What is a minority government?

A minority government is a government formed by a party that does not hold a majority of seats in the legislature. To pass laws and budgets, it must win support from other parties vote by vote or through a looser deal. In 2026 both Scotland and Wales have minority governments.

Minority governments usually form after a hung parliament, when no party wins outright and no full coalition is agreed. The largest party may govern alone if others agree not to bring it down. A confidence and supply deal is one option. A smaller party backs the government on confidence votes and budgets in return for policy concessions.

At Westminster, the Conservatives ran a minority government from 2017 to 2019, supported by the Democratic Unionist Party. Labour governed as a minority for most of 1974. Minority governments are more common in the devolved parliaments, which use proportional voting systems. The 2007 to 2011 SNP government in Scotland was also a minority, and it governed for a full term.

After the May 2026 elections, the SNP formed a minority government in Scotland with 58 of 129 seats. Plaid Cymru formed a minority government in Wales with 43 of 96 seats. Minority governments can be unstable and may struggle to pass contentious laws. Supporters say they encourage cross-party compromise. Opposition parties can bring down a minority government through a vote of no confidence, so it must keep enough support to survive.