Independent Labour Party election results explained

This article lists the Independent Labour Party's election results in UK parliamentary elections.

Summary of general election performance

Year	Number of candidates^[1]	Total votes	Average voters per candidate	Percentage of vote	Saved deposits^[2]	Change (%)	Number of MPs
1895	28	44,325	1,583	1.0	N/A	N/A	0
1900	9	32,135	3,571	0.9	N/A	-0.1	1
1906	11	81,415	7,401	1.6	N/A	+0.7	7
1910 Jan	14	87,499	6,250	1.4	N/A	-0.2	6
1910 Dec	12	69,884	5,824	1.4	N/A	0.0	8
1918	50						3
1922	55	673,283	12,242	4.9	31		31
1923	89						39
1924	87						30
1929	54	921,914	17,072	4.3	54		36
1931	19	239,280	12,594	1.2		-3.1	3
1935	17	136,208	8,012	0.7	9	-0.5	4
1945	5	46,769	9,354	0.2	4	-0.5	3
1950	4	4,112	1,028	0.0	0	-0.2	0
1951	3	4,057	1,352	0.0	0	0.0	0
1955	2	3,334	1,667	0.0	0	0.0	0
1959	2	923	462	0.0	0	0.0	0
1964	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
1966	1	441	441	0.0	0	N/A	0
1970	1	847	847	0.0	0	0.0	0
February 1974	1	991	991	0.0	0	0.0	0

Election results

By-elections, 1893–1895

By-election	Candidate	Votes	%	Position
		1,249	13.5	3
		4,402	15.7	4

1895 general election

Votes	%	Position^[3]
415	6.4	3
414	6.9	3
2,264	23.4	3
2,691	9.8	4
1,874	31.2	2
1,245	13.4	3
1,080	10.5	3
1,313	5.0	5
191	2.0	3
448	7.1	3
609	9.4	3
696	10.9	3
405	4.4	3
368	5.8	3
4,261	42.1	2
430	4.9	3
3,818	20.5	4
1,594	11.2	3
448	5.0	3
1,400	17.4	2
622	6.4	3
4,009	13.7	4
546	6.6	3
2,302	4.6	5
4,781	22.4	3
1,251	12.0	3
867	4.0	5
3,975	45.6	2

By-elections, 1895–1900

Votes	%	Position
2,479	46.0	2
1,953	17.1	3
2,000	15.5	3
1,091	9.7	3

1900 general election

Votes	%	Position
433	3.3	3
737	11.0	3
7,096	25.6	3
4,949	49.8	2
3,276	16.1	4
4,164	13.0	4
5,745	31.3	2
4,834	22.1	3
901	8.0	3

Hardie stood for two seats. All candidates other than Hempsall stood as part of the Labour Representation Committee. Clarke ran as a joint Independent Labour Party-Social Democratic Federation candidate. The list does not include Alfred Ewen Fletcher, who was supported by the ILP but ran for the Scottish Workers' Representation Committee.

By-elections, 1900–1906

By-election	Candidate	Votes	%	Position
		1,979	40.1	2
		2,440	13.7	3

All candidates stood as part of the Labour Representation Committee.

1906 general election

Votes	%	Position
10,282	26.8	2
4,957	39.1	1
2,568	30.0	3
8,937	38.3	2
5,813	35.2	2
3,102	26.9	3
14,685	39.8	2
5,386	64.6	1
10,187	32.0	2
13,430	31.8	2
2,068	36.9	2

All candidates other than Burgess and Newlove stood as part of the Labour Representation Committee. Only ILP members sponsored by the party are listed.

By-elections, 1906–1910

Votes	%	Position
5,422	33.8	2
1,740	19.5	3
1,937	29.4	2
886	4.2	3

All candidates other than Bramley stood for the Labour Party.^[4] Only candidates sponsored by the ILP are listed.

January 1910 general election

Votes	%	Position^[5]
10,762		1
2,955	33.5	2
8,880	66.6	1
2,443	28.9	3
9,093	38.9	2
2,401	21.2	3
14,337	38.2	2
5,157	58.4	1
1,218	16.6	3
13,841	36.7	2
2,514	23.3	3
11,058	23.4	4
238	2.1	3
2,602	45.5	2

All candidates stood as part of the Labour Party. Only ILP members sponsored by the party are listed.

December 1910 general election

Votes	%	Position^[6]
10,762		1
4,315	55.6	1
8,880	66.6	1
1,103	8.9	3
1,539	18.1	3
8,511		2
2,706	21.5	3
12,998	38.5	2
2,992	41.6	2
4,313		1
11,507	39.6	2
1,414	53.7	1

All candidates stood as part of the Labour Party.

