What happens when there is a hung parliament?

Question

I was having an argument with someone today about what happens when there is a hung parliament.

If there is a hung parliament (no overall majority) AND the previous governing party (in this case labour) have the least seats of the 3 major parties - am I the correct in thinking that the previous governing party (labour) would still govern with a minority OR would it be that the party who got the most seats of the 3 major parties would form a minority government?

Basically I am asking if the party with the most seats in a hung parliament form government, or does the incumbent party still govern in a hung parliament by default even if they have the least seats compared to the other 2 parties.

Answer 1

This ia a fairly common situation in other countries, but it really bothers the British Parties, because it means that they cannot CONTROL Parliament by themselves. Whilst a Parliament is intended to be a "talking shop" where matters are discussed, the British have never liked free discussion, but prefer to have a single Party control the Legislature, (and also the local Councils, incidentally).



A hung Parliament means that no single Party can enforce its wishes, thus only Non-Contentious issues can be passed, and the Administration has less possibility of getting its own way.



In each Parliament, it is the MP's who will (effectively) decide who will form the Executive. Normally, the majority party are the Government, because they instruct their members how to vote, and can, therefore, outvote any other Party.



Before the new Parliament is opened, the Queen will ask one of the Party leaders, if they can form a Government; usually, it will be the majority Party leader,(for the reason given above) but if there was no clear single majority Party, she will act on advice from the elected Party leaders, or her own advisers.



Where the majority is so small, it means that tactics may decide on which Laws are passed. Very few MP's will be able to stay away from the house, or go home early at the weekends, in case a vote is called on the off chance of having it passed! One sick member was brought from hospital into the Lower House on a stretcher, and carried through the voting lobby when this occurred some years ago! It means that all members have to spend more time tied to the House, and that is something that they really do not like!

Answer 2

using your example, if Labour lost enough seats to have the least of the 3 parties, there would be no need to have a hung parliament because one of the parties would definitely have a majority.



However to answer you question, it would be the party with the most seats and not the incumbent.

Answer 3

A hung parliament is the position no social gathering can benefit maximum individuals of seats in the decrease abode of Parliament, familiar as abode of Representatives in the federal Parliament. This grow to be suggested lately in the Tasmania state elections and also in South Australia in 2002 at the same time as the ALP fell one seat short to make up a authorities in the Legislative assistance. the end bring about Tasmania grow to be that the ALP conceded that they could no longer make up a authorities, and the Liberal social gathering grow to be sworn in as a minority authorities. In South Australia, after a lot negotiation 2 self sufficient MPs - Peter Lewis and Bob Such - desirous to aspect with the ALP, which meant that they now had the more suitable style of seats. although, this also meant that Such and Lewis had the "stability of potential" - each little bit of legislations presented by utilizing the ALP grow to be situation to approval by utilizing both independents, which placed them in a fine looking good position to barter a extra positive outcome for his or her voters. in relation to the 2010 federal election, there are countless opportunities. the most probable outcome is that the vegetables will aspect with the ALP, leaving the 4 different self sufficient MPs to barter with both the ALP and Liberal activities to opt for who would make the more suitable authorities (or which social gathering would have a extra positive deal for the voters they characterize). in the adventure that they fail to finish that, it really is then as a lot because the Governor-generic to call yet another election.

Answer 4

No,, two or more of the Parties would likely form a Coalition.