 Despite some opinion polls indicating a Labour lead , most commentators expected that Winston Churchill 's prestige would ensure a comfortable Conservative victory in the July 1945 general election . Before polling day , The Manchester Guardian surmised that " the chances of Labour sweeping the country and obtaining a clear majority ... are pretty remote " . The News of the World predicted a working Conservative majority , while in Glasgow a pundit forecast the result as Conservatives 360 , Labour 220 , Others 60 . The expectations of a Labour victory in Liverpool Exchange were not high , but Bessie 's chances were boosted by the poor local record of the sitting member , Colonel Shute , and she herself was confident . Defying most forecasts , across the country Labour won 393 seats , and with an overall majority of 146 , Clement Attlee formed the first majority Labour government . Bessie won Liverpool Exchange with a majority of 665 from 16 @,@ 000 votes cast . 
