Huntingdonshire — UK General Election Results
Huntingdonshire was won by Conservative at the 1979 general election, with a majority of 21,563 votes over Labour. This page covers every general election in Huntingdonshire from 1832 to 1979.
This constituency elected more than one MP at once in some years. Before the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 (and in a shrinking number of boroughs through 1948), most UK constituencies elected two or more MPs together by "multi-member plurality" (block vote): each elector could cast one vote per available seat, and the top vote-getters overall were all elected. In those elections below, "Elected" lists every MP returned, "Votes" is the count that secured the last seat, and "Majority" is the gap between that seat and the first candidate who missed out.
Full Election History, 1832–1979
| Election | Elected | Votes | Vote Share | Runner-up | Majority | Turnout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1832 | John Bonfoy Rooper (Whig); George Montagu (Conservative) | Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record | 0.0% | |||
| 1835 | John Bonfoy Rooper (Whig); George Montagu (Conservative) | Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record | 0.0% | |||
| 1837 | Edward Fellowes (Conservative); George Thornhill (Conservative) | 1,332 | 37.5% (top seat) | John Bonfoy Rooper (Whig) | 342 (9.2 pts) | 66.2% |
| 1841 | Eward Fellowes (Conservative); George Thornhill (Conservative) | Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record | 0.0% | |||
| 1847 | Edward Fellows (Conservative); George Thornhill (Conservative) | Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record | 0.0% | |||
| 1852 | Edward Fellowes (Conservative); William Drogo Montagu (Conservative) | Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record | 0.0% | |||
| 1857 | James Rust (Conservative); Edward Fellowes (Conservative) | 1,106 | 35.0% (top seat) | John Moyer Heathcote (Whig) | 0 (0.0 pts) | 38.9% |
| 1859 | Edward Fellowes (Conservative); Robert Montagu (Conservative) | 1,314 | 37.1% (top seat) | John Moyer Heathcote (Liberal) | 246 (6.5 pts) | 62.6% |
| 1865 | Edward Fellowes (Conservative); Robert Montagu (Conservative) | Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record | 0.0% | |||
| 1868 | Edward Fellowes (Conservative); Robert Montagu (Conservative) | Elected unopposed — no other candidate stood, no vote count on record | 0.0% | |||
| 1874 | Edward Fellowes (Conservative); Henry Carstairs Pelly (Conservative) | 1,482 | 38.1% (top seat) | Douglas William Cope Gordon (Liberal) | 290 (6.7 pts) | 60.2% |
| 1880 | William Henry Fellowes (Conservative); Douglas William Cope Gordon (Liberal) | 1,617 | 35.7% (top seat) | George Victor Drogo Montagu (Conservative) | 21 (0.4 pts) | 63.2% |
| 1918 | Oliver Stillingfleet Locker-Lampson (Unionist) | 10,760 | 62.6% | Robert Christopher Grey (Liberal) | 4,344 (25.3 pts) | 62.8% |
| 1922 | Charles Kenneth Murchison (Unionist) | 10,079 | 50.7% | Lina Mary Scott-Gatty (Liberal) | 4,956 (24.9 pts) | 70.7% |
| 1923 | Leonard Wilfred James Costello (Liberal) | 10,465 | 52.7% | Charles Kenneth Murchison (Unionist) | 1,061 (5.3 pts) | 69.6% |
| 1924 | Charles Kenneth Murchison (Unionist) | 12,827 | 56.9% | Leonard Wilfred James Costello (Liberal) | 3,124 (13.9 pts) | 77.8% |
| 1929 | Sidney John Peters (Liberal) | 12,889 | 45.5% | Charles Kenneth Murchison (Unionist) | 954 (3.4 pts) | 77.2% |
| 1931 | Sidney John Peters (National Liberal) | 23,102 | 83.3% | Maurice Orbach (Labour) | 18,478 (66.6 pts) | 74.2% |
| 1935 | Sidney John Peters (National Liberal) | 17,287 | 68.7% | James Lievsley George (Labour) | 9,426 (37.5 pts) | 66.2% |
| 1945 | David Lockhart-Mure Renton (National Liberal) | 15,389 | 50.1% | William Alfred Waters (Labour) | 5,931 (19.3 pts) | 65.7% |
| 1950 | David Lockhart-Mure Renton (Conservative) | 18,551 | 51.4% | Francis Robert Macdonald (Labour) | 5,455 (15.1 pts) | 82.6% |
| 1951 | David Lockhart-Mure Renton (Conservative) | 20,845 | 57.4% | Francis Robert Macdonald (Labour) | 5,358 (14.8 pts) | 80.8% |
