General Election 2024: Every Number 1 song during UK election week in Official Charts history
Our mission at OfficialCharts.com is to equip your brains with an endless supply of pub quiz-style facts, stats and other useless yet somehow essential chart trivia.
And with the general election fast approaching, we wondered: what was Number 1 on the Official Singles Chart during every election week? We’ve gone back as far as we can (The Official Singles Chart launched in November 1952) and revealed who was top of the pops below.
Every Official Number 1 single during UK general elections:
July 4 2024, TBC - Sabrina Carpenter, Please Please Please
Enough said, really. Click here to view the full chart.
December 12 2019, Boris Johnson - Tones & I, Dance Monkey
You heard her. Do it! Click here to view the full chart.
June 8 2017, Theresa May - Despacito (Remix), Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee & Justin Bieber
One to run through those fields of wheat to, for sure. Click here to view the full chart.
May 7 2015, David Cameron - Cheerleader (Felix Jaehn Remix), OMI
David Cameron shaking a pair of pom-poms in a cute A-line skirt? Lovely. Click here to view the full chart.
May 6 2010, David Cameron – Roll Deep, Good Times
It seems the British public were in the mood to go “late night shoppin’, high street boppin’” the week David Cameron became Prime Minister as the leader of a coalition between the Conservatives and Lib Dems. Click to view full chart.
May 5 2005, Tony Blair – Tony Christie FT Peter Kay, Is This The Way To Amarillo
Peter Kay and Tony Christie’s charity effort logged its seventh and final week at Number 1 back when Tony Blair was elected for a third term. Click to view full chart.
June 7 2001, Tony Blair – Shaggy, Angel
The British public were grooving to this reggae bop the week Tony Blair was re-elected for a second stint as PM. Click to view full chart.
May 1 1997, Tony Blair - Michael Jackson, Blood On The Dancefloor
Jacko’s ‘90s classic heads up an incredible Top 10 the week Tony Blair was first elected to power. Click to view full chart.
April 9 1992, John Major – Shakespears Sister, Stay
The dramatic ballad from Shakespears Sister logged its eighth and final week at the top back in April ‘92. Click to view full chart.
June 11 1987, Margaret Thatcher – Whitney Houston, I Wanna Dance With Somebody
What. A. Song. Click to view full chart.
June 9 1983, Margaret Thatcher – The Police, Every Breath You Take
This one was Number 1 for four weeks on the bounce, fact fans. Click to view full chart.
May 3 1979, Margaret Thatcher – Art Garfunkel, Bright Eyes
The wistful Bright Eyes held the top spot on the Official Singles Chart when Margaret Thatcher was first elected to power in ‘79. Click to view full chart.
October 10 1974, Harold Wilson – John Denver, Annie’s Song
This Denver classic climbed to Number 1 after a nine week ascent just in time for Harold Wilson’s victory in ‘74. Click to view full chart.
February 28 1974, Harold Wilson - Suzi Quatro, Devil Gate Drive
The glam-rock stylings of Suzi Quatro ruled the charts for the first of two elections in 1974. Click to view full chart.
June 18 1970, Edward Heath - Mungo Jerry, In The Summertime
The rock band’s debut single ruled the chart in the summer of 1970. Click to view full chart.
March 31 1966, Harold Wilson - Walker Brothers, The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore
Was the Walker Brothers classic a sign of things to come for Harold Wilson in ‘66? Click to view full chart.
October 15 1964, Harold Wilson - Roy Orbison, Oh Pretty Woman
Orbison’s iconic Oh, Pretty Woman was enjoying a second week at Number 1 the week Harold Wilson was elected to power in 1964. Click to view full chart.
October 8 1959, Harold Macmillan - Craig Douglas, Only Sixteen
Craig Douglas’ cover of Sam Cooke’s Only Sixteen ruled the charts when Harold Macmillian came to power in 1959. Click to view full chart.
May 26 1955, Sir Antony Eden - Tony Bennett, Stranger In Paradise
Tony Bennett’s debut single landed straight in at Number 1 the week Sir Antony Eden took over from Sir Winston Churchill as PM. Click to view full chart.
Article images: Getty
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AH
Anthony Holland
What happened with James Callaghan?
Kasper Elbjørn
This is funny. As first British record sales chart did not appear until November 14 1952, popular songs were measured by sales of sheet music, and on October 26, 1951, when Churchill became prime minister for the second time, "Too Young" by Nat 'King' Cole was no. 1. When Churchill became prime minister the first time, May 10, 1940, the no. 1 single was Andrews Sisters' "Begin The Beguine". Appropriate.