1831 General Election

28 April – 1 June 1831 · The Unreformed Commons · 658 seats, 330 for a majority

A de facto referendum on Grey's Reform Bill after it stalled in the Commons. Pro-reform Whigs swept the open constituencies, giving Grey the mandate that forced the bill through the following year.

Prime Minister before

Earl Grey

Whig

Prime Minister (continued)

Earl Grey

Whig

Government formed

Whig

Turnout

—

The result

Sort by

Whig

Earl Grey · 63.3%

370

seats

Tory

Duke of Wellington · 36.7%

235

seats

			Share of Commons
Whig	Earl Grey	370		80,763	63.3%	+4.0
Tory	Duke of Wellington	235		46,892	36.7%	-1.7

Before 1918, party labels were looser and many seats went uncontested, so vote totals and shares understate real support. Seat counts are the reliable measure.