RecordedUnited Kingdom1979House of Commons
UK 1979 General Election
UK general election held May 1979. Margaret Thatcher defeated James Callaghan's Labour after the Winter of Discontent, becoming the first female prime minister.
UK 1979 General Election is one of the tracked elections shaping power in United Kingdom.
- Year
- 1979
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Contested
- House of Commons
- Winner
- Margaret Thatcher
- Candidates
- 2
Outcome in context
Thatcher defeated Callaghan after the Winter of Discontent — a wave of strikes that undermined public confidence in Labour. She became the UK's first female prime minister, beginning an era that would reshape British politics.
Keep exploring
- Country contextOpen United Kingdom to connect this election to institutions, leadership, and the broader national sequence.
- Winner profileJump from the result to Margaret Thatcher's political profile, offices, and related entities.
- Candidate fieldFollow the 2 linked candidates and compare who contested this race.
Result recorded
Winner
Conservative Party
Thatcher defeated Callaghan after the Winter of Discontent — a wave of strikes that undermined public confidence in Labour. She became the UK's first female prime minister, beginning an era that would reshape British politics.
