1885 General Election

24 November – 18 December 1885 · The Mass Franchise · 670 seats, 336 for a majority

The first election after the Third Reform Act extended the household franchise to the counties and redrew the whole constituency map. Parnell's Irish Party won 86 seats and held the balance of power.

Prime Minister before

Marquess of Salisbury

Conservative

Prime Minister after

William Gladstone

Liberal

Government formed

Liberal

Turnout

81.2%

The result

Sort by

Liberal

William Gladstone · 47.7%

319

seats

Conservative

Marquess of Salisbury · 43.0%

247

seats

Irish Parliamentary

Charles Stewart Parnell · 6.9%

seats


Liberal	William Gladstone	319	2,071,868	47.7%	-7.0
Conservative	Marquess of Salisbury	247	1,869,560	43.0%	+0.5
Irish Parliamentary	Charles Stewart Parnell	86	299,178	6.9%	+4.1

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.