List of MPs elected in the October 1974 United Kingdom general election

This is a list of members of Parliament (MPs) elected in the October 1974 general election, held on 10 October. This Parliament was dissolved in 1979.

October 1974–1979 Parliament of the United Kingdom
February–October 1974 Parliament 1979–1983 Parliament
Overview
Legislative bodyParliament of the United Kingdom
Term10 October 1974 (1974-10-10) – 3 June 1979 (1979-06-03)
ElectionOctober 1974 United Kingdom general election
GovernmentFourth Wilson ministry
Callaghan ministry 
House of Commons
Members635
SpeakerSelwyn Lloyd
George Thomas 
LeaderMichael Foot
Edward Short 
Prime MinisterHarold Wilson
James Callaghan 
Leader of the OppositionEdward Heath
Margaret Thatcher 
Third-party leaderJeremy Thorpe
Jo Grimond
David Steel 
House of Lords
Lord ChancellorBaron Elwyn-Jones 

Composition

edit

These representative diagrams show the composition of the parties in the October 1974 general election.

 

Note: The Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru sit together as a party group. This is not the official seating plan of the House of Commons, which has five rows of benches on each side, with the government party to the right of the speaker and opposition parties to the left, but with room for only around two-thirds of MPs to sit at any one time.

Affiliation Members
Labour Party 319
Conservative Party 277
Liberal Party 13
Scottish National Party 11
Ulster Unionist Party 6
Plaid Cymru 3
Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party 3
Democratic Unionist Party 1
Social Democratic and Labour Party 1
Independent Republican 1
 Total 635
 Notional government majority 0 (-5)
 Effective government majority 2

This is a list of Members of Parliament elected to the Parliament of the United Kingdom in October 1974 general election, held on 10 October. This was the second general election to be held that year. The Parliament lasted until 1979.

Notable newcomers to the House of Commons included Margaret Jackson (later Margaret Beckett), David Penhaligon, Bryan Gould, Margaret Bain (later Margaret Ewing), Helene Hayman and Ann Taylor.


Table of contents:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z By-elections

