United Kingdom general election, 1868

United Kingdom general election, 1868

17 November–7 December 1868

All 658 seats to the House of Commons 327 seats needed for a majority   First party Second party   Leader William Ewart Gladstone Benjamin Disraeli Party Liberal Conservative Leader since 3 December 1868 27 February 1868 Leader's seat Greenwich Buckinghamshire Last election 369 seats, 59.5% 289 seats, 40.5% Seats won 387 271 Seat change 18 18 Popular vote 1,428,776 903,318 Percentage 61.5% 38.4% Swing 2.0% 2.1%

PM before election Benjamin Disraeli Conservative Subsequent PM William Ewart Gladstone Liberal

The 1868 United Kingdom general election was the first after passage of the Reform Act 1867, which enfranchised many male householders, thus greatly increasing the number of men who could vote in elections in the United Kingdom. It was the first election held in the United Kingdom in which more than a million votes were cast; nearly triple the number of votes were cast compared to the previous election.

The result saw the Liberals, led by William Ewart Gladstone, again increase their large majority over Benjamin Disraeli's Conservatives to more than 100 seats.

This was the last election at which all the seats were taken by only the two leading parties, although the parties at the time were loose coalitions and party affiliation was not listed on ballot papers.

Results

Total votes cast: 2,333,251

Voting summary

Seats summary

Regional Results

Great Britain

England

Party		Candidates	Unopposed	Seats	Seats change	Votes	%	% Change
	Liberal	412	46	244		1,192,098	59.7
	Conservative	334	54	211		803,637	40.2
	Others	1	0	0		969	0.1
Total		747	100	455		1,996,704	100

Scotland

Party		Candidates	Unopposed	Seats	Seats change	Votes	%	% Change
	Liberal	70	23	51		125,356	82.5
	Conservative	20	3	7		23,985	17.5
Total		90	26	58		149,341	100

Wales

Party		Candidates	Unopposed	Seats	Seats change	Votes	%	% Change
	Liberal	29	10	23		52,256	62.1
	Conservative	20	4	10		29,866	37.9
Total		49	14	33		82,122	100

Ireland

Party		Candidates	Unopposed	Seats	Seats change	Votes	%	% Change
	Liberal	85	41	66	8	54,461	57.9	2.3
	Conservative	53	26	37	8	38,765	41.9	2.5
	Others	2	0	0		188	0.2	0.2
Total		140	67	103		149,341	100

Universities

References

• F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987
• British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher (Ashgate Publishing Ltd 2000)
• Spartacus: Political Parties and Election Results

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