By-elections, 1910–1918

Votes	%	Position
2,761	19.3	3
3,452	28.9	3
1,089	10.3	3
3,646	29.8	3
unopposed	N/A	1
2,349	32.5	2
unopposed	N/A	1

All candidates except Williams and Bland (in 1918) stood for the Labour Party.

1918 general election

Votes	%	Position^[7]
6,229	21.4	2
6,369	21.7	3
4,534	23.2	3
1,956	18.6	3
2,572	19.0	2
15,274	19.7	3
6,344	33.6	2
7,636	31.3	2
8,637	37.9	2
4,789	27.3	2
8,135	42.8	2
2,175	21.0	3
4,663	22.4	2
6,222	32.3	2
9,473	41.2	2
10,298	32.4	2
5,596	30.1	2
7,072	30.9	2
7,161	51.3	1
7,860	39.8	2
7,192	33.1	2
9,577	47.8	1
4,186	24.6	2
6,147	33.2	2
9,827	49.8	2
7,996	39.1	2
12,737	32.5	2
8,143	32.1	2
6,324	27.7	3
3,121	19.3	3
5,821	31.0	2
6,020	29.5	2
6,697	27.1	2
6,347	24.0	2
8,723	40.3	2
2,940	24.0	2
4,135	23.2	2
4,976	34.6	2
4,956	16.5	3
8,759	40.9	2
6,539	34.7	2
5,690	25.4	2
6,776	09.2	5
6,508	24.8	2
6,341	36.4	2
2,278	16.9	3
3,186	22.2	2
7,126	38.2	2
3,809	28.7	2

All candidates stood for the Labour Party.

By-elections, 1918–1922

Votes	%	Position
3,482	26.4	3^[8]
8,158	46.9	2
6,412	31.2	2
11,962	39.4	1
13,081	48.7	2
13,699	54.2	1
14,062	52.9	1

All candidates stood for the Labour Party.

1922 general election

Votes	%	Position^[9]
14,138	46.6	1
16,462	44.2	1
7,550	44.6	1
10,589	44.8	2
13,946	53.7	1
24,049	21.7	3
14,296	42.4	1
13,573	45.4	1
9,185	37.3	2
9,567	35.4	2
9,323	39.4	2
13,759	57.2	1
8,169	29.4	2
4,513	25.1	2
10,312	42.0	1
12,614	39.5	1
14,469	46.5	1
8,856	37.3	1
13,216	49.6	2
9,708	42.4	1
12,876	57.9	1
17,890	63.7	1
15,181	53.2	1
9,137	34.0	1
12,923	41.9	2
15,441	62.3	1
13,058	47.3	1
5,759	24.7	2
16,114	56.6	1
14,695	59.1	1
15,771	60.5	1
15,673	33.5	2
14,924	46.6	2
13,978	46.3	1
10,752	45.3	2
4,859	19.1	3
9,812	45.0	2
9,043	31.6	2
6,525	24.4	3
12,487	48.3	2
13,850	47.7	2
9,688	55.4	1
12,625	46.4	1
17,516	53.0	1
7,044	45.6	2
14,503	60.2	1
13,709	54.2	1
15,609	16.9	3
14,029	55.1	1
16,692	60.4	1
12,519	36.9	2
9,919	55.0	1
11,333	50.9	1
7,268	32.8	1
11,787	54.0	1

All candidates stood for the Labour Party.

By-elections, 1922–1923

Candidate stood for the Labour Party.

1923 UK general election

Votes	%	Position^[11]
17,439	55.6	1
6,911	29.0	2
16,793	45.7	2
6,069	28.9	2
8,298	47.5	2
7,415	45.7	1
11,330	46.8	2
13,328	51.2	1
25,428	23.8	3
3,272	13.8	3
8,152	28.9	3
5,986	19.5	3
14,241	44.6	1
13,579	48.1	1
10,753	46.4	2
10,433	37.5	1
9,855	44.4	2
16,535	58.7	1
8,563	32.0	2
5,794	24.1	3
5,047	27.5	2
6,198	25.9	2
10,492	51.1	1
13,136	40.4	1
15,862	52.0	1
10,054	37.0	2
8,923	44.4	2
11,705	43.0	1
9,857	44.6	1
13,186	67.9	1
15,735	64.8	1
14,143	56.2	1
8,884	34.7	2
12,976	44.4	2
13,987	66.3	1
5,059	26.4	2
12,508	48.1	1
6,836	32.8	2
12,624	59.8	1
14,535	62.3	1
15,240	62.3	1
8,127	35.7	2
6,354	28.7	3
8,101	41.0	1
6,974	36.9	2
5,913	26.3	2
17,430	36.7	1
5,775	18.1	3
5,385	34.6	2
15,824	50.7	1
6,941	26.0	3
14,083	49.1	2
10,992	43.2	1
5,973	23.7	3
4,089	21.9	3
11,384	50.5	1
11,434	40.7	1
13,162	44.8	1
7,944	39.5	1
11,473	68.5	1
13,304	50.9	1
7,871	27.0	3
4,788	19.7	3
6,558	24.4	3
19,511	60.1	1
6,219	41.0	1
7,032	44.7	2
12,881	65.6	1
12,447	52.5	1
5,374	22.0	3
19,304	20.0	2
8,329	33.5	2
16,657	44.8	1
13,021	54.5	1
10,931	43.0	1
9,868	38.4	1
13,581	58.7	1
14,741	53.0	1
16,679	16.4	4
9,050	24.4	3
13,707	11.6	5
12,735	57.4	1
8,656	39.3	1
6,837	34.6	2
1,713	07.6	3
4,372	17.4	3
7,087	41.2	2
10,904	48.1	1
9,242	51.9	1

