This is a list of the parliaments of the United Kingdom, of Great Britain and of England from 1660 to the present day, with the duration of each parliament. The NP number is the number counting forward from the creation of the United Kingdom in 1801 and Great Britain in 1707. Prior to that, the parliaments are counted from the Restoration in 1660.
The duration column is calculated from the date of the first meeting of the parliament to that of dissolution.
Parliaments from 1922
| NP | Elected | Opened | Dissolved | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | 58 | 12 December 2019 | 17 December 2019 | Not yet | 4 years, 112 days |
| UK | 57 | 8 June 2017 | 21 June 2017 | 6 November 2019 | 2 years, 139 days |
| UK | 56 | 7 May 2015 | 27 May 2015 | 3 May 2017 | 1 year, 342 days |
| UK | 55 | 6 May 2010 | 25 May 2010 | 30 March 2015[a] | 4 years, 310 days |
| UK | 54 | 5 May 2005 | 11 May 2005 | 12 April 2010 | 4 years, 337 days |
| UK | 53 | 7 June 2001 | 13 June 2001 | 11 April 2005 | 3 years, 303 days |
| UK | 52 | 1 May 1997 | 7 May 1997 | 14 May 2001 | 4 years, 8 days |
| UK | 51 | 9 April 1992 | 27 April 1992 | 8 April 1997 | 4 years, 347 days |
| UK | 50 | 11 June 1987 | 17 June 1987 | 16 March 1992 | 4 years, 274 days |
| UK | 49 | 9 June 1983 | 15 June 1983 | 18 May 1987 | 3 years, 338 days |
| UK | 48 | 3 May 1979 | 9 May 1979 | 13 May 1983 | 4 years, 5 days |
| UK | 47 | 10 October 1974 | 22 October 1974 | 7 April 1979 | 4 years, 168 days |
| UK | 46 | 28 February 1974 | 6 March 1974 | 20 September 1974 | 199 days |
| UK | 45 | 18 June 1970 | 29 June 1970 | 8 February 1974 | 3 years, 225 days |
| UK | 44 | 31 March 1966 | 18 April 1966 | 29 May 1970 | 4 years, 42 days |
| UK | 43 | 15 October 1964 | 27 October 1964 | 10 March 1966 | 1 year, 135 days |
| UK | 42 | 8 October 1959 | 20 October 1959 | 25 September 1964 | 4 years, 342 days |
| UK | 41 | 26 May 1955 | 7 June 1955 | 18 September 1959 | 4 years, 104 days |
| UK | 40 | 25 October 1951 | 31 October 1951 | 6 May 1955 | 3 years, 188 days |
| UK | 39 | 23 February 1950 | 1 March 1950 | 5 October 1951 | 1 year, 219 days |
| UK | 38 | 5 July 1945 | 1 August 1945 | 3 February 1950 | 4 years, 187 days |
| UK | 37 | 14 November 1935 | 26 November 1935 | 15 June 1945 | 9 years, 202 days[b] |
| UK | 36 | 27 October 1931 | 3 November 1931 | 25 October 1935 | 3 years, 357 days |
| UK | 35 | 30 May 1929 | 25 June 1929 | 8 October 1931 | 2 years, 106 days |
| UK | 34 | 29 October 1924 | 2 December 1924 | 10 May 1929 | 4 years, 160 days |
| UK | 33 | 6 December 1923 | 8 January 1924 | 9 October 1924 | 276 days |
| UK | 32 | 15 November 1922 | 20 November 1922 | 16 November 1923 | 362 days |
Notes
- ^ This is the first dissolution under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011, which set the parliamentary term at a fixed five years, supposedly barring a Prime Minister from calling an election early for political gain, as had been the common practice.[1]
- ^ At the time of the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, there was little more than a year before the 37th UK Parliament was due to dissolve, but its duration was extended until hostilities in Europe were over. This led to the eventual length of almost ten years for this parliament.