Constituency MP Party
Aberavon John Morris Labour
Aberdare Ioan Evans Labour Co-operative
Aberdeen, North Robert Hughes Labour
Aberdeen, South Iain Sproat Conservative
Aberdeenshire East Douglas Henderson Scottish National Party
Aberdeenshire West Russell Fairgrieve Conservative
Abertillery Jeffrey Thomas Labour
Abingdon Airey Neave Conservative
Accrington Arthur Davidson Labour
Aldershot Julian Critchley Conservative
Aldridge-Brownhills Geoff Edge Labour
Altrincham and Sale Fergus Montgomery Conservative
Anglesey Cledwyn Hughes Labour
Angus North and Mearns Alick Buchanan-Smith Conservative
Angus South Andrew Welsh Scottish National Party
Antrim, North Rev. Ian Paisley Democratic Unionist
Antrim, South James Molyneaux Ulster Unionist
Argyll Iain MacCormick Scottish National Party
Armagh Harold McCusker Ulster Unionist
Arundel Michael Marshall Conservative
Ashfield David Marquand Labour
Ashford Keith Speed Conservative
Ashton-under-Lyne Robert Sheldon Labour
Aylesbury Timothy Raison Conservative
Ayr Hon. George Younger Conservative
Ayrshire, Central David Lambie Labour
Ayrshire, North, and Bute John Corrie Conservative
Ayrshire, South James Sillars Labour
Banbury Neil Marten Conservative
Banffshire Hamish Watt Scottish National Party
Barking, Barking Josephine Richardson Labour
Barking, Dagenham John Parker Labour
Barkston Ash Michael Alison Conservative
Barnet, Chipping Barnet Reginald Maudling Conservative
Barnet, Finchley Margaret Thatcher Conservative
Barnet, Hendon, North John Gorst Conservative
Barnet, Hendon, South Peter Thomas Conservative
Barnsley Roy Mason Labour
Barrow-in-Furness Albert Booth Labour
Barry Sir Raymond Gower Conservative
Basildon Eric Moonman Labour
Basingstoke David Mitchell Conservative
Bassetlaw Joseph Ashton Labour
Bath Sir Edward Brown Conservative
Batley and Morley Sir Alfred Broughton Labour
Beaconsfield Ronald Bell Conservative
Bebington and Ellesmere Port Alfred Bates Labour
Bedford Trevor Skeet Conservative
Bedfordshire, Mid Stephen Hastings Conservative
Bedfordshire, South David Madel Conservative
Bedwellty Neil Kinnock Labour
Beeston James Lester Conservative
Belfast, East William Craig Vanguard Progressive Unionist
Belfast, North John Carson Ulster Unionist
Belfast, South Rev. Robert Bradford Vanguard Progressive Unionist
Belfast, West Gerard "Gerry" Fitt Social Democratic and Labour
Belper Roderick MacFarquhar Labour
Berwick and East Lothian John Mackintosh Labour
Berwick-upon-Tweed Alan Beith Liberal
Bexley, Bexleyheath Cyril Townsend Conservative
Bexley, Erith and Crayford James Wellbeloved Labour
Bexley, Sidcup Edward Heath Conservative
Birkenhead Edmund Dell Labour
Birmingham, Edgbaston Jill Knight Conservative
Birmingham, Erdington Julius Silverman Labour
Birmingham, Hall Green Reginald Eyre Conservative
Birmingham, Handsworth John Lee Labour
Birmingham, Ladywood Brian Walden Labour
Birmingham, Northfield Raymond Carter Labour
Birmingham, Perry Barr Jeff Rooker Labour
Birmingham, Selly Oak Thomas Litterick Labour
Birmingham, Small Heath Denis Howell Labour
Birmingham, Sparkbrook Roy Hattersley Labour
Birmingham, Stechford Roy Jenkins Labour
Birmingham, Yardley Sydney Tierney Labour
Bishop Auckland James Boyden Labour
Blaby Nigel Lawson Conservative
Blackburn Barbara Castle Labour
Blackpool, North Norman Miscampbell Conservative
Blackpool, South Peter Blaker Conservative
Blaydon Robert Woof Labour
Blyth John Ryman Labour
Bodmin Robert Hicks Conservative
Bolsover Dennis Skinner Labour
Bolton, East David Young Labour
Bolton, West Ann Taylor Labour
Bootle Simon Mahon Labour
Bosworth Hon. Adam Butler Conservative
Bothwell James Hamilton Labour
Bournemouth, East John Cordle Conservative
Bournemouth, West Sir John Eden Conservative
Bradford, North Benjamin Ford Labour
Bradford, South Thomas Torney Labour
Bradford, West Edward Lyons Labour
Braintree Antony Newton Conservative
Brecon and Radnor Caerwyn Roderick Labour
Brent, East Reginald Freeson Labour
Brent, North Rhodes Boyson Conservative
Brent, South Laurence Pavitt Labour Co-operative
Brentwood and Ongar Robert McCrindle Conservative
Bridgwater Tom King Conservative
Bridlington Hon. Richard Wood Conservative
Brigg and Scunthorpe John Ellis Labour
Brighouse and Spenborough Colin Jackson Labour
Brighton, Kemptown Andrew Bowden Conservative