All candidates stood for the Labour Party.

By-elections, 1923–1924

Candidate stood for the Labour Party.

1924 general election

Votes	%	Position^[13]
17,724	53.1	1
3,899	24.4	3
13,249	60.8	1
10,699	39.9	2
18,148	47.1	2
4,532	22.7	3
10,618	41.8	2
11,578	57.2	1
7,496	26.7	3
11,412	40.5	2
13,297	48.9	2
9,759	36.1	2
15,786	55.1	1
24,330	21.8	3
16,652	48.3	2
15,174	49.9	2
9,442	32.7	2
11,669	43.6	2
12,319	40.9	2
10,075	38.3	2
17,723	59.0	1
3,791	18.4	2
9,206	39.7	2
13,032	52.6	1
10,953	43.4	2
18,842	55.9	1
10,954	29.7	2
9,941	41.1	1
6,342	23.0	3
12,872	44.2	2
10,903	44.3	2
13,628	60.5	1
23,514	50.2	1
16,850	61.3	1
14,588	50.4	1
9,915	35.0	2
12,617	40.9	2
15,132	63.2	1
6,957	32.3	2
13,947	47.4	2
12,844	41.6	2
6,749	24.7	2
16,299	59.2	1
12,714	51.3	1
15,635	56.5	1
8,005	36.2	2
5,874	22.4	3
9,684	36.3	2
10,970	45.9	2
1,604	06.8	3
19,010	36.3	1
6,863	37.4	2
15,791	44.6	2
14,105	45.0	1
13,054	47.8	2
7,965	29.2	3
5,286	28.0	2
11,426	43.5	2
5,572	17.5	3
13,057	42.5	1
15,669	49.3	2
11,713	57.7	1
14,123	48.9	2
8,412	37.1	2
9,369	39.4	2
8,192	33.7	2
19,882	59.8	1
8,306	48.5	1
12,816	52.1	1
14,542	51.6	1
22,931	22.0	4
17,057	53.5	1
5,404	32.1	2
5,316	20.2	3
13,796	52.1	1
13,171	44.1	2
12,369	42.5	2
16,802	63.6	1
17,053	55.4	1
12,509	33.7	2
9,749	49.3	2
14,113	34.8	2
11,443	46.0	2
4,731	18.1	3
1,454	17.2	3
1,343	04.2	3
11,252	45.9	2
7,860	24.7	3

Candidates stood for the Labour Party.

By-elections, 1924–1929

Votes	%	Position
22,973	69.2	1^[14]
9,787	35.2	2
14,446	49.1	1^[15]
10,646	52.5	1
15,711	57.5	1^[16]

Candidates stood for the Labour Party.

1929 general election

Votes	%	Position^[17] ^[18]
17,826	60.8	1
13,856	39.1	2
6,001	23.8	3
13,429	36.5	2
15,958	43.0	1
11,654	31.8	3
20,665	43.4	1
16,447	50.0	1
37,256	26.1	1
24,876	59.0	1
21,398	54.7	1
14,294	43.8	2
17,667	53.2	1
9,871	30.5	2
6,687	18.7	3
16,924	47.8	2
16,762	59.0	1
16,318	35.3	2
4,903	15.5	3
21,033	67.7	1
17,946	53.2	1
12,983	36.3	2
10,065	36.7	1
15,173	43.6	2
18,311	50.6	1
19,594	60.4	1
21,079	65.5	1
19,445	61.8	1
25,966	38.3	1
18,412	44.7	1
17,386	48.2	1
14,903	41.2	1
18,765	41.9	1
22,533	50.8	1
11,111	42.9	1
18,063	51.6	1
15,222	51.3	1
22,701	59.6	1
16,650	58.0	1
19,884	55.9	1
31,040	24.0	3
34,223	26.2	1
22,425	55.8	1
8,291	23.5	3
17,538	52.2	1
15,647	42.8	1
20,277	55.2	1
12,133	39.1	2
3,589	32.5	2
14,419	46.5	1
15,179	56.7	1
14,034	46.8	1
19,125	51.0	1
13,977	33.1	2

All candidates stood as part of the Labour Party.

