On This Day

27 May 1955

Polling day in the 1955 general election

The Conservatives lead by Sir Anthony Eden are returned with an increased majority. The election marked a small improvement for the Liberal Party. All six Liberal MPs were re-elected and the party marginally increased its share of the national vote to 2.7%. Only one MP, Jo Grimond in Orkney and Shetland, had a Conservative opponent. In a few places there was a marked improvement in the Liberal position, most notably in North Devon (where Jeremy Thorpe stood) and North Cornwall.