Smallest Majorities: Seats that were won with less than 100 votes cast for them

Alix Hattenstone, Jonathan Fagg and Miguel Roca-Terry of BBC England Data Unit have just given an answer to your query on just how meaningful my vote really is: it matters quite significantly! Getty Images/AIWhat makes my vote matter is clear evidence. At this election, seven seats were decided by less than 100 votes; up from just one seat won in 2019 by Sinn Fein’s Michelle Gildernew who secured Fermanagh and South Tyrone by just 57 votes. But there have also been narrower margins. John Edmund Wentworth Addison won Ashton-under-Lyne as an MP after drawing even with Liberal Democrat candidate, when local mayor cast the deciding vote and gave Addison victory by casting her vote — according to current rules no other constituency came close than Ashton-under-Lyne did until 2024! But some candidates made it in with only narrow majorities, like Hendon which experienced its closest election ever, Hendon being home of Labour candidate David Pinto-Duschinsky who tried unsuccessfully before to win it. But this time he narrowly edged out Ameet Jogia of the Conservatives with just 15 more votes after recount. With that narrow winning margin – not even seen since modern election records began being kept! – this feat could only happen again under some extreme conditions. Conservative Party Chairman Richard Holden had faced accusations from his rivals of “parachuting into safe seats”. Even before voting took place there had been much talk regarding Richard Holden standing as a candidate in Basildon and Billericay – with some accusing him of moral wrongdoing as they sought his election as candidate in those constituencies. However despite these concerns Richard held onto his seat. Andrew Baggott of Basildon and Billericay Conservative Council said it was morally unacceptable and offered his remarks: he’s only chairman of his party but doesn’t do much else for this region.” “All that work he’s put in? Nothing.” Mr Holden had seen his original constituency of North West Durham abolished under the constituency boundary review, leaving him free to contest Basildon and Billericay with 12,905 votes – twenty more than Labour rival Alex Harrison had received at the polling booths. Sam Carling will become one of the youngest MPs this election, at 22. His victory came over an incumbent Conservative candidate he’d held the seat for close to his entire lifetime – one whom Carling beat by only six weeks! Carling received 14,785 votes – just 39 more than Conservative Shailesh Vara who had represented North West Cambridgeshire for almost two decades. Carling described his victory over Mr Vara as “political earthquake”. Mel Stride told BBC reporters “we now must go away and rebuild our party”, after several prominent Conservatives were removed on one night of political upheaval in Central Devon since 2010. Mel was one of only four who survived; former Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride being one. Stride won with an overwhelming margin in 2019 by garnering 17,721. His victory this time around wasn’t quite so comfortable; he received just 61 more votes than Ollie Pearson of Labour who garnered 16,770. When speaking with BBC, Stride indicated a clear message from voters; “Now is the time for us to come together as a party and rebuild it from within – to assess everything that has occurred over the last 24 hours and rededicate ourselves to become the natural party of government. Conservative PartyWhen elected in 2015, Alan Mak was the first MP with ethnic Chinese roots elected as MP for Havant with an initial majority of 13,920. Mel Stride experienced similar majorities reduction. Conservative Alan Mak first won his seat with this majority. And that number continued to climb – up until now when his majority went from over 22,000 votes in 2019 down to just 92 votes in 2024. Mr Mak received 12,986 votes compared to Stefanie Harvey of Labour who garnered 12,894. Election enthusiasts eagerly anticipated hearing about England’s final result for South Basildon and East Thurrock. After an exhaustive recount process was concluded, Reform UK candidate James Murdock won with 12,178 votes – outpacing Labour by just 98 and replacing Conservative Stephen Metcalfe as MP for South Gloucestershire and Berks & Bucks. Mr Murdock now becomes their fifth MP from his party. Which seats were most secure on election night?It can be said that some candidates felt more at ease on election night. Labour’s Peter Dowd won Bootle with the highest majority in any constituency: 21,983 more votes than his closest competitor! Additionally, Labour was responsible for both largest majority majorities at this election: 17,508 over one of their closest opponents and 26,254 more overall versus one close competitor (in second place was also Labour). Catherine West won Hornsey and Friern Barnet by an unprecedented majority of 21,475. Former Liberal Democrats Leader Tim Farron then managed to earn himself third largest vote total with 31,051 cast in Westmorland and Lonsdale – 21,472 more than second place Conservative Party.