Brighton, Pavilion Julian Amery Conservative
Bristol, North East Arthur Palmer Labour Co-operative
Bristol, North West Ronald Thomas Labour
Bristol, South Michael Cocks Labour
Bristol, South East Tony Benn Labour
Bristol, West Robert Cooke Conservative
Bromley, Beckenham Philip Goodhart Conservative
Bromley, Chislehurst Roger Sims Conservative
Bromley, Orpington Ivor Stanbrook Conservative
Bromley, Ravensbourne John Hunt Conservative
Bromsgrove and Redditch Hal Miller Conservative
Buckingham William Benyon Conservative
Burnley Dan Jones Labour
Burton Ivan Lawrence Conservative
Bury and Radcliffe Frank White Labour
Bury St Edmunds Eldon Griffiths Conservative
Caernarfon Dafydd Wigley Plaid Cymru
Caerphilly Alfred Evans Labour
Caithness and Sutherland Robert Maclennan Labour
Cambridge David Lane Conservative
Cambridgeshire Francis Pym Conservative
Camden, Hampstead Geoffrey Finsberg Conservative
Camden, Holborn and St Pancras South Lena Jeger Labour
Camden, St Pancras, North Albert Stallard Labour
Cannock Gwilym Roberts Labour
Canterbury David Crouch Conservative
Cardiff, North Ian Grist Conservative
Cardiff, North West Michael Roberts Conservative
Cardiff, South East James Callaghan Labour
Cardiff, West George Thomas Labour
Cardigan Geraint Howells Liberal
Carlisle Ronald Lewis Labour
Carlton Philip Holland Conservative
Carmarthen Gwynfor Evans Plaid Cymru
Cheadle Tom Normanton Conservative
Chelmsford Norman St John-Stevas Conservative
Cheltenham Charles Irving Conservative
Chertsey and Walton Geoffrey Pattie Conservative
Chesham and Amersham Ian Gilmour Conservative
Chester, City of Hon. Peter Morrison Conservative
Chesterfield Eric Varley Labour
Chester-le-Street Giles Radice Labour
Chichester Anthony Nelson Conservative
Chippenham Daniel Awdry Conservative
Chorley George Rodgers Labour
Christchurch and Lymington Robert Adley Conservative
Cirencester and Tewkesbury Hon. Nicholas Ridley Conservative
City of London and Westminster South Christopher Tugendhat Conservative
City of Westminster, Paddington Arthur Latham Labour
City of Westminster, St Marylebone Kenneth Baker Conservative
Cleveland and Whitby Leon Brittan Conservative
Clitheroe David Walder Conservative
Coatbridge and Airdrie James Dempsey Labour
Colchester Antony Buck Conservative
Colne Valley Richard Wainwright Liberal
Consett David Watkins Labour
Conway Wyn Roberts Conservative
Cornwall, North John Pardoe Liberal
Coventry, North East George Park Labour
Coventry, North West Maurice Edelman Labour
Coventry, South East William Wilson Labour
Coventry, South West Audrey Wise Labour
Crewe Gwyneth Dunwoody Labour
Crosby Graham Page Conservative
Croydon, Central John Moore Conservative
Croydon, North East Bernard Weatherill Conservative
Croydon, North West Robert Taylor Conservative
Croydon, South William Clark Conservative
Darlington Edward Fletcher Labour
Dartford Sydney Irving Labour Co-operative
Darwen Charles Fletcher-Cooke Conservative
Daventry Arthur Jones Conservative
Dearne Valley Edwin Wainwright Labour
Denbigh Geraint Morgan Conservative
Derby, North Phillip Whitehead Labour
Derby, South Walter Johnson Labour
Derbyshire, North East Thomas Swain Labour
Derbyshire, South East Peter Rost Conservative
Derbyshire, West James Scott-Hopkins Conservative
Devizes Hon. Charles Morrison Conservative
Devon, North Jeremy Thorpe Liberal
Devon, West Peter Mills Conservative
Dewsbury David Ginsburg Labour
Doncaster Harold Walker Labour
Don Valley Richard Kelley Labour
Dorking Sir George Sinclair Conservative
Dorset, North David James Conservative
Dorset, South Evelyn King Conservative
Dorset, West James Spicer Conservative
Dover and Deal Peter Rees Conservative
Down, North James Kilfedder Ulster Unionist
Down, South Enoch Powell Ulster Unionist
Dudley, East John Gilbert Labour
Dudley, West Colin Phipps Labour
Dumfries Hector Monro Conservative
Dunbartonshire, Central Hugh McCartney Labour
Dunbartonshire, East Margaret Bain Scottish National Party
Dunbartonshire, West Ian Campbell Labour
Dundee, East Gordon Wilson Scottish National Party
Dundee, West Peter Doig Labour
Dunfermline Adam Hunter Labour
Durham Mark Hughes Labour
Durham, North West Ernest Armstrong Labour
Ealing, Acton Sir George Young, 6th Baronet Conservative
Ealing, North William Molloy Labour
Ealing, Southall Sydney Bidwell Labour
