How many MPs are there?

There are 650 MPs in the UK House of Commons, one for each constituency. Since the 2024 general election, England has 543, Scotland 57, Wales 32 and Northern Ireland 18. Each MP represents roughly 73,000 voters, and a party needs 326 seats for a majority.

The number has stayed at 650 since 2010. The boundaries were redrawn for the 2024 election so each seat has a similar number of voters. Most constituencies must have between about 69,700 and 77,000 electors, with a few protected island seats. Each MP is elected by first past the post. The candidate with the most votes wins, even without a majority of votes cast.

The 2023 review moved seats towards areas where population had grown. England gained ten seats, while Wales fell from 40 to 32 and Scotland from 59 to 57. Northern Ireland stayed at 18. The next review must report by 2031. The independent Boundary Commissions for each nation carry out these reviews and consult the public on new boundaries.

In practice, not all 650 MPs vote. The Speaker and three deputies normally do not vote. Sinn Féin's MPs do not take their seats, because they will not swear allegiance to the Crown. The Scottish Parliament, Senedd and Northern Ireland Assembly have their own separately elected members, who are not MPs. MPs sit on green benches in the Commons chamber, which has seats for only about 427 of them.