-
|[[Peggy Fenner]]
|[[Rochester and Chatham]]
|Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1972–1974)
|[[1970 United Kingdom general election|1970]]
|[[Robert Bean (politician)|Robert Bean]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
|{{party shortname linked|Labour Party (UK)}}
|-
|[[Ronald Bray]]
|[[Rossendale (UK Parliament constituency)|Rossendale]]
|
|[[1970 United Kingdom general election|1970]]
|[[Michael Noble (Labour politician)|Michael Noble]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
|{{party shortname linked|Labour Party (UK)}}
|-
|[[James Hill (Conservative politician)|James Hill]]
|[[Southampton Test]]
|
|[[1970 United Kingdom general election|1970]]
|[[Bryan Gould]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
|{{party shortname linked|Labour Party (UK)}}
|-
|[[Piers Dixon]]
|[[Truro (UK Parliament constituency)|Truro]]
|
|[[1970 United Kingdom general election|1970]]
|[[David Penhaligon]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
|{{party shortname linked|Liberal Party (UK)}}
|-
|[[Robert Lindsay, 29th Earl of Crawford|Robert Lindsay]]
|[[Welwyn Hatfield (UK Parliament constituency)|Welwyn and Hatfield]]
|[[Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (United Kingdom)|Minister of State for Foreign Affairs]] (1972–1974)
|[[1955 United Kingdom general election|1955]]
|[[Helene Hayman]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
|{{party shortname linked|Labour Party (UK)}}
|-
| rowspan="1" style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan="1" |{{party shortname linked|Labour Party (UK)}}
|[[Gwynoro Jones]]
|[[Carmarthen (UK Parliament constituency)|Carmarthen]]
|
|[[1970 United Kingdom general election|1970]]
|[[Gwynfor Evans]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Plaid Cymru}}" |
|{{party shortname linked|Plaid Cymru}}
|-
| rowspan="3" style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan="3" |{{party shortname linked|Liberal Party (UK)}}
|[[Paul Tyler]]
|[[Bodmin (UK Parliament constituency)|Bodmin]], [[Cornwall]]
|
|[[February 1974 United Kingdom general election|Feb 1974]]
|[[Robert Hicks (British politician)|Robert Hicks]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|{{party shortname linked|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|-
|[[Michael Winstanley]]
|[[Hazel Grove (UK Parliament constituency)|Hazel Grove]]
|
|[[February 1974 United Kingdom general election|Feb 1974]]
|[[Tom Arnold (politician)|Tom Arnold]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|{{party shortname linked|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|-
|[[Christopher Mayhew]]<ref name="LabMP">Elected as a Labour MP</ref>
|[[Woolwich East (UK Parliament constituency)|Woolwich East]] (contested [[Bath (UK Parliament constituency)|Bath]])
|
|[[1951 Woolwich East by-election|1951 by-election]]
|[[Edward Brown (British politician)|Edward Brown]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|{{party shortname linked|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|-
! rowspan=2 style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician}}" |
| rowspan=2|{{party shortname linked|Independent politician}}
|[[Eddie Milne]]<ref name="LabMP"/>
|[[Blyth Valley (UK Parliament constituency)|Blyth]]
|
|[[1960 Blyth by-election|1960 by-election]]
|[[John Ryman]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
|{{party shortname linked|Labour Party (UK)}}
|-
|[[Edward Griffiths (politician)|Edward Griffiths]]<ref name="LabMP"/>
|[[Sheffield Brightside]]
|
|[[1968 Sheffield Brightside by-election|1968 by-election]]
|[[Joan Maynard (politician)|Joan Maynard]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
|{{party shortname linked|Labour Party (UK)}}
|-
! rowspan=1 style="background-color: {{party color|Ulster Unionist Party}}" |
| rowspan=1|{{party shortname linked|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|[[Harry West]]
|[[Fermanagh and South Tyrone (UK Parliament constituency)|Fermanagh and South Tyrone]]
|[[Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party]] (1974 –1979)
|[[February 1974 United Kingdom general election|Feb 1974]]
|[[Frank Maguire (politician)|Frank Maguire]]
!style="background-color: {{party color|Independent (politician)}}" |
|{{party shortname linked|Independent (politician)}}
|-
! rowspan=1 style="background-color: {{party color|Lincoln Democratic Labour Association}}" |
| rowspan=1|{{party shortname linked|Lincoln Democratic Labour Association}}
|[[Dick Taverne]]<ref name="LabMP"/>
|[[Lincoln (UK Parliament constituency)|Lincoln]]
|[[Financial Secretary to the Treasury]] (1969–1970)
|[[1962 Lincoln by-election|1962 by-election]]
|[[Margaret Beckett|Margaret Jackson]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
|{{party shortname linked|Labour Party (UK)}}
|}

==See also==
* [[Labour government, 1974–1979]]
* [[List of MPs elected in the October 1974 United Kingdom general election]]
* [[October 1974 United Kingdom general election in Northern Ireland]]
* [[October 1974 United Kingdom general election in Scotland]]
* [[October 1974 United Kingdom general election in England]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=note}}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} 
{{notelist}}
==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{citation |last=Butler |first=David E. |author-link=David Butler (psephologist) |display-authors=etal |title=The British General Election of October 1974 |year=1975 |postscript=,}} the standard scholarly study
*{{citation |author-link=F. W. S. Craig |first=F. W. S. |last=Craig |title=British Electoral Facts: 1832–1987 |year=1989 |location=Dartmouth |publisher=Gower |isbn=0900178302 }}

==External links==
*[http://www.election.demon.co.uk/geresults.html United Kingdom election results—summary results 1885–1979]

===Manifestos===
*[http://politicsresources.net/area/uk/man/con74oct.htm ''Putting Britain First''], October 1974 Conservative Party manifesto
*[http://politicsresources.net/area/uk/man/lab74oct.htm ''Britain Will Win With Labour''], October 1974 Labour Party manifesto
*[http://politicsresources.net/area/uk/man/lib74oct.htm ''Why Britain Needs Liberal Government''], October 1974 Liberal Party manifesto

{{October 1974 United Kingdom general election|state=collapsed}}
{{British elections}}
{{1975 United Kingdom European Communities membership referendum}}
{{Harold Wilson}}
{{Edward Heath}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1974 10 United Kingdom general election}}
[[Category:October 1974 United Kingdom general election| ]]
[[Category:General elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1974 elections in the United Kingdom|General election]]
[[Category:October 1974 in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Harold Wilson]]
[[Category:Edward Heath]]
[[Category:History of the Labour Party (UK)]]