1900 General Election
The Khaki election26 September – 24 October 1900 · The Mass Franchise · 670 seats, 336 for a majority
Called at the high tide of Boer War patriotism, an early example of an opportunistic wartime dissolution. Salisbury held his majority; a young Labour Representation Committee won its first two seats.
Prime Minister before
Marquess of Salisbury
Conservative
Prime Minister (continued)
Marquess of Salisbury
Conservative
Government formed
Conservative
Turnout
75.1%
The result
| Share of Commons | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative and Liberal Unionist | Marquess of Salisbury | 402 | 1,637,683 | 50.2% | +0.9 | |
| Liberal | Henry Campbell-Bannerman | 183 | 1,469,500 | 45.1% | -0.5 | |
| Irish Parliamentary | John Redmond | 76 | 57,576 | 1.8% | -2.1 | |
| Labour Repr. Cmte. | Keir Hardie | 2 | 41,900 | 1.3% | — |
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.