This statistic shows the number of general elections candidates across all political parties in the United Kingdom (UK) from 1918 to 2015, broken down by political party. During this time period, the number of candidates has been steadily increasing. At the beginning of the time period, the Conservative Party had a total of 445 candidates, compared to 361 candidates of the Labour Party. In the 2015 general elections, the Conservative Party had 647 candidates, with the Labour Party as well as the Liberal Democrats having appointed 631 candidates, respectively. In contrast, the number of candidates from minor parties has been growing exorbitantly, In the 2010 general elections the number of candidates from parties denoted as 'other' exceeded those of the major parties put together. For information on the total number of candidates, click here.
Number of candidates in general elections by political party in the United Kingdom (UK) from 1918 to 2015
* Data includes all of Ireland.
** There were two general elections held in 1974. The first one held in February resulted in the forming of a minority government, after which the government forming party (Labour) called another election in October.
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Parliament of the United Kingdom. (April 27, 2017). Number of candidates in general elections by political party in the United Kingdom (UK) from 1918 to 2015 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved September 26, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/716940/general-elections-number-of-candidates-by-party-uk/
Parliament of the United Kingdom. "Number of candidates in general elections by political party in the United Kingdom (UK) from 1918 to 2015." Chart. April 27, 2017. Statista. Accessed September 26, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/716940/general-elections-number-of-candidates-by-party-uk/
Parliament of the United Kingdom. (2017). Number of candidates in general elections by political party in the United Kingdom (UK) from 1918 to 2015. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: September 26, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/716940/general-elections-number-of-candidates-by-party-uk/
Parliament of the United Kingdom. "Number of Candidates in General Elections by Political Party in The United Kingdom (Uk) from 1918 to 2015." Statista, Statista Inc., 27 Apr 2017, https://www.statista.com/statistics/716940/general-elections-number-of-candidates-by-party-uk/
Parliament of the United Kingdom, Number of candidates in general elections by political party in the United Kingdom (UK) from 1918 to 2015 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/716940/general-elections-number-of-candidates-by-party-uk/ (last visited September 26, 2024)
Number of candidates in general elections by political party in the United Kingdom (UK) from 1918 to 2015 [Graph], Parliament of the United Kingdom, April 27, 2017. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/716940/general-elections-number-of-candidates-by-party-uk/