List of MPs elected in the October 1974 United Kingdom general election
Composition
These representative diagrams show the composition of the parties in the October 1974 general election.Note: The Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru sit together as a party group. This is not the official seating plan of the House of Commons, which has five rows of benches on each side, with the government party to the right of the Speaker and opposition parties to the left, but with room for only around two-thirds of MPs to sit at any one time.
This is a list of Members of Parliament elected to the 47th Parliament of the United Kingdom in October 1974 general election, held on 10 October 1974. This was the second general election to be held that year. The Parliament lasted until 1979.
Notable newcomers to the House of Commons included Margaret Jackson, David Penhaligon, Bryan Gould, Margaret Bain, Helene Hayman and Ann Taylor.
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!Constituency!!MP!!PartyB
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By-elections
See the list of United Kingdom by-elections.Four seats were vacant when Parliament was dissolved preparatory to the 1979 general election:
- Abingdon – Airey Neave
- Batley and Morley – Alfred Broughton
- Chipping Barnet – Reginald Maudling
- North East Derbyshire – Tom Swain
Defections
- 14 April 1976: John Stonehouse defects from Labour to English National Party
- 26 July 1976: James Sillars and John Robertson resign from Labour Party and sit as Scottish Labour
- 1977–1978: The Vanguard Progressive Unionist Party fell apart. William Craig and Robert Bradford joined the Ulster Unionist Party. John Dunlop joined the United Ulster Unionist Party.
- 1977: James Kilfedder left the Ulster Unionist Party and sat as an independent unionist.
Progression of government majority and party totals
The Conservatives began with 276 MPs; the figure of 277 given above includes the Speaker Selwyn Lloyd.
In the Majority column, figures in brackets denote the majority the Lib-Lab pact had during its time of operation.
| Date | Event | Govt majority | Labour | Con | Lib | SNP | UUP | Plaid | Vang | SDLP | DUP | UUUP | ENP | SLP | Indep. | Spkr | Vacant |
| 29 October 1974 | Opening of Parliament | 3 | 319 | 276 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 20 March 1975 | Hamling dies | 2 | 318 | 276 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 26 June 1975 | Bottomley wins Woolwich W by-election for Cons | 1 | 318 | 277 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 11 October 1975 | Dunlop defects from Vanguard to UUUP | 1 | 318 | 277 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 19 November 1975 | Bradford defects from Vanguard to UUP | 1 | 318 | 277 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 27 November 1975 | Kilfedder defects from UUP, becomes Ind Unionist | 1 | 318 | 277 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 14 December 1975 | Edelman dies | 0 | 317 | 277 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 15 January 1976 | Carr elevated to Lords | 1 | 317 | 276 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 February 1976 | Thomas becomes Spkr. Lloyd resigns | 2 | 316 | 276 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 4 March 1976 | Robinson wins Coventry NW by-election for Lab | 3 | 317 | 276 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 11 March 1976 | Conservatives win Carshalton & Wirral by-elections | 1 | 317 | 278 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 April 1976 | O'Malley dies | 0 | 316 | 278 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 7 April 1976 | Stonehouse resigns from Labour | -2 | 315 | 278 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 14 April 1976 | Stonehouse joins English National Party | -2 | 315 | 278 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 May 1976 | Delargy dies | -3 | 314 | 278 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 24 June 1976 | Crowther wins Rotherham by-election for Lab | -2 | 315 | 278 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 15 July 1976 | McDonald wins Thurrock by-election for Lab | -1 | 316 | 278 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 July 1976 | Sillars & Robertson leave Labour for Scot Lab | -5 | 314 | 278 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 27 August 1976 | Stonehouse resigns seat | -4 | 314 | 278 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 23 September 1976 | Peart elevated to Lords | -5 | 313 | 278 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 12 October 1976 | Lane resigns seat | -4 | 313 | 277 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 21 October 1976 | Short resigns seat | -5 | 312 | 277 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 4 November 1976 | Cons win 2 by-elections, Lab win 1 | -6 | 313 | 279 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 December 1976 | Rhodes James wins Cambridge by-election | -7 | 313 | 280 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 January 1977 | Tugendhat, Marquand & Jenkins resign | -8 | 311 | 279 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 19 February 1977 | Crosland dies | -9 | 310 | 279 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 24 February 1977 | Brooke wins London & Wminster by-elect | -10 | 310 | 280 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 31 March 1977 | MacKay wins Birmingham Stechford b-e | -11 | 310 | 281 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 16 April 1977 | Kirk dies | -10 | 310 | 280 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 28 April 1977 | Cons win Ashfield, Lab win Grimsby by-elections | -10 | 311 | 281 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 16 June 1977 | Walden resigns seat | -11 | 310 | 281 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 7 July 1977 | Haselhurst wins Saffron Walden by-el for Cons | -12 | 310 | 282 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 25 July 1977 | Cordle resigns seat | -11 | 310 | 281 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 18 August 1977 | Sever wins Birm Ladywood by-election for Lab | -10 | 311 | 281 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 8 October 1977 | Prentice defects from Labour to Conservatives | -12 | 310 | 282 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 29 October 1977 | Miller dies | -13 | 309 | 282 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 24 November 1977 | Atkinson wins Bournemouth E by-el for Cons | -14 | 309 | 283 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 26 November 1977 | Craig defects from Vanguard to UUP | -14 | 309 | 283 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 18 January 1978 | Small dies | -15 | 308 | 283 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 19 January 1978 | Hall dies | -14 | 308 | 282 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 22 February 1978 | Lipton dies | -15 | 307 | 282 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 2 March 1978 | Bendall wins Ilford N by-election for Cons | -16 | 307 | 283 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 23 March 1978 | Wilson dies | -17 | 306 | 283 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 6 April 1978 | Rawlinson resigns seat | -16 | 306 | 282 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 13 April 1978 | Dewar wins Glasgow Gars by-election for Lab | -15 | 307 | 282 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 20 April 1978 | Tilley wins Lambeth C by-election for Lab | -14 | 308 | 282 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 27 April 1978 | Conservatives win Wycombe, Epsom by-elections | -16 | 308 | 284 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 16 May 1978 | Hatton dies | -17 | 307 | 284 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 20 May 1978 | Mendelson dies | -18 | 306 | 284 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 31 May 1978 | Robertson wins Hamilton by-election for Lab | -17 | 307 | 284 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 24 June 1978 | Harper dies | -18 | 306 | 284 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 13 July 1978 | Labour wins Penistone, Moss Side by-elections | -16 | 308 | 284 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 30 July 1978 | Mackintosh dies | -17 | 307 | 284 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 26 October 1978 | Labour wins 2 by-elections; Walder dies | -14 | 309 | 283 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 6 November 1978 | Davies resigns seat | -13 | 309 | 282 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 15 December 1978 | Irvine dies | -14 | 308 | 282 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 14 February 1979 | Maudling dies | -13 | 308 | 281 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 1 March 1979 | Conservatives win Clitheroe & Knutsford by-els | -15 | 308 | 283 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 2 March 1979 | Swain dies | -16 | 307 | 283 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 29 March 1979 | Alton wins Edge Hill by-election for Liberals | -17 | 307 | 283 | 14 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 30 March 1979 | Neave dies | -16 | 307 | 282 | 14 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 2 April 1979 | Broughton dies | -17 | 306 | 282 | 14 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 |