On This Day

15 January 1910

Polling begins in the January 1910 general election

Initial results for the opposition Unionists were encouraging with 18 gains on the first day. However, when polling ended it was clear that the Liberals, although they had lost 102 seats, would be able to remain in office with the support of Labour and the Irish Nationalists. Providing that support was forthcoming there would be a government majority of 124. Following the election Prime Minister H.H. Asquith left for a holiday in the South of France, forgetting that he was due to stay with King Edward VII at Windsor. The King was not amused.