The second of 1974’s two elections again saw Labour leader Harold Wilson win. It was his fourth success in a general election, but it proved far from the decisive landslide he had pulled off in 1966.

Wilson had only succeeded in turning his minority government, elected in February, into a tiny three-seat majority in the October poll.

But Wilson’s triumph inevitably meant Heath’s days as Tory leader were numbered. With three defeats out of four elections as leader, his party would soon send him packing, whether he liked it or not.

The Liberals had seen their share of the vote fall only slightly since the last election, while the Scottish National Party continued making progress, taking 11 seats.