The General Election of 1979 By Professor Vernon Bogdanor Visiting Gresham Professor of Political History

The General Election of 1974 Party Seats % Votes Labour 319 39.2 Conservatives 277 35.8 Liberals 13 18.3 SNP 11 2.9 (30% of Scottish Vote) Plaid Cymru 3 0.6 (10.8% Welsh Vote) Northern Irish Parties 12 3.2 Total 635 100 Turnout: 72.8%

The General Election of 1979 Party Seats % Votes Labour 269 36.9 Conservatives 339 43.9 Liberals 11 13.8 SNP 2 1.6 (17.3% of Scottish Vote) Plaid Cymru 0.4 (8.1% of Welsh Vote) Northern Ireland Parties 12 2.2 Others 1.2 Total 635 100 Swing: 5.2% to the Conservatives