On this day seventy years ago at the 1951 general election, Labour won 13,948,385 votes (48.8%) compared to the Tories 13,717,851 (48.0%).🗳️
However the Conservatives won 321 seats to Labour’s 295 giving them a small majority of the then 625 seats in the House of Commons ...🧵
However the Conservatives won 321 seats to Labour’s 295 giving them a small majority of the then 625 seats in the House of Commons ...🧵
In 1951 Labour won the highest ever vote total and highest ever vote share for a political party at a UK general election, but still lost
In Feb 1974, the Tories won more votes, but fewer seats than Labour – the only other time post-war the party with the most votes has not won
In Feb 1974, the Tories won more votes, but fewer seats than Labour – the only other time post-war the party with the most votes has not won
After six years, the 1951 election brought to an end the transformative Labour government of 1945 which had created the NHS, the modern social security system, introduced legal aid, and brought industries (like rail and energy) into public ownership
Twenty months previously, Labour had won the 1950 election with a majority of five seats. It had called for an election to increase its majority.
This proved to be a miscalculation - and Winston Churchill again became PM, serving until he resigned in 1955, aged 81
This proved to be a miscalculation - and Winston Churchill again became PM, serving until he resigned in 1955, aged 81
Among those first elected in 1951 was Ted Short in Newcastle upon Tyne Central. He went on to be Education Secretary and Labour’s deputy leader.
He is perhaps most famous for creating “short money” – the funds paid to support Opposition parties to hold the Government to account.
He is perhaps most famous for creating “short money” – the funds paid to support Opposition parties to hold the Government to account.
Labour lost 20 net seats in 1951, but gained Anglesey from the Liberals, defeating Megan Lloyd George (the youngest child of former PM David).
Cledwyn Hughes took the seat for Labour, while Megan would later defect to Labour and win Carmarthen in the 1957 by-election
Cledwyn Hughes took the seat for Labour, while Megan would later defect to Labour and win Carmarthen in the 1957 by-election
Labour also gained Merioneth from the Liberals in 1951, with Thomas Jones taking the seat for Labour.
During WW1 he had served time in Wormwood Scrubs for refusing orders after being recognised as a conscientious objector but forced to serve in a non-combatant role.
During WW1 he had served time in Wormwood Scrubs for refusing orders after being recognised as a conscientious objector but forced to serve in a non-combatant role.
Following the 1951 election, in which Labour won the popular vote, the party would be out of power for 13 years until Harold Wilson won the first of his four general election victories
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