General election trail

1918 general election

Paper napkin celebrating the election of Dan Irving as Burnley’s MP in 1918

This was the first general election after the end of the First World War (1914-1918).  It led to the wartime Coalition government (mostly Liberals and Conservatives) continuing to govern, having gained a huge majority of 614 out 707 seats in parliament.

Did you know?  This was the first parliamentary election in which women could stand as candidates.  It led to the first female MP, Sinn Fein’s Constance Markievicz, being elected.  In line with her party’s policy she did not take her seat in parliament.

Who was Constance Markievicz?  Read our blog