| 1955 | David Lockhart-Mure Renton (Conservative) | 20,609 | 58.4% | John Albert Franks (Labour) | 5,939 (16.8 pts) | 77.1% |
| 1959 | David Lockhart-Mure Renton (Conservative) | 20,254 | 53.8% | John Wilson Fear (Labour) | 8,271 (22.0 pts) | 80.4% |
| 1964 | David Lockhart-Mure Renton (Conservative) | 20,320 | 51.1% | Leslie J Potter (Labour) | 7,864 (19.8 pts) | 78.8% |
| 1966 | Sir David Renton (National Liberal) | 20,504 | 49.2% | Martin Lawn (Labour) | 5,228 (12.5 pts) | 77.6% |
| 1970 | Sir David Renton (Conservative) | 27,398 | 54.7% | James Curran (Labour) | 9,810 (19.6 pts) | 75.3% |
| Feb 1974 | Sir David Renton (Conservative) | 29,042 | 44.6% | Dennis Rowe (Liberal) | 10,002 (15.3 pts) | 82.4% |
| Oct 1974 | Sir David Renton (Conservative) | 26,989 | 45.1% | Alan Dowson (Labour) | 9,244 (15.4 pts) | 75.1% |
| 1979 | John Major (Conservative) | 40,193 | 55.3% | Julian Fulbrook (Labour) | 21,563 (29.7 pts) | 77.4% |
Full Result Breakdown by Election
1832 (2 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Bonfoy Rooper | Whig | Unopposed | Yes | |
| George Montagu | Conservative | Unopposed | Yes | |
1835 (2 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Bonfoy Rooper | Whig | Unopposed | Yes | |
| George Montagu | Conservative | Unopposed | Yes | |
1837 (2 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edward Fellowes | Conservative | 1,392 | 37.5% | Yes |
| George Thornhill | Conservative | 1,332 | 35.9% | Yes |
| John Bonfoy Rooper | Whig | 990 | 26.7% | No |
1841 (2 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eward Fellowes | Conservative | Unopposed | Yes | |
| George Thornhill | Conservative | Unopposed | Yes | |
1847 (2 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edward Fellows | Conservative | Unopposed | Yes | |
| George Thornhill | Conservative | Unopposed | Yes | |
1852 (2 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edward Fellowes | Conservative | Unopposed | Yes | |
| William Drogo Montagu | Conservative | Unopposed | Yes | |
1857 (2 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Rust | Conservative | 1,192 | 35.0% | Yes |
| Edward Fellowes | Conservative | 1,106 | 32.5% | Yes |
| John Moyer Heathcote | Whig | 1,106 | 32.5% | No |
1859 (2 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edward Fellowes | Conservative | 1,404 | 37.1% | Yes |
| Robert Montagu | Conservative | 1,314 | 34.7% | Yes |
| John Moyer Heathcote | Liberal | 1,068 | 28.2% | No |
1865 (2 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edward Fellowes | Conservative | Unopposed | Yes | |
| Robert Montagu | Conservative | Unopposed | Yes | |
1868 (2 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edward Fellowes | Conservative | Unopposed | Yes | |
| Robert Montagu | Conservative | Unopposed | Yes | |
1874 (2 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edward Fellowes | Conservative | 1,648 | 38.1% | Yes |
| Henry Carstairs Pelly | Conservative | 1,482 | 34.3% | Yes |
| Douglas William Cope Gordon | Liberal | 1,192 | 27.6% | No |
1880 (2 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Henry Fellowes | Conservative | 1,786 | 35.7% | Yes |
| Douglas William Cope Gordon | Liberal | 1,617 | 32.3% | Yes |
| George Victor Drogo Montagu | Conservative | 1,596 | 31.9% | No |
1918
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oliver Stillingfleet Locker-Lampson | Unionist | 10,760 | 62.6% | Yes |
| Robert Christopher Grey | Liberal | 6,416 | 37.4% | No |
1922
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Kenneth Murchison | Unionist | 10,079 | 50.7% | Yes |
| Lina Mary Scott-Gatty | Liberal | 5,123 | 25.7% | No |
| Dermot Johnston Freyer | Labour | 4,697 | 23.6% | No |
1923
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leonard Wilfred James Costello | Liberal | 10,465 | 52.7% | Yes |
| Charles Kenneth Murchison | Unionist | 9,404 | 47.3% | No |
1924
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Kenneth Murchison | Unionist | 12,827 | 56.9% | Yes |
| Leonard Wilfred James Costello | Liberal | 9,703 | 43.1% | No |
1929
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sidney John Peters | Liberal | 12,889 | 45.5% | Yes |
