IFES Election Guide | Country Profile: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Name	Official Name	Type
British House of Commons		Lower House
British House of Lords		Upper House

Chief of State: King CHARLES III
Head of Government: Prime Minister Keir STARMER (since 5 July 2024)
Assembly: United Kingdom has a bicameral Parliament consisting of the House of Lords with 788 seats and the House of Commons with 650 seats.

The King is a hereditary monarch.
The leader of the majority party or coalition becomes the Prime Minister.
The House of Lords has a variable number of members depending on appointments, eligibility standards, and official leaves of absence. Members may be appointed by the monarch (667 life peers), inherit their seat (91 hereditary peers), or assume their seat due as part of a religious appointment (26 clergy). There were 784 eligible members of the House of Lords as of December 2023.
In the House of Commons, all 650 members are directly elected by plurality vote from single-seat constituencies. All members serve 5-year terms, and there are no term limits.

2024-07-04
British House of Commons
Votes 28,924,725
Registered 48,208,507
Turnout 60.0

2019-12-12
British House of Commons
Votes 32,132,029
Registered 47,562,702
Turnout 67.56

2017-06-08
British House of Commons
Votes 32,204,141
Registered 46,800,000
Turnout 68.81

2016-06-23
Referendum
Votes 33,577,342
Registered 46,500,001
Turnout 72.21

2015-05-07
British House of Commons
Votes 30,698,210
Registered 46,425,386
Turnout 66.12

2011-05-05
Referendum
Votes 19,279,022
Registered 45,684,501
Turnout 42.2

2010-05-06
British House of Commons
Votes 29,653,638
Registered 45,315,669
Turnout 65.44

2005-05-05
British House of Commons
Votes 27,148,510
Registered 44,180,243
Turnout 61.45

2001-06-07
British House of Commons
Votes 26,365,192
Registered 44,403,238
Turnout 59.38

Election For	Date	Votes	Registered Voters	Turnout
British House of Commons	2024-07-04	28,924,725	48,208,507	60.0
British House of Commons	2019-12-12	32,132,029	47,562,702	67.56
British House of Commons	2017-06-08	32,204,141	46,800,000	68.81
Referendum	2016-06-23	33,577,342	46,500,001	72.21
British House of Commons	2015-05-07	30,698,210	46,425,386	66.12
Referendum	2011-05-05	19,279,022	45,684,501	42.2
British House of Commons	2010-05-06	29,653,638	45,315,669	65.44
British House of Commons	2005-05-05	27,148,510	44,180,243	61.45
British House of Commons	2001-06-07	26,365,192	44,403,238	59.38

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