1979 United Kingdom general election

← Oct 1974 3 May 1979 1983 →

All 635 seats in the House of Commons
318 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
Turnout76.0%, Increase3.2%
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Margaret Thatcher James Callaghan David Steel
Party Conservative Labour Liberal
Leader since 11 February 1975 5 April 1976 7 July 1976
Leader's seat Finchley Cardiff South East Roxburgh, Selkirk & Peebles
Last election 277 seats, 35.8% 319 seats, 39.2% 13 seats, 18.3%
Seats won 342 266 11
Seat change Increase65 Decrease53 Decrease2
Popular vote 13,760,328 11,451,339 4,313,804
Percentage 44.1% 36.7% 13.8%
Swing Increase8.3% Decrease2.5% Decrease4.5%

Prime Minister before election

James Callaghan
Labour

Prime Minister after election

Margaret Thatcher
Conservative

1981 Labour Party deputy leadership election
← 1980 27 September 1981 (1981-09-27) 1983 →
 
Candidate Tony Benn Denis Healey John Silkin
First ballot 36.1% 43.7% 17.3%
Second ballot 50.1% 49.9% Eliminated

Deputy Leader before election

Denis Healey

Elected Deputy Leader

Tony Benn


1980 Labour Party leadership election
← 1976 4–10 November 1980 (1980-11-04 – 1980-11-10) 1983 →
 
Candidate Michael Foot Denis Healey
First ballot 83 (31.2%) 109 (40.9%)
Second ballot 138 (51.9%) 127 (47.7%)

 
Candidate John Silkin Peter Shore
First ballot 38 (14.2%) 32 (12.0%)
Second ballot Eliminated Eliminated

Leader before election

James Callaghan

Elected Leader

Michael Foot