Parliaments 1801-1922
| NP | Elected | Opened | Dissolved | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | 31 | 14 December 1918 | 4 February 1919 | 26 October 1922 | 3 years, 265 days |
| UK | 30 | 3–19 December 1910 | 31 January 1911 | 25 November 1918 | 7 years, 299 days[a] |
| UK | 29 | 15 January – 10 February 1910 | 15 February 1910 | 28 November 1910 | 287 days |
| UK | 28 | 12 January – 8 February 1906 | 13 February 1906 | 10 January 1910 | 3 years, 332 days |
| UK | 27 | 1–24 October 1900 | 3 December 1900 | 8 January 1906 | 5 years, 37 days |
| UK | 26 | 13 July – 7 August 1895 | 12 August 1895 | 25 September 1900 | 5 years, 45 days |
| UK | 25 | 4–26 July 1892 | 4 August 1892 | 8 July 1895 | 2 years, 339 days |
| UK | 24 | 1–27 July 1886 | 5 August 1886 | 28 June 1892 | 5 years, 329 days |
| UK | 23 | 24 November – 18 December 1885 | 12 January 1886 | 26 June 1886 | 166 days |
| UK | 22 | 31 March – 27 April 1880 | 29 April 1880 | 18 November 1885 | 5 years, 204 days |
| UK | 21 | 31 January – 17 February 1874 | 5 March 1874 | 24 March 1880 | 6 years, 20 days |
| UK | 20 | 17 November – 7 December 1868 | 10 December 1868 | 26 January 1874 | 5 years, 48 days |
| UK | 19 | 11–24 July 1865 | 1 February 1866 | 11 November 1868 | 2 years, 285 days |
| UK | 18 | 28 April – 18 May 1859 | 31 May 1859 | 6 July 1865 | 6 years, 37 days |
| UK | 17 | 27 March – 24 April 1857 | 30 April 1857 | 23 April 1859 | 1 year, 359 days |
| UK | 16 | 7–31 July 1852 | 4 November 1852 | 21 March 1857 | 4 years, 138 days |
| UK | 15 | 29 July – 26 August 1847 | 18 November 1847 | 1 July 1852 | 4 years, 227 days |
| UK | 14 | 29 June – 22 July 1841 | 19 August 1841 | 23 July 1847 | 5 years, 339 days |
| UK | 13 | 24 July – 18 August 1837 | 15 November 1837 | 23 June 1841 | 3 years, 221 days |
| UK | 12 | 6 January – 6 February 1835 | 19 February 1835 | 17 July 1837 | 2 years, 149 days |
| UK | 11 | 10 December 1832 – 8 January 1833 | 29 January 1833 | 29 December 1834 | 1 year, 335 days |
| UK | 10 | 28 April – 1 June 1831 | 14 June 1831 | 3 December 1832 | 1 year, 173 days |
| UK | 9 | 29 July – 1 September 1830 | 14 September 1830 | 23 April 1831 | 222 days |
| UK | 8 | 7 June – 12 July 1826 | 25 July 1826 | 24 July 1830 | 4 years, 0 days |
| UK | 7 | 6 March – 14 April 1820 | 21 April 1820 | 2 June 1826 | 6 years, 43 days |
| UK | 6 | 15 June – 25 July 1818 | 4 August 1818 | 29 February 1820 | 1 year, 210 days |
| UK | 5 | 5 October – 10 November 1812 | 24 November 1812 | 10 June 1818 | 5 years, 199 days |
| UK | 4 | 4 May – 9 June 1807 | 22 June 1807 | 29 September 1812 | 5 years, 100 days |
| UK | 3 | 29 October – 17 December 1806 | 13 December 1806 | 29 April 1807 | 138 days |
| UK | 2 | 5 July – 28 August 1802 | 31 August 1802 | 24 October 1806 | 4 years, 55 days |
| UK | 1 | None[b] | 22 January 1801 | 29 June 1802 | 1 year, 159 days |
Notes
- ^ This, the first parliament since the Civil War to exceed 7 years, was so long because of the extension of the length of this parliament for the duration of the First World War.
- ^ The MPs of the 18th Parliament of Great Britain (elected 1796) and 100 members co-opted from the former Parliament of Ireland, became the House of Commons of the 1st Parliament of the United Kingdom on 1 January 1801. The duration for the 1st Parliament of the United Kingdom, in brackets, is counted from the first meeting of that Parliament to its dissolution. The duration for the 18th Parliament of Great Britain is counted from the first meeting of that Parliament in 1796 to the dissolution of the 1st Parliament of the United Kingdom in 1802.
