1966 United Kingdom general election


The 1966 United Kingdom general election was held on 31 March 1966. The result was a landslide victory for the Labour Party led by incumbent Prime Minister Harold Wilson.
Wilson's decision to call a snap election turned on the fact that his government, elected a mere 17 months previously in 1964, had an unworkably small majority of only 4 MPs. The Labour government was returned following this snap election with a much larger majority of 98 seats. This was the last general election where the voting age was 21.

Background

Prior to the 1966 general election, Labour had performed poorly in local elections in 1965, and lost a by-election, cutting their majority to just two. Shortly after the local elections, the leader of the Conservative Party Sir Alec Douglas-Home was replaced by Edward Heath.
The Conservatives had not much time to prepare their campaign, although it was more professional than previously. There had been little time for Heath to become well known among the British public, having led the party for just eight months before the election. For the Liberals, money was an issue: two elections in the space of just two years had left the party in a tight financial position. Labour ran its campaign with the slogan "You know Labour government works".
The election night was broadcast live on the BBC, and was presented by Cliff Michelmore, Ian Trethowan, Sir Robin Day, Robert McKenzie and David Butler. The election was replayed on the BBC Parliament channel on the 40th anniversary of the event and again in 2016 to mark the 50th anniversary of the election.
Although the BBC's telecast was in black and white, a couple of colour television cameras were placed in the BBC election studio at Television Centre to allow CBS's Charles Collingwood and NBC's David Brinkley to file live reports from that studio by satellite and in colour for their respective networks' evening news programmes.

Timeline

The Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, announced on 28 February that Parliament would be dissolved on 10 March, for an election to be held on 31 March. The key dates were as follows:
Thursday 10 MarchDissolution of the 43rd Parliament and campaigning officially begins
Monday 21 MarchLast day to file nomination papers; 1,707 candidates enter to contest 630 seats
Wednesday 30 MarchCampaigning officially ends
Thursday 31 MarchPolling day
Friday 1 AprilThe Labour Party wins with an improved majority of 98
Monday 18 April44th Parliament assembles
Thursday 21 AprilState Opening of Parliament

National opinion polls summary

Votes summary

Seats summary

Incumbents defeated

Conservative

These declarations were covered live by the BBC where the returning officer was heard to say "duly elected".