UK General Election 1966 - Election Results Coverage (Includes Swingometer)

Featuring Robert McKenzie and the swingometer.

When Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson was returned to office in 1966 he had managed to trade a majority of just one seat when the election was called for a thumping 96-seat lead in the new House of Commons.

The political landscape had turned upside in just a few years as the Tories and Labour swapped places in the time between Macmillan's election in 1959 and Wilson's victory.

The Conservatives were not alone in being despondent, as the Liberals had seen their share of the vote nearly halve as Labour carried all before it.

The party may have increased its number of MPs to 12 but its dream of replacing Labour as an alternative to the Tories was in ashes.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• conservative
• liberal
• snp
• plaid
• united
• kingdom
• edward
• heath
• jo
• grimond

[CelticCymru]

I burst out laughing when they said 75% was a low turnout. I hope this gets repeated on BBC Parliament again soon. The Feb 74 election coverage was fasinating

[jacktindale]

Oh for the days that a 75% turn out was considered low.

This is great feedback though, fascinating to see this archival footage.

[bigswano]

go labour

[SuperLUKEISBACK]

75.8% a low turnout!?

[Feisty1967]

The General Election of 1966 never gets talked about, I asked my Mum and Dad and even they couldn't remember and they were there! It seems to have been written out of history.

[RJTAYLER]

@Feisty1967

He's Canadian actually

[Feisty1967]

It's strange how an American teaches us about our Electoral system. I wonder what his qualifications are? Obviously a University degree, perhaps in Politics? He certainly knows his stuff.

[goatmanjohn]

I'd like to see black and white TV and a manual Swingometer at a modern election.

[UKSazzy67]

God! That Robert McKenzie certainly knows his stuff!