Parliaments 1705-1800
| NP | Elected | Opened | Dissolved | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB | 18 | 25 May – 29 June 1796 | 12 July 1796 | 1 January 1801[a] | 4 years, 174 days |
| GB | 17 | 16 June – 28 July 1790 | 10 August 1790 | 20 May 1796 | 5 years, 285 days |
| GB | 16 | 30 March – 18 May 1784 | 18 May 1784 | 11 June 1790 | 6 years, 25 days |
| GB | 15 | 6 September – 18 October 1780 | 31 October 1780 | 25 March 1784 | 3 years, 147 days |
| GB | 14 | 5 October – 10 November 1774 | 29 November 1774 | 1 September 1780 | 5 years, 278 days |
| GB | 13 | 16 March – 6 May 1768 | 10 May 1768 | 30 September 1774 | 6 years, 144 days |
| GB | 12 | 25 March – 5 May 1761 | 19 May 1761 | 11 March 1768 | 6 years, 298 days |
| GB | 11 | 13 April – 20 May 1754 | 31 May 1754 | 20 March 1761 | 6 years, 294 days |
| GB | 10 | 26 June – 4 August 1747 | 13 August 1747 | 8 April 1754 | 6 years, 239 days |
| GB | 9 | 30 April – 11 June 1741 | 25 June 1741 | 18 June 1747 | 5 years, 359 days |
| GB | 8 | 22 April – 6 June 1734 | 13 June 1734 | 27 April 1741 | 6 years, 319 days |
| GB | 7 | 14 August – 17 October 1727 | 28 November 1727 | 17 April 1734 | 6 years, 141 days |
| GB | 6 | 19 March – 9 May 1722 | 10 May 1722 | 5 August 1727 | 5 years, 88 days |
| GB | 5 | 22 January – 9 March 1715 | 17 March 1715 | 10 March 1722 | 6 years, 359 days |
| GB | 4 | 22 August – 12 November 1713 | 12 November 1713 | 15 January 1715 | 1 year, 65 days |
| GB | 3 | 2 October – 16 November 1710 | 25 November 1710 | 8 August 1713 | 2 years, 257 days |
| GB | 2 | 30 April – 7 July 1708 | 8 July 1708 | 21 September 1710 | 2 years, 76 days |
| GB | 1 | None[b] | 23 October 1707 | 3 April 1708 | 164 days |
| QA | 2 | 7 May – 6 June 1705 | 14 June 1705 | N/A[b] | 2 years, 132 days |
Notes
- ^ The MPs of the 18th Parliament of Great Britain (elected 1796) and 100 members co-opted from the former Parliament of Ireland, became the House of Commons of the 1st Parliament of the United Kingdom on 1 January 1801. The duration for the 1st Parliament of the United Kingdom, in brackets, is counted from the first meeting of that Parliament to its dissolution. The duration for the 18th Parliament of Great Britain is counted from the first meeting of that Parliament in 1796 to the dissolution of the 1st Parliament of the United Kingdom in 1802.
- ^ a b The MPs of the 2nd Parliament of England in the reign of Queen Anne (elected 1705) and 45 members co-opted from the former Parliament of Scotland, became the House of Commons of the 1st Parliament of Great Britain in 1707. The duration for the 1st Parliament of Great Britain, in brackets, is counted from the first meeting of that Parliament to its dissolution. The duration for the 2nd Parliament of England in the reign of Queen Anne is counted from the first meeting of that Parliament in 1705 to the dissolution of the 1st Parliament of Great Britain in 1708.
Parliaments before 1705
| NP | Elected | Opened | Dissolved | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QA/1 | 2 July 1702 | 20 August 1702 | 5 April 1705 | 2 years, 229 days |
| WM/5 | 3 November 1701 | 30 December 1701 | 2 July 1702 | 185 days |
| WM/4 | 26 December 1700 | 6 February 1701 | 11 November 1701 | 279 days |
| WM/3 | 13 July 1698 | 24 August 1698 | 19 December 1700 | 2 years, 118 days |
| WM/2 | 12 October 1695 | 22 November 1695 | 6 July 1698 | 2 years, 227 days |
| WM/1 | 6 February 1690 | 20 March 1690 | 11 October 1695 | 5 years, 206 days |
| CP | 29 December 1688 | 22 January 1689 | 6 February 1690 | 1 year, 16 days |
| KJ2/1 | 14 February 1685 | 19 May 1685 | 2 July 1687 | 2 years, 45 days |
| KC2/4 | 20 January 1681 | 21 March 1681 | 28 March 1681 | 8 days |
| KC2/3 | 24 July 1679 | 21 October 1680 | 18 January 1681 | 90 days |
| KC2/2 | 25 January 1679 | 6 March 1679 | 12 July 1679 | 129 days |
| KC2/1 | 18 February 1661 | 8 May 1661 | 24 January 1679 | 17 years, 262 days |
| CP | 16 March 1660 | 25 April 1660 | 29 December 1660 | 249 days |
Key to abbreviations in the NP column:
- CP – Convention Parliament: In seventeenth century usage a convention was a body in the form of a parliament, which had been summoned by a de facto ruler rather than a de jure monarch. Once the convention had recognised a de jure sovereign it could then convert itself into a parliament. The 1660 convention restored King Charles II of England. The 1689–90 convention offered the throne jointly to King William III of England and Queen Mary II of England.
- KC2 – Parliament summoned by King Charles II of England.
- KJ2 – Parliament summoned by King James II of England.
- WM – Parliament summoned by King William III of England and Queen Mary II of England (before her death in 1694, after which her husband was sole monarch).
- QA – Parliament summoned by Queen Anne of England.
See also
- Duration of English parliaments before 1660
- List of British governments
- List of parliaments of England
- List of parliaments of Great Britain
- List of parliaments of the United Kingdom
- List of United Kingdom general elections
References
- ^ "Q&A: Fixed Term Parliaments". BBC News. 13 September 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- Craig, Fred W. S. (1989). British Electoral Facts: 1832–1987 (5th ed.). Dartmouth: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 978-0-900178-30-6.
This page was last edited on 15 December 2023, at 06:37