Britain heading for hung Parliament?

Ashis Ray

 Britain is on course for a hung parliament after the general elections likely to be held this spring, an opinion poll has revealed. The survey predicted a 2% point opposition Conservative Party lead, while the ruling Labour Party, once 26% points behind, may emerge as the single largest party.

A hung parliament has become an unfamiliar territory for the mother of parliamentary democracies, with an unwritten constitution from which India largely derived its framework. Britain had a hung parliament last in 1974, when Conservative PM Edward Heath chose to cling on to power before the Liberal Party refused to back him, and forced his resignation in four days.

Labour's Harold Wilson thereafter headed a minority government until a snap poll in October that year returned his party with a slender majority. In a note to a House of Commons Select Committee, British cabinet secretary Gus O'Donnell submitted: "Where an election does not result in a clear majority for a single party, the incumbent government remains in office unless and until the PM tenders his and the government's resignation to the monarch.''

In effect, an administration may persevere even if hasn't emerged as the largest single formation in the Commons. Unlike the Indian President, the British monarch doesn't directly get involved in ascertaining views from politicians. O'Donnell stated: "Where a range of different administrations could potentially be formed, the expectation is that discussions will take place between political parties on who should form the next government.
The monarch would not expect to become involved in such discussions, although the political parties and the cabinet secretary would have a role in ensuring that the palace is informed of progress".

The British cabinet secretary's coordinating powers are different from those vested in his Indian counterpart. "The PM can choose to ask the cabinet secretary to support the government's discussions with opposition or minority parties on the formation of a government. If opposition parties request similar support for their discussions with each other or with the government, this can be provided by the cabinet office with the authorisation of the PM,'' said O'Donnell. TNN