Hung Parliament

A hung parliament is defined by the absence of a single party holding more than half the seats in a legislature, which typically necessitates cross-party bargaining to secure a working majority. In parliamentary systems, the incumbent government remains in office until a new one is formed, and the monarch or head of state may invite the largest party to attempt to form a government. Confidence and supply agreements, where a smaller party supports the government on key votes without joining a formal coalition, are a common outcome. In the UK, the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 (repealed in 2022) introduced a formal process for forming a government after a hung parliament, but conventions still guide the process.

The United Kingdom experienced hung parliaments in 1974, 2010, and 2017. In 2010, the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition was the first formal coalition since World War II. In 2017, Theresa May's minority government relied on a confidence-and-supply deal with the Democratic Unionist Party. Australia has seen several hung parliaments, including the 2010 federal election that produced a Labor minority government. In Canada, the 2008 and 2019 elections resulted in minority governments, though the term 'hung parliament' is less commonly used there. India's 1989 and 1996 elections produced hung parliaments, leading to coalition governments.

Hung parliaments often lead to more collaborative and consensus-based politics, but they can also create instability and policy gridlock. Governments formed after hung parliaments may be more vulnerable to losing votes of no confidence, as seen in the 1979 vote that brought down James Callaghan's minority government. However, some scholars argue that hung parliaments can produce more moderate policies due to the need for compromise. In the UK, the 2010 coalition implemented significant austerity measures, while the 2017 minority government struggled to pass Brexit legislation. In multi-party systems, hung parliaments are the norm, and coalition-building is a routine part of governance.

One lesser-known aspect is the role of the Speaker in a hung parliament, as the Speaker's casting vote can be crucial in tied votes. In the UK, the Speaker is expected to vote in favour of further debate or against the government, which can affect outcomes. Another edge case is the 'hung council' in local government, where no party controls a council, leading to power-sharing arrangements. In the 2010 UK election, the Liberal Democrats negotiated with both Labour and the Conservatives, and the 'big society' concept was a key part of the coalition agreement. Additionally, the term 'balanced parliament' is sometimes used in Australia to describe a hung parliament, and in some countries, such as Germany, hung parliaments are routine due to proportional representation, but the term is rarely used.

Confidence and supply

An arrangement where a smaller party agrees to support the government in confidence votes and budget supply in exchange for policy concessions.

Minority government

A government formed by a party that does not hold a majority of seats, relying on the support of other parties to pass legislation.

Coalition

A formal alliance of two or more parties that agree to govern together, often sharing ministerial positions.