Overview

The 2010 United Kingdom general election took place on 6 May 2010 to elect 650 members of the House of Commons. It followed five years of Labour government under Prime Minister Gordon Brown and occurred against the backdrop of the global financial crisis, a public spending squeeze and public concern about political standards after the expenses scandal.

Results and composition

No single party won an overall majority, producing what is commonly called a "hung parliament." The Conservative Party emerged as the largest party in terms of seats and vote share, with the Labour Party in second place and the Liberal Democrats in third. The outcome required inter-party negotiations to form a working government.

Key figures

  • Conservative: David Cameron (largest party)
  • Labour: Gordon Brown (incumbent Prime Minister)
  • Liberal Democrats: Nick Clegg (broker of coalition agreement)

Campaign issues and innovations

Main campaign themes included economic recovery, public spending and public services. The 2010 campaign was notable for the first nationally televised leaders' debates among the major party leaders, which had measurable impact on public perceptions and media coverage. The election also saw active use of digital media and intensive constituency-level campaigning.

Coalition formation and significance

After days of negotiation, the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats agreed to form a coalition government, with David Cameron becoming Prime Minister and Nick Clegg appointed Deputy Prime Minister. This coalition was the first peacetime national coalition government in the UK since the 1940s and set important precedents for power-sharing, ministerial appointments and policy compromises.

Consequences and legacy

The coalition introduced an early spending review and measures intended to reduce the deficit; its approach shaped UK economic policy for the following years. The result also prompted constitutional and political debates leading to changes such as the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 and renewed discussion about voting reform. For further technical background see general election details and information on the House of Commons.