2017 United Kingdom general election — general election held in United Kingdom
The 2017 UK snap election stripped the Conservatives of their majority, forcing a minority government and deepening Brexit negotiation uncertainty.
Key Facts
- Conservative seats won
- 317 (net loss of 13)
- Labour seats net gain
- 30
- Conservative vote share
- 42.4% (highest since 1983)
- Labour vote share
- 40.0% (highest since 2001)
- SNP seats lost
- 21 (down from 56)
- DUP confidence & supply seats
- 10
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Prime Minister Theresa May called a snap election, ratified by a two-thirds Commons vote on 19 April 2017, seeking a larger parliamentary majority to strengthen her position ahead of Brexit negotiations following the UK's invocation of Article 50 in March 2017. Polls showed the Conservatives holding a commanding lead over Labour under Jeremy Corbyn.
On 8 June 2017, UK voters went to the polls in a general election contested for the first time by both May and Corbyn as party leaders. The Conservatives won 42.4% of the vote and 317 seats, while Labour took 40.0% and gained 30 seats net. The result produced a hung parliament, with the SNP and UKIP both suffering significant losses and the campaign interrupted by the Manchester and London Bridge terrorist attacks.
The Conservatives formed a minority government reliant on a confidence and supply agreement with Northern Ireland's DUP. The hung parliament triggered prolonged legislative deadlock over Brexit, ultimately ending May's premiership. Boris Johnson succeeded her as Prime Minister and subsequently called another general election to break the impasse.
Political Outcome
Hung parliament; Conservative minority government formed with DUP confidence and supply agreement after Conservatives lost their overall majority.
Conservative single-party majority government (working majority of 17 seats)
Conservative minority government with DUP confidence and supply support