| Charles Kenneth Murchison | Unionist | 11,935 | 42.1% | No |
| Charles Sydney Giddins | Labour | 3,493 | 12.3% | No |
1931
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sidney John Peters | National Liberal | 23,102 | 83.3% | Yes |
| Maurice Orbach | Labour | 4,624 | 16.7% | No |
1935
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sidney John Peters | National Liberal | 17,287 | 68.7% | Yes |
| James Lievsley George | Labour | 7,861 | 31.3% | No |
1945
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Lockhart-Mure Renton | National Liberal | 15,389 | 50.1% | Yes |
| William Alfred Waters | Labour | 9,458 | 30.8% | No |
| Henry David Leonard George Walston | Liberal | 5,869 | 19.1% | No |
1950
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Lockhart-Mure Renton | Conservative | 18,551 | 51.4% | Yes |
| Francis Robert Macdonald | Labour | 13,096 | 36.3% | No |
| William George Thompson | Liberal | 4,442 | 12.3% | No |
1951
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Lockhart-Mure Renton | Conservative | 20,845 | 57.4% | Yes |
| Francis Robert Macdonald | Labour | 15,487 | 42.6% | No |
1955
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Lockhart-Mure Renton | Conservative | 20,609 | 58.4% | Yes |
| John Albert Franks | Labour | 14,670 | 41.6% | No |
1959
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Lockhart-Mure Renton | Conservative | 20,254 | 53.8% | Yes |
| John Wilson Fear | Labour | 11,983 | 31.8% | No |
| Richard Edward Walter Vanderplank | Liberal | 5,389 | 14.3% | No |
1964
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Lockhart-Mure Renton | Conservative | 20,320 | 51.1% | Yes |
| Leslie J Potter | Labour | 12,456 | 31.3% | No |
| Peter GH Thorold | Liberal | 6,992 | 17.6% | No |
1966
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sir David Renton | National Liberal | 20,504 | 49.2% | Yes |
| Martin Lawn | Labour | 15,276 | 36.7% | No |
| David Spreckley | Liberal | 5,900 | 14.2% | No |
1970
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sir David Renton | Conservative | 27,398 | 54.7% | Yes |
| James Curran | Labour | 17,588 | 35.1% | No |
| Michael O'Loughlin | Liberal | 5,082 | 10.2% | No |
Feb 1974
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sir David Renton | Conservative | 29,042 | 44.6% | Yes |
| Dennis Rowe | Liberal | 19,040 | 29.2% | No |
| Paul Ormerod | Labour | 17,066 | 26.2% | No |
Oct 1974
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sir David Renton | Conservative | 26,989 | 45.1% | Yes |
| Alan Dowson | Labour | 17,745 | 29.6% | No |
| Dennis Rowe | Liberal | 15,152 | 25.3% | No |
1979
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Major | Conservative | 40,193 | 55.3% | Yes |
| Julian Fulbrook | Labour | 18,630 | 25.7% | No |
| Dennis Rowe | Liberal | 12,812 | 17.6% | No |
| Kenneth Thomas Robinson | National Front | 983 | 1.4% | No |
Margin Over Time
Winning margin (percentage points) at each election, coloured by the winning party.
Trend
Huntingdonshire has been contested at 30 general elections on record since 1832. Parties that have won a seat here over that span: Whig, Conservative, Liberal, Unionist, National Liberal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won Huntingdonshire in the 1979 general election?
Conservative won Huntingdonshire in 1979 with 40,193 votes (55.3%), a majority of 21,563 votes over Labour in second place.
Which parties have won Huntingdonshire since 1832?
Since 1832, Huntingdonshire has been won by: Conservative, Liberal, National Liberal, Unionist, Whig.
What was the closest result in Huntingdonshire?
The closest result on record for Huntingdonshire was 1857, when Conservative beat Whig by just 0 votes (0.0 percentage points).
Did Huntingdonshire ever elect more than one MP at a time?
Yes -- like most UK constituencies before the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, Huntingdonshire elected multiple MPs at once in some elections on this page (a system called multi-member plurality, or 'block vote'), each voter casting one vote per available seat.