December 1910 United Kingdom general election

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The December 1910 United Kingdom general election was held from 3 to 19 December 1910. It was the last general election held over several days and the last one before World War I. The Liberal government, led by Prime Minister H. H. Asquith, had pushed to pass the controversial People's Budget in 1909 to tax the wealthy and fund social welfare programs. After a difficult budget dispute, the government called another election to seek a mandate for the Parliament Act 1911, which would limit the power of the House of Lords to block money bills, and to gain the king’s backing to threaten to create Liberal peers if needed.

The main contenders were the Liberal Party, the Conservative Party (with Liberal Unionists), the Irish Parliamentary Party, and the Labour Party. The result was very similar to the previous January election. The Conservatives and Liberal Unionists won the largest share of votes again, but the Liberals stayed in government with the support of the Irish Parliamentary Party. In terms of seats, the Liberals won 272, the Conservatives 271, the Irish Parliamentary Party 74, and Labour 42. Because the Speaker of the House was Conservative, the Liberals effectively had 271 seats and did not have a clear majority.

This election was notable for being the last time the Liberal Party won the most seats in the House of Commons, and the last UK general election in which a party other than Labour or the Conservatives led in seats. The Irish Parliamentary Party insisted on a Home Rule Bill as a condition of supporting the Liberal government, so the coalition continued with that demand in mind.

Turnout was high, with a large portion of eligible voters voting. The election reaffirmed Asquith’s Liberal government, which aimed to pass the Parliament Act 1911 to curb the Lords’ blocking power and shape constitutional reform in the years ahead.