Easington Jack Dormand Labour
Eastbourne Ian Gow Conservative
East Grinstead Geoffrey Johnson Smith Conservative
East Kilbride Maurice Miller Labour
Eastleigh David Price Conservative
Ebbw Vale Michael Foot Labour
Eccles Lewis Carter-Jones Labour
Edinburgh Central Robin Cook Labour
Edinburgh East Gavin Strang Labour
Edinburgh Leith Ronald King Murray Labour
Edinburgh North Alex Fletcher Conservative
Edinburgh Pentlands Malcolm Rifkind Conservative
Edinburgh South Michael Hutchison Conservative
Edinburgh West Lord James Douglas-Hamilton Conservative
Enfield, Edmonton Edward Graham Labour Co-operative
Enfield, North Bryan Davies Labour
Enfield, Southgate Hon. Anthony Berry Conservative
Epping Forest John Biggs-Davison Conservative
Epsom & Ewell Sir Peter Rawlinson Conservative
Esher Carol Mather Conservative
Essex, South East Sir Bernard Braine Conservative
Eton and Slough Joan Lestor Labour
Exeter John Hannam Conservative
Eye Sir Harwood Harrison Conservative
Falmouth and Camborne David Mudd Conservative
Fareham Reginald Bennett Conservative
Farnham Maurice Macmillan Conservative
Farnworth John Roper Labour Co-operative
Faversham Roger Moate Conservative
Fermanagh & South Tyrone Frank Maguire Independent Republican
Fife, Central Willie Hamilton Labour
Fife, East Sir John E. Gilmour, Bt. Conservative
Flint, East Barry Jones Labour Co-operative
Flint, West Sir Anthony Meyer Conservative
Folkestone and Hythe Albert Costain Conservative
Gainsborough Marcus Kimball Conservative
Galloway George Thompson Scottish National Party
Gateshead, East Bernard Conlan Labour
Gateshead, West John Horam Labour
Gillingham Frederick Burden Conservative
Glasgow, Cathcart Edward Taylor Conservative
Glasgow, Central Thomas McMillan Labour
Glasgow, Craigton Bruce Millan Labour
Glasgow, Garscadden William Small Labour
Glasgow, Govan Harry Selby Labour
Glasgow, Hillhead Thomas Galbraith Conservative
Glasgow, Kelvingrove Neil Carmichael Labour
Glasgow, Maryhill James Craigen Labour Co-operative
Glasgow, Pollok James White Labour
Glasgow, Provan Hugh Brown Labour
Glasgow, Queen's Park Frank McElhone Labour
Glasgow, Shettleston Sir Myer Galpern Labour
Glasgow, Springburn Richard Buchanan Labour
Gloucester Sally Oppenheim Conservative
Gloucestershire, South John Cope Conservative
Gloucestershire, West John Watkinson Labour
Goole Edmund Marshall Labour
Gosport Peter Viggers Conservative
Gower Ifor Davies Labour
Grantham Joseph Godber Conservative
Gravesend John Ovenden Labour
Greenock and Port Glasgow Dickson Mabon Labour Co-operative
Greenwich, Greenwich Guy Barnett Labour
Greenwich, Woolwich, East John Cartwright Labour
Greenwich, Woolwich, West William Hamling Labour
Grimsby Anthony Crosland Labour
Guildford David Howell Conservative
Hackney, Central Stanley Clinton-Davis Labour
Hackney, North and Stoke Newington David Weitzman Labour
Hackney, South and Shoreditch Ronald Brown Labour
Halesowen and Stourbridge John Stokes Conservative
Halifax Shirley Summerskill Labour
Haltemprice Patrick Wall Conservative
Hamilton Alexander Wilson Labour
Hammersmith, Fulham Michael Stewart Labour
Hammersmith, North Frank Tomney Labour
Harborough John Farr Conservative
Haringey, Hornsey Hugh Rossi Conservative
Haringey, Tottenham Norman Atkinson Labour
Haringey, Wood Green Joyce Butler Labour Co-operative
Harlow Stanley Newens Labour Co-operative
Harrogate Robert Banks Conservative
Harrow, Central Anthony Grant Conservative
Harrow, East Hugh Dykes Conservative
Harrow, West John Page Conservative
Hartlepool Edward Leadbitter Labour
Harwich Julian Ridsdale Conservative
Hastings Kenneth Warren Conservative
Havant and Waterloo Ian Lloyd Conservative
Havering, Hornchurch Alan Lee Williams Labour
Havering, Romford Michael Neubert Conservative
Havering, Upminster John Loveridge Conservative
Hazel Grove Tom Arnold Conservative
Hemel Hempstead Robin Corbett Labour
Hemsworth Alec Woodall Labour
Henley Michael Heseltine Conservative
Hereford Colin Shepherd Conservative
Hertford and Stevenage Shirley Williams Labour
Hertfordshire, East Sir Derek Walker-Smith Conservative
Hertfordshire, South Cecil Parkinson Conservative
Hertfordshire, South West Geoffrey Dodsworth Conservative
Hexham Geoffrey Rippon Conservative
Heywood and Royton Joel Barnett Labour
High Peak Spencer Le Marchant Conservative
