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Understanding minority governments in the UK involves exploring how they form when no party wins a majority in the House of Commons, leading to a hung parliament. These governments face challenges in passing legislation and may rely on confidence and supply agreements with other parties. Historical examples include the Conservative minority government in 1923 and the Labour government in 1974, as well as the Conservative-DUP agreement in 2017.
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A minority government is established when no single political party wins a majority of seats in the House of Commons during a general election
Party with the most seats lacks the 326 seats required for a majority out of the 650 available
A hung parliament occurs when the party with the most seats does not have enough to form a majority government
Options for the party with the most seats
The party with the most seats can either form a coalition with other parties or govern as a minority government
A minority government must seek support from other Members of Parliament on a case-by-case basis to pass legislation and maintain confidence
Establishing a minority government involves negotiating support from other parties or independent MPs to pass crucial legislation
A common arrangement for a minority government is a confidence and supply agreement, where another party agrees to support the government on key issues
A minority government may be vulnerable to a vote of no confidence, potentially triggering a new election
In 1923, the Conservative Party formed a minority government that was short-lived due to lack of support from the Liberal Party
After the February 1974 general election, the Labour Party formed a minority government that lasted until a second election in October of the same year
After the 2017 general election, the Conservative Party formed a minority government supported by the Democratic Unionist Party through a confidence and supply agreement
A coalition government involves an agreement between multiple parties to share executive power and responsibilities
The decision between forming a coalition or a minority government depends on the political landscape and the willingness of parties to work together after an election
Minority governments can lead to a more collaborative approach to lawmaking, but may also result in legislative inefficiency and questions of legitimacy
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Outcome of no absolute majority in UK elections
Results in a hung parliament where no party has over half of the 650 seats.
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Options for the largest party in a hung parliament
Can form a coalition or govern as a minority government.
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Minority government's approach to passing legislation
Seeks support from MPs on a case-by-case basis to pass laws and maintain confidence.
