United Kingdom general election, 1857

United Kingdom general election, 1857

27 March–24 April 1857

All 654 seats in the House of Commons 328 seats needed for a majority   First party Second party   Leader The Viscount Palmerston The Earl of Derby Party Whig Conservative Leader since 6 February 1855 July 1846 Leader's seat Tiverton Earl of Derby Last election 324 seats, 57.9% 330 seats, 41.9% Seats won 377 264 (including Peelites) Seat change 53 66 Popular vote 464,127 239,712 Percentage 65.9% 34.0% Swing 7.0% 7.9%

PM before election Lord Palmerston Whig Subsequent PM Lord Palmerston Whig

In the 1857 United Kingdom general election, the Whigs, led by Lord Palmerston, finally won a majority in the House of Commons as the Conservative vote fell significantly. The election had been provoked by a vote of censure in Palmerston's government over his approach to the Arrow affair which led to the Second Opium War.

Results

Total votes cast: 716,552. "Others" are mostly Irish Independent Opposition. The Conservative total votes cast and MPs includes around 26 Peelites - some reference works claim it was as few as 18.

Summary

Seats summary

References

• F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987
• British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher (Ashgate Publishing Ltd 2000)
• 1857 General Election / Spartacus: Political Parties and Election Results

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