What is a hung parliament?
A hung parliament happens when no single party wins an overall majority of seats in the House of Commons after a general election. With 650 MPs, a party needs 326 seats for a majority. The UK last had a hung parliament after the 2017 election, and before that in 2010.
When no party has a majority, the sitting Prime Minister stays in office. They stay until it is clear who can command the confidence of the Commons. Parties then negotiate. The options are a formal coalition, a looser confidence and supply deal, or a minority government that wins votes case by case. The civil service follows rules in the Cabinet Manual during this period. It supports talks between parties if asked, but ministers stay in charge of day-to-day government.
In 2010 the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats formed a full coalition with ministers from both parties. In 2017 the Conservatives governed as a minority with a confidence and supply deal with the Democratic Unionist Party. In February 1974 a minority Labour government was formed, and another election followed that October. Hung parliaments also happened in 1910 and 1929.
In practice the winning line is a little below 326. Sinn Féin MPs do not take their seats, and the Speaker does not vote. Hung parliaments are common in countries that use proportional representation. They are rarer under first past the post, which tends to give the largest party a majority.
Britain is split. Now you decide.
Run a full term in Population Decides and you may have to govern without a majority, winning every vote through deals.
Play Population Decides freeCommon questions
How many seats do you need for a majority?
326 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons.
What happens after a hung parliament?
Parties negotiate. The result can be a coalition, a confidence and supply deal, a minority government or a fresh election.
When was the last hung parliament in the UK?
After the June 2017 general election. It lasted until the December 2019 election.
What is a hung parliament?
When no party wins a majority of seats. A hung parliament happens when no party wins a majority.
During a hung parliament, who stays in office while things are sorted out?
The sitting Prime Minister. The sitting PM stays until it is clear who has the support of the Commons.