Six Conservative Cabinet Ministers lost their seats. Former Conservative Ministers David Mellor and Norman Lamont lost their seats. The Referendum Party backed by prominent businessman Sir James Goldsmith polled poorly with no candidate retaining their deposit. Former BBC journalist Martin Bell defeated Conservative Minister Neil Hamilton in the seat of Tatton to become one of two independents in the Commons, the other being the Speaker, Betty Boothroyd. For the 1997 election the House of Commons was enlarged from 651 to 659 members.
Voting is voluntary and is held on a week day.
See also the Information and Research Services Current Comment publication on the UK election.