openDemocracyUK

Conservative "majority" in England even less fair than in UK as whole

The Conservatives polled the most votes of any single party in England, but their majority of English Parliamentary seats is by no means based on an overall majority of votes.
Julian Stern
11 May 2010

The Conservatives polled the most votes of any single party in England, but their majority of English Parliamentary seats is by no means based on an overall majority of votes.

There is a 16 percentage point discrepancy between Tory votes and Tory seats in England, compared to an 11 percentage point difference in Tory votes vs seats in the UK as a whole.

Share of votes & seats and the discrepancy between England vs UK

% Votes in England 
Con - 40%

Lab - 28%

LD  - 24%

Other - 8%

% Seats in England [pp difference from share of votes]
Con - 56% [+16]

Lab - 36% [+7]

LD - 8% [-16]

Other - <1% [-9]

Votes in UK (%)
Con - 36%

Lab - 29%

LD - 23%

Other - 12%

Seats in UK (%) [pp difference from share of votes]
Con - 47% [+11]

Lab - 40% [+11]

LD - 9% [-14]

Other - 4% [-8]

Sources: BBC News Election site; Boundary Commission for England; UK Election: Facts & figures on the fragmentation of the UK

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