Hillingdon, Hayes and Harlington Neville Sandelson Labour
Hillingdon, Ruislip-Northwood Petre Crowder Conservative
Hillingdon, Uxbridge Michael Shersby Conservative
Hitchin Ian Stewart Conservative
Holland with Boston Richard Body Conservative
Honiton Peter Emery Conservative
Horncastle Peter Tapsell Conservative
Horsham and Crawley Peter Hordern Conservative
Houghton-le-Spring Thomas Urwin Labour
Hounslow, Brentford and Isleworth Barney Hayhoe Conservative
Hounslow, Feltham and Heston Russell Kerr Labour
Hove Hon. Tim Sainsbury Conservative
Howden Sir Paul Bryan Conservative
Huddersfield, East Joseph Mallalieu Labour
Huddersfield, West Kenneth Lomas Labour
Huntingdonshire Sir David Renton Conservative
Huyton Harold Wilson Labour
Ilkeston Raymond Fletcher Labour
Ince Michael McGuire Labour
Inverness Russell Johnston Liberal
Ipswich Kenneth Weetch Labour
Isle of Ely Clement Freud Liberal
Isle of Wight Stephen Ross Liberal
Islington, Central John Grant Labour
Islington, North Michael O'Halloran Labour
Islington, South and Finsbury George Cunningham Labour
Jarrow Ernest Fernyhough Labour
Keighley Robert Cryer Labour
Kensington and Chelsea, Chelsea Nicholas Scott Conservative
Kensington and Chelsea, Kensington Sir Brandon Rhys-Williams Conservative
Kettering Sir Geoffrey de Freitas Labour
Kidderminster Esmond Bulmer Conservative
Kilmarnock William Ross Labour
Kingston upon Hull Central Kevin McNamara Labour
Kingston upon Hull East John Prescott Labour
Kingston upon Hull West James Johnson Labour
Kingston-upon-Thames Norman Lamont Conservative
Kingswood Terence Walker Labour
Kinross and West Perthshire Nicholas Fairbairn Conservative
Kirkcaldy Harry Gourlay Labour
Knutsford John Davies Conservative
Lambeth, Central Marcus Lipton Labour
Lambeth, Norwood John Fraser Labour
Lambeth, Streatham William Shelton Conservative
Lambeth, Vauxhall George Strauss Labour
Lanark Judith Hart Labour
Lanarkshire, North John Smith Labour
Lancaster Elaine Kellett-Bowman Conservative
Leeds, East Denis Healey Labour
Leeds, North East Sir Keith Joseph Conservative
Leeds, North West Sir Donald Kaberry Conservative
Leeds, South Merlyn Rees Labour
Leeds, South East Stanley Cohen Labour
Leeds, West Joseph Dean Labour
Leek David Knox Conservative
Leicester, East Tom Bradley Labour
Leicester South Jim Marshall Labour
Leicester, West Greville Janner Labour
Leigh Harold Boardman Labour
Leominster Peter Temple-Morris Conservative
Lewes Tim Rathbone Conservative
Lewisham Deptford Hon. John Silkin Labour
Lewisham, East Roland Moyle Labour
Lewisham, West Christopher Price Labour
Lichfield and Tamworth Bruce Grocott Labour
Lincoln Margaret Jackson Labour
Liverpool, Edge Hill Sir Arthur Irvine Labour
Liverpool, Garston Edward Loyden Labour
Liverpool, Kirkdale James Dunn Labour
Liverpool, Scotland Exchange Robert Parry Labour
Liverpool, Toxteth Richard Crawshaw Labour
Liverpool, Walton Eric Heffer Labour
Liverpool, Wavertree Anthony Steen Conservative
Liverpool, West Derby Eric Ogden Labour
Llanelli Denzil Davies Labour
Londonderry William Ross Ulster Unionist
Loughborough John Desmond Cronin Labour
Louth Lt.-Cmdr. Michael Brotherton Conservative
Lowestoft James Prior Conservative
Ludlow Jasper More Conservative
Luton, East Ivor Clemitson Labour
Luton, West Brian Sedgemore Labour
Macclesfield Nicholas Winterton Conservative
Maidstone John Wells Conservative
Maldon John Wakeham Conservative
Manchester, Ardwick Gerald Kaufman Labour
Manchester, Blackley Paul Rose Labour
Manchester, Central Harold Lever Labour
Manchester, Gorton Kenneth Marks Labour
Manchester, Moss Side Frank Hatton Labour
Manchester, Openshaw Charles Morris Labour
Manchester, Withington Frederick Silvester Conservative
Manchester, Wythenshawe Alfred Morris Labour Co-operative
Mansfield Don Concannon Labour
Melton Michael Latham Conservative
Meriden John Tomlinson Labour
Merioneth Dafydd Thomas Plaid Cymru
Merthyr Tydfil Edward Rowlands Labour
Merton, Mitcham and Morden Bruce Douglas-Mann Labour
Merton, Wimbledon Sir Michael Havers Conservative
Middleton and Prestwich James Callaghan Labour
Midlothian Alexander Eadie Labour
Monmouth John Stradling Thomas Conservative
Montgomeryshire Emlyn Hooson Liberal
Moray and Nairn Winifred Ewing Scottish National Party
Morecambe and Lonsdale Alfred Hall-Davis Conservative
Morpeth George Grant Labour
