General Election 1964/1966

[Rod Serling]

Why was there a General Election in 1964 & then again in 1966, making the course of 4/5 year cycles change forever?

[jno]

you have to have an election every five years, but PMs can call one ealier it they want, and they will do so if they think they can win (eg if they think things are going to get worse over the next year). Harold Wilson had a majority of only 4 seats in 1964, so he called a second election in hopes of strengthening his majority - which did in fact happen; it was 96 seats the second time round.

[mushroom25]

in February 1974 the election returned a minority labour government; in October 1974 Harold Wilson called another election, which resulted in a strengthened position for the labour party.