2015 United Kingdom general election — election of members to the House of Commons in 2015
The 2015 UK general election produced an unexpected Conservative majority, ending coalition government and reshaping the party landscape ahead of the Brexit referendum.
Key Facts
- Seats won by Conservatives
- 330 of 650
- Conservative vote share
- 36.9%
- Labour MPs returned
- 232 (26 fewer than 2010)
- Liberal Democrats seats lost
- 49 of 57 seats
- SNP Scottish seats won
- 56 of 59
- UKIP popular vote share
- 12.6% but only 1 seat
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The 2010–2015 Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government sought a renewed mandate. Opinion polls consistently predicted a hung parliament, prompting intense speculation about party coalitions and elevating smaller parties to unusual prominence in campaign coverage.
On 7 May 2015, voters across the United Kingdom elected 650 MPs to the House of Commons. Contrary to polling predictions, the Conservative Party under David Cameron secured 330 seats and a small overall majority, while Labour, the SNP, and the Liberal Democrats saw dramatically divergent fortunes.
David Cameron continued as Prime Minister with a majority government, making a Brexit referendum possible. Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg resigned their party leaderships. The SNP began nine years of dominance in Scottish Westminster seats, and the UK's political landscape shifted back toward two-party Conservative-Labour dominance.
Political Outcome
Conservative Party won an overall majority of 330 seats (36.9% vote share), ending the coalition with the Liberal Democrats and returning David Cameron as Prime Minister.
Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government led by David Cameron and Nick Clegg
Conservative majority government led by David Cameron