Motherwell and Wishaw Jeremy Bray Labour
Nantwich John Cockcroft Conservative
Neath Donald Coleman Labour
Nelson and Colne Douglas Hoyle Labour
Newark Edward Stanley Bishop Labour
Newbury Michael McNair-Wilson Conservative
Newcastle-under-Lyme John Golding Labour
Newcastle upon Tyne, Central Edward Short Labour
Newcastle upon Tyne, East Michael Thomas Labour Co-operative
Newcastle upon Tyne, North Sir William Elliott Conservative
Newcastle upon Tyne, West Robert Brown Labour
New Forest Patrick McNair-Wilson Conservative
Newham, North East Reginald Prentice Labour
Newham, North West Arthur Lewis Labour
Newham, South Nigel Spearing Labour
Newport Roy Hughes Labour
Newton John Evans Labour
Norfolk North Ralph Howell Conservative
Norfolk, North West Christopher Brocklebank-Fowler Conservative
Norfolk, South John MacGregor Conservative
Norfolk, South West Paul Hawkins Conservative
Normanton Albert Roberts Labour
Northampton, North Maureen Colquhoun Labour
Northampton, South Michael Morris Conservative
North Fylde Walter Clegg Conservative
Northwich Alastair Goodlad Conservative
Norwich, North David Ennals Labour
Norwich, South John Garrett Labour
Nottingham, East Jack Dunnett Labour
Nottingham, North William Whitlock Labour
Nottingham, West Michael English Labour
Nuneaton Leslie Huckfield Labour
Ogmore Walter Padley Labour
Oldham, East James Lamond Labour
Oldham, West Michael Meacher Labour
Orkney and Shetland Jo Grimond Liberal
Ormskirk Robert Kilroy-Silk Labour
Oswestry John Biffen Conservative
Oxford Evan Luard Labour
Oxfordshire, Mid Hon. Douglas Hurd Conservative
Paisley John Robertson Labour
Pembrokeshire Nicholas Edwards Conservative
Penistone John Mendelson Labour
Penrith and The Border William Whitelaw Conservative
Perth and East Perthshire Douglas Crawford Scottish National Party
Peterborough Michael Ward Labour
Petersfield Lt.-Col. Michael Mates Conservative
Plymouth, Devonport David Owen Labour
Plymouth, Drake Janet Fookes Conservative
Plymouth, Sutton Alan Clark Conservative
Pontefract and Castleford Joseph Harper Labour
Pontypool Leo Abse Labour
Pontypridd Brynmor John Labour
Poole Oscar Murton Conservative
Portsmouth, North Frank Judd Labour
Portsmouth, South Bonner Pink Conservative
Preston, North Ronald Atkins Labour
Preston, South Stanley Thorne Labour
Pudsey Giles Shaw Conservative
Reading, North Anthony Durant Conservative
Reading, South Gerard Vaughan Conservative
Redbridge, Ilford, North Millie Miller Labour
Redbridge, Ilford, South Arnold Shaw Labour
Redbridge, Wanstead and Woodford Patrick Jenkin Conservative
Reigate George Gardiner Conservative
Renfrewshire, East Betty Harvie Anderson Conservative
Renfrewshire, West Norman Buchan Labour
Rhondda Alec Jones Labour
Richmond upon Thames, Richmond Sir Anthony Royle Conservative
Richmond upon Thames, Twickenham Toby Jessel Conservative
Richmond (Yorkshire) Sir Timothy Kitson Conservative
Ripon Keith Hampson Conservative
Rochdale Cyril Smith Liberal
Rochester and Chatham Robert Bean Labour
Ross and Cromarty Hamish Gray Conservative
Rossendale Michael Noble Labour
Rotherham Brian O'Malley Labour
Rother Valley Peter Hardy Labour
Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles David Steel Liberal
Royal Tunbridge Wells Patrick Mayhew Conservative
Rugby William Price Labour
Runcorn Mark Carlisle Conservative
Rushcliffe Kenneth Clarke Conservative
Rutherglen Gregor Mackenzie Labour
Rutland and Stamford Kenneth Lewis Conservative
Rye Godman Irvine Conservative
Saffron Walden Peter Kirk Conservative
St Albans Victor Goodhew Conservative
St Helens Leslie Spriggs Labour
St Ives John Nott Conservative
Salford, East Frank Allaun Labour
Salford, West Stanley Orme Labour
Salisbury Michael Hamilton Conservative
Scarborough Michael Shaw Conservative
Sevenoaks Sir John Rodgers Conservative
Sheffield, Attercliffe Patrick Duffy Labour
Sheffield, Brightside Joan Maynard Labour
Sheffield, Hallam John Osborn Conservative
Sheffield, Heeley Frank Hooley Labour
Sheffield, Hillsborough Martin Flannery Labour
Sheffield, Park Frederick Mulley Labour
Shipley Marcus Fox Conservative
Shoreham Richard Luce Conservative
Shrewsbury Sir John Langford-Holt Conservative
Skipton Burnaby Drayson Conservative
Solihull Percy Grieve Conservative
Somerset, North Paul Dean Conservative
Southampton, Itchen Bob Mitchell Labour
