Opinion polls which gave the Conservatives a four percent lead over Labour in August 1978, showed a Labour lead of 7 percent in October. On 9 October, the Prime Minister, James Callaghan, issued a statement to the media that parliament would be dissolved, and a general election held on Thursday 9 November 1978.
The number of seats in the House of Commons for each party after the election were as follows (October 1974 general election):
Labour: 345 (319)
Conservative: 266 (277)
Liberal: 6 (13)
SNP: 4 (11)
Plaid Cymru: 2 (3)
Others (Northern Ireland parties: 12 (12)
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Total: 635 (635)
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The Labour majority over all parties was 55.
The number of seats in the House of Commons for each party after the election were as follows (October 1974 general election):
Labour: 345 (319)
Conservative: 266 (277)
Liberal: 6 (13)
SNP: 4 (11)
Plaid Cymru: 2 (3)
Others (Northern Ireland parties: 12 (12)
----------------------
Total: 635 (635)
---------------------
The Labour majority over all parties was 55.