By-elections 1929–1931

Votes	%	Position
10,699	42.8	1
12,293	33.3	2
6,736	51.4	1

All candidates except Irwin were endorsed by the Labour Party. Irwin was sponsored by the United Society of Boilermakers.

1931 general election

Votes	%	Position^[19]
15,779	41.2	2
12,758	34.3	2
8,280	24.5	3
7,317	23.0	2
16,335	51.6	1
16,630	58.2	1
15,282	45.3	2
19,278	58.1	1
12,415	36.6	2
16,301	47.8	1
14,767	40.4	2
11,815	36.4	2
10,433	37.6	2
9,531	30.1	2
24,623	69.4	1
12,136	37.3	2
19,691	44.7	2
26,537	19.7	4
11,217	33.5	2
3,705	9.7	3
15,591	11.3	4
9,261	19.4	2
10,203	31.5	2

In addition, Josiah Wedgwood was elected unopposed for Newcastle-under-Lyme. Only those ILP members not accredited by the Labour Party are listed.^[20]

By-elections, 1931–1935

Votes	%	Position
5,135	18.0	2
7,575	20.9	3
748	3.5	3
3,508	9.8	3

1935 general election

Votes	%	Position
3,871	11.1	3
8,983	26.7	2
592	1.9	4
1,365	3.3	3
1,513	4.3	4
17,691	65.0	1
15,070	47.1	1
22,860	75.0	1
4,959	16.0	3
18,377	52.8	1
3,423	13.2	3
3,582	10.2	3
2,583	8.3	3
9,640	32.0	2
17,267	37.3	2
6,737	5.4	5
1,004	3.3	3

By-elections, 1935–1945

Votes	%	Position
4,424	15.1	2
8,206	11.9	2
8,206	19.3	2
5,418	19.5	3
1,950	29.0	2
3,311	24.8	2
2,493	13.8	3
830	7.4	3
3,419	27.2	2
2,336	28.1	2
9,344	49.1	2
13,722	45.5	2

1945 general election

Votes	%	Position
849	1.8	3
5,105	14.6	3
13,220	66.4	1
15,558	57.7	1
11,947	35.5	1

By-elections, 1945–1950

Votes	%	Position
240	1.5	3
6,351	34.3	1
154	0.7	4
1,622	6.4	3

1950 general election

Votes	%	Position
295	0.5	4
1,974	5.8	3
1,031	2.5	4
812	2.1	3

By-elections, 1950–1951

By-election	Candidate	Votes	%	Position
		680	1.9	3
		689	2.0	3

1951 general election

Votes	%	Position
1,006	2.5	3
1,796	5.4	3
1,195	2.8	3

1955 general election

Constituency	Candidate	Votes	%	Position
		715	2.5	3
		2,619	7.4	3

By-elections, 1955–1959

Votes	%	Position
458	2.1	4
587	2.8	4
576	2.9	3

1959 general election

Constituency	Candidate	Votes	%	Position
		740	3.0	3
		183	0.5	4

February 1974 general election

References

[F. W. S. Craig]
Book: Craig. F. W. S.. British Parliamentary Election Statistics 1918–1968. registration. 1968. Political Reference Publications. Glasgow. 0900178000. 46.
The Labour Annual (1896), pp. 40–41
[F. W. S. Craig]
"I.L.p. Candidates: the official list", Manchester Guardian, 10 December 1909
The New Hazell Annual and Almanack, vol.26, p. 361
[Independent Labour Party]
[Independent Labour Party]
[Independent Labour Party]
Clare V. J. Griffiths, Labour and the Countryside: The Politics of Rural Britain 1918–1939, p. 1
[Independent Labour Party]
[Independent Labour Party]
[Independent Labour Party|ILP]
[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]
[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]
Report of the Annual Labour Party Conference . 1929 . 15–19.
[Independent Labour Party]
Report of the Annual Labour Party Conference . 1929 . 24–44.
[F. W. S. Craig]
Report of the Annual Conference of the Labour Party (1931), p. 295; Josiah Wedgwood omitted as he was not affiliated with the ILp.

F. W. S. Craig, Chronology of British Parliamentary By-elections 1833–1987