Southampton, Test Bryan Gould Labour
Southend, East Sir Stephen McAdden Conservative
Southend, West Paul Channon Conservative
South Fylde Edward Gardner Conservative
Southport Ian Percival Conservative
South Shields Arthur Blenkinsop Labour
Southwark, Bermondsey Robert Mellish Labour
Southwark, Dulwich Hon. Samuel Silkin Labour
Southwark, Peckham Harry Lamborn Labour
Sowerby Max Madden Labour
Spelthorne Humphrey Atkins Conservative
Stafford and Stone Hon. Hugh Fraser Conservative
Staffordshire, South West Patrick Cormack Conservative
Stalybridge and Hyde Tom Pendry Labour
Stirling, Falkirk and Grangemouth Harry Ewing Labour
Stirlingshire, East and Clackmannan George Reid Scottish National Party
Stirlingshire, West Dennis Canavan Labour
Stockport, North Andrew Bennett Labour
Stockport, South Maurice Orbach Labour
Stoke-on-Trent, Central Robert Cant Labour
Stoke-on-Trent, North John Forrester Labour
Stoke-on-Trent, South Jack Ashley Labour
Stratford-on-Avon Angus Maude Conservative
Stretford Winston Churchill Conservative
Stroud Anthony Kershaw Conservative
Sudbury and Woodbridge Keith Stainton Conservative
Sunderland, North Frederick Willey Labour
Sunderland, South Gordon Bagier Labour
Surbiton Sir Nigel Fisher Conservative
Surrey, East Sir Geoffrey Howe Conservative
Surrey, North West Michael Grylls Conservative
Sussex, Mid Tim Renton Conservative
Sutton, Carshalton Robert Carr Conservative
Sutton, Sutton and Cheam Neil Macfarlane Conservative
Sutton Coldfield Norman Fowler Conservative
Swansea, East Donald Anderson Labour
Swansea, West Alan Williams Labour
Swindon David Stoddart Labour
Taunton Edward du Cann Conservative
Teesside, Middlesbrough Arthur Bottomley Labour
Teesside, Redcar James Tinn Labour
Teesside, Stockton William Rodgers Labour
Teesside, Thornaby Ian Wrigglesworth Labour Co-operative
Thanet, East Jonathan Aitken Conservative
Thanet, West William Rees-Davies Conservative
Thirsk and Malton John Spence Conservative
Thurrock Hugh Delargy Labour
Tiverton Robin Maxwell-Hyslop Conservative
Tonbridge and Malling John Stanley Conservative
Torbay Sir Frederic Bennett Conservative
Totnes Ray Mawby Conservative
Tower Hamlets, Bethnal Green and Bow Ian Mikardo Labour
Tower Hamlets, Stepney and Poplar Peter Shore Labour
Truro David Penhaligon Liberal
Tynemouth Neville Trotter Conservative
Ulster, Mid John Dunlop Vanguard Progressive Unionist
Wakefield Walter Harrison Labour
Wallasey Lynda Chalker Conservative
Wallsend Ted Garrett Labour
Walsall, North John Stonehouse Labour Co-operative
Walsall, South Bruce George Labour
Waltham Forest, Chingford Norman Tebbit Conservative
Waltham Forest, Leyton Bryan Magee Labour
Waltham Forest, Walthamstow Eric Deakins Labour
Wandsworth, Battersea, North Douglas Jay Labour
Wandsworth, Battersea, South Ernest Perry Labour
Wandsworth, Putney Hugh Jenkins Labour
Wandsworth, Tooting Tom Cox Labour
Warley, East Andrew Faulds Labour
Warley, West Peter Archer Labour
Warrington Thomas Williams Labour Co-operative
Warwick and Leamington Dudley Smith Conservative
Watford Raphael Tuck Labour
Wellingborough Peter Fry Conservative
Wells Hon. Robert Boscawen Conservative
Welwyn and Hatfield Helene Hayman Labour
West Bromwich, East Peter Snape Labour
West Bromwich, West Betty Boothroyd Labour
Westbury Dennis Walters Conservative
Western Isles Donald Stewart Scottish National Party
Westhoughton Roger Stott Labour
West Lothian Tam Dalyell Labour
Westmorland Michael Jopling Conservative
Weston-super-Mare Jerry Wiggin Conservative
Whitehaven John Cunningham Labour
Widnes Gordon Oakes Labour
Wigan Alan Fitch Labour
Winchester Rear-Adm. Morgan Morgan-Giles Conservative
Windsor and Maidenhead Alan Glyn Conservative
Wirral Selwyn Lloyd None - Speaker
Woking Cranley Onslow Conservative
Wokingham William van Straubenzee Conservative
Wolverhampton, North East Renee Short Labour
Wolverhampton, South East Robert Edwards Labour Co-operative
Wolverhampton, South West Nicholas Budgen Conservative
Worcester Peter Walker Conservative
Worcestershire, South Michael Spicer Conservative
Workington Fred Peart Labour
Worthing Terence Higgins Conservative
Wrekin, The Gerald Fowler Labour
Wrexham Tom Ellis Labour
Wycombe Sir John Hall Conservative
Yarmouth Anthony Fell Conservative
Yeovil John Peyton Conservative
York Alexander Lyon Labour

