November 1701 English general election

November 1701 English general election

November – December 1701

All 513 seats in the House of Commons
257 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Leader Whig Junto Duke of Marlborough
Earl of Godolphin
Party Whig Tory
Seats won 248 240
Seat change 29 9

The English general election, which began in November 1701, produced substantial gains for the Whigs, who enthusiastically supported the war with France. The Tories had been criticised in the press for their ambivalence towards the war, and public opinion had turned against them; they consequently lost ground as a result of the election. Ninety-one constituencies, 34% of the total in England and Wales, were contested.