Aim for FiveComparative Government

Quantitative analysis

Votes and seats in the UK's 2024 election

  • Unit 4
  • 5 points
  • About 20 minutes

You read data in a table, graph, map or infographic, describe it and a pattern in it, draw a conclusion using a course concept, and explain what the data shows about politics. On the exam: Question 2 of 4 in the free-response section (1 hour 30 minutes for all four, 50% of your score; this question is 12.5%).

The question and its sources

Use the data to answer parts A, B, C, D, and E. The table shows the result on election day. Note (as of October 2026): parties' seat totals in the Commons have changed since then through by-elections and MPs switching parties, so use the table, not today's seat counts.

United Kingdom General Election, 4 July 2024: Vote Share and Seats in the House of Commons

PartyShare of the UK-wide vote (%)Seats won (of 650)Share of seats (%)
Labour33.741163.2
Conservative23.712118.6
Reform UK14.350.8
Liberal Democrats12.27211.1
All other parties, independents and the Speaker16.1416.3

Source: House of Commons Library, General election 2024: Results and analysis (CBP-10009). Share of seats calculated from seats won and rounded to one decimal place.

Suggested time: 20 minutes

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Part (a)

1 point

Using the data in the table, identify the party whose share of seats was most above its share of the vote.

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Part (b)

1 point

Using the data in the table, describe the difference in how the electoral system treated Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats.

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Part (c)

1 point

Describe the single-member district plurality electoral system used to elect the House of Commons.

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Part (d)

1 point

Using the data in the table, draw a conclusion about how the single-member district plurality system affected party representation in the 2024 election.

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Part (e)

1 point

Explain how the results shown in the table would likely have been different if the House of Commons were elected by proportional representation.

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