By-elections

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See the list of United Kingdom by-elections.

Four seats were vacant when Parliament was dissolved preparatory to the 1979 general election:

In addition, Maurice Orbach (Labour MP for Stockport South) died on 24 April, after dissolution but before the general election.

Defections

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Progression of government majority and party totals

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The government voting total is the total number of Labour MPs, minus the Labour Deputy Speakers (two until 3 Feb 1976, one from that date). The opposition voting total is the total number of other MPs, minus the Speaker and the Conservative Deputy Speakers (one until 3 Feb 1976, two from that date). The majority is the difference between the former and the latter.

The Conservatives began with 276 MPs; the figure of 277 given above includes the Speaker Selwyn Lloyd.

In the Majority column, figures in brackets denote the majority the Lib-Lab pact had during its time of operation.

Date Event Govt majority Labour Con Lib SNP UUP Plaid Vang SDLP DUP UUUP ENP SLP Indep. Spkr Vacant
29 October 1974 Opening of Parliament 3 319 276 13 11 6 3 3 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0
20 March 1975 Hamling (Lab, Woolwich W) dies 2 318 1
26 June 1975 Bottomley wins Woolwich W by-election for Cons 1 277 0
11 October 1975 Dunlop defects from Vanguard to UUUP 2 1
19 November 1975 Bradford defects from Vanguard to UUP 7 1
27 November 1975 Kilfedder defects from UUP, becomes Ind Unionist 6 2
14 December 1975 Edelman (Lab, Coventry NW) dies 0 317 1
15 January 1976 Carr (Con, Carshalton) elevated to Lords 1 276 2
3 February 1976 Thomas (Lab) becomes Spkr. Lloyd (Spk) resigns 2 316 3
4 March 1976 Robinson wins Coventry NW by-election for Lab 3 317 2
11 March 1976 Conservatives win Carshalton & Wirral by-elections 1 278 0
6 April 1976 O'Malley (Lab, Rotherham) dies 0 316 1
7 April 1976 Stonehouse resigns from Labour -2 315 3
14 April 1976 Stonehouse joins English National Party 1 2
4 May 1976 Delargy (Lab, Thurrock) dies -3 314 2
24 June 1976 Crowther wins Rotherham by-election for Lab -2 315 1
15 July 1976 McDonald wins Thurrock by-election for Lab -1 316 0
26 July 1976 Sillars & Robertson leave Labour for Scot Lab -5 314 2
27 August 1976 Stonehouse (Eng Nat, Walsall N) resigns seat -4 0 1
23 September 1976 Peart (Lab, Workington) elevated to Lords -5 313 2
12 October 1976 Lane (Con, Cambridge) resigns seat -4 277 3
21 October 1976 Short (Lab, Newcastle C) resigns seat -5 312 4
4 November 1976 Cons win 2 by-elections, Lab win 1 (Newcastle C) -6 313 279 1
2 December 1976 Rhodes James (Con) wins Cambridge by-election -7 280 0
5 January 1977 Tugendhat (C), Marquand[dubiousdiscuss] & Jenkins (Lab) resign -8 311 279 3
19 February 1977 Crosland (Lab, Great Grimsby) dies -9 310 4
24 February 1977 Brooke (Con) wins London & Wminster by-elect -10 280 3
31 March 1977 MacKay (Con) wins Birmingham Stechford b-e -11 (15) 281 2
16 April 1977 Kirk (Con, Saffron Walden) dies -10 (16) 280 3
28 April 1977 Cons win Ashfield, Lab win Grimsby by-elections 311 281 1
16 June 1977 Walden (Lab, Birm Ladywood) resigns seat -11 (15) 310 2
7 July 1977 Haselhurst wins Saffron Walden by-el for Cons -12 (14) 282 1
25 July 1977 Cordle (Con, Bournemouth E) resigns seat -11 (15) 281 2
18 August 1977 Sever wins Birm Ladywood by-election for Lab -10 (16) 311 1
8 October 1977 Prentice defects from Labour to Conservatives -12 (14) 310 282
29 October 1977 Miller (Lab, Ilford N) dies -13 (13) 309 2
24 November 1977 Atkinson wins Bournemouth E by-el for Cons -14 (12) 283 1
26 November 1977 Craig defects from Vanguard to UUP 7 0
18 January 1978 Small (Lab, Glasgow Garscadden) dies -15 (11) 308 2
19 January 1978 Hall (Con, Wycombe) dies -14 (12) 282 3
22 February 1978 Lipton (Lab, Lambeth C) dies -15 (11) 307 4
2 March 1978 Bendall wins Ilford N by-election for Cons -16 (10) 283 3
23 March 1978 Wilson (Lab, Hamilton) dies -17 (9) 306 4
6 April 1978 Rawlinson (Con, Epsom & Ewell) resigns seat -16 (10) 282 5
13 April 1978 Dewar wins Glasgow Gars by-election for Lab -15 (11) 307 4
20 April 1978 Tilley wins Lambeth C by-election for Lab -14 (12) 308 3
27 April 1978 Conservatives win Wycombe, Epsom by-elections -16 (10) 284 1
16 May 1978 Hatton (Lab, Manchester Moss Side) dies -17 (9) 307 2
20 May 1978 Mendelson (Lab, Penistone) dies -18 (8) 306 3
31 May 1978 Robertson wins Hamilton by-election for Lab -17 (9) 307 2
24 June 1978 Harper (Lab, Pontefract & Castleford) dies -18 (8) 306 3
13 July 1978 Labour wins Penistone, Moss Side by-elections -16 (10) 308 1
30 July 1978 Mackintosh (Lab, Berwick & E Lothian) dies -17 (9) 307 2
26 October 1978 Labour wins 2 by-elections; Walder (Con) dies -14 309 283 1
6 November 1978 Davies (Con, Knutsford) resigns seat -13 282 2
15 December 1978 Irvine (Lab, Liverpool Edge Hill) dies -14 308 3
14 February 1979 Maudling (Con, Chipping Barnet) dies -13 281 4
1 March 1979 Conservatives win Clitheroe & Knutsford by-els -15 283 2
2 March 1979 Swain (Lab, NE Derbyshire) dies -16 307 3
29 March 1979 Alton wins Edge Hill by-election for Liberals -17 14 2
30 March 1979 Neave (Con, Abingdon) dies -16 282 3
2 April 1979 Broughton (Lab, Batley & Morley) dies -17 306 4