1906 General Election

The Liberal landslide

12 January – 8 February 1906 · The Mass Franchise · 670 seats, 336 for a majority

A Liberal landslide fuelled by tariff reform splits, 'Chinese slavery' and nonconformist anger over education. The Conservatives fell to 156 seats, and 29 Labour members arrived as a parliamentary force.

Prime Minister before

Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman

Liberal

Prime Minister (continued)

Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman

Liberal

Government formed

Liberal

Turnout

83.2%

electorate 7,264,608

The result

Sort by

Liberal

Henry Campbell-Bannerman · 48.9%

397

seats

Conservative and Liberal Unionist

Arthur Balfour · 43.4%

156

seats

Irish Parliamentary

John Redmond · 0.6%

seats

Labour Repr. Cmte.

Keir Hardie · 4.8%

seats


Liberal	Henry Campbell-Bannerman	397	2,565,644	48.9%	+3.8
Conservative and Liberal Unionist	Arthur Balfour	156	2,278,076	43.4%	-6.8
Irish Parliamentary	John Redmond	82	33,231	0.6%	-1.2
Labour Repr. Cmte.	Keir Hardie	29	254,202	4.8%	+3.5

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.