House Of Commons Makeup Of The Chamber

General Election 6 May 2010

Following the General Election the makeup of the House of Commons is as follows:

Victor P Taffa

Seats                                                    Old*                     New

Labour                                                345                       258    -87

Conservative                                   193                       305    +112

Liberal-Democrat                           63                         57      -6

All Others                                           36                         29      -7

Undeclared                                          5**                       1        -4

Total                                                   646                       650

*As at Dissolution of the House of Commons 12 April 2010.

**Sinn Fein has not taken their seats and cannot vote.

326 seats are required for a majority.

 

This is an abridged version of a speech given by Conservative Leader David Cameron following the election:

At yesterday’s general election the Conservative Party gained more seats than at any in election for the last 80 years according to Conservative Leader David Cameron.

“To all those Conservative Party supporters, members, and activists who fought so hard not just in the last few weeks, but in the last few years I want to say a huge thank you, and to remind you how proud you can be of the result: a bigger increase in seats even than Mrs. Thatcher achieved in 1979; the worst loss of seats for Labour than at any general election since 1931, and a share of the vote not far off what Michael Foot got in 1983.” Mr. Cameron said.

“Nick Clegg has said that because the Conservative Party has won the most votes and most seats in this election, we should have the chance to form a government – and I thank him for that.” Mr. Cameron said.

“One option would be to give other parties reassurances about certain policy areas, and then seek their agreement to allow a minority Conservative government to continue in office without the country constantly facing the threat of its government falling.” Mr. Cameron said.

“I also believe that on the basis of the election result we have achieved, it is reasonable to expect that the bulk of the policies in our manifesto should be implemented.” Mr. Cameron said.

“But across our two manifestos, there are many areas of common ground, and there are areas where I believe we in the Conservative Party can give ground, both in the national interest and in the interests of forging an open and trusting partnership.” Mr. Cameron said.

“We share a strong desire to make opportunity more equal in this country, and I recognise the high priority that the Liberal Democrats have given to the proposals for a pupil premium in our schools.”

“We agree with this idea, it is in our manifesto too, and I am sure we can develop a common approach that recognises the urgency that the Liberal Democrats have attached to this proposal.” Mr. Cameron said.

“The Liberal Democrats in their manifesto have made the achievement of a low-carbon economy an absolute priority and we support this aim.”

“It has always been an aspiration for the Conservative Party to reduce taxes, especially on those who earn the least, and we are happy to give this aim a much higher priority, and to work together to determine how it can be afforded.”

“We share a common commitment to civil liberties and to getting rid, immediately, of Labour’s ID cards scheme.” Mr. Cameron said.

“On our political system we agree with the Liberal Democrats that reform is urgently needed to help restore trust – and that reform must include the electoral system.”

“The Liberal Democrats have their ideas, we have our ideas, for example that all seats should be of equal size so that votes can have equal value in a first past the post system, and other parties have constructive proposals to put forward as well.”

“So I believe we will need an all-party committee of enquiry on political and electoral reform.” Mr. Cameron said.

“We can put behind us the economic incompetence, the social breakdown, the political division and the mistrust that are the poisonous legacy of thirteen years of Labour misrule.” Mr. Cameron said.

“And the best thing, the national interest thing, the best thing for Britain now is a new government that works together in that national interest, and I hope with all my heart that is something that we can achieve.” Mr. Cameron said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is an abridged version of a speech given by Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg following the election:

Today Nick Clegg Leader of the Liberal Democrats said that the party with the greatest number of seats and the greatest number of votes was the one which had the mandate to try and form a government.

“Now we’re in a very fluid political situation with no party enjoying an absolute majority. As I’ve said before, it seems to me in a situation like this, it’s vital that all political parties, all political leaders, act in the national interest, and not out of narrow party political advantage.” Mr. Clegg said.

“I’ve also said that whichever party gets the most votes and the most seats, if not an absolute majority, has the first right to seek to govern, either on its own or by reaching out to other parties, and I stick to that view. It seems this morning that it’s the Conservative party that has more votes and more seats, though not an absolute majority, and that is why I think it is now for the Conservative party to prove that it is capable of seeking to govern in the national interest.” Mr. Clegg said.