1. Minority government in Britain
Professor Robert Hazell
The Constitution Unit, UCL
6 May 2009

2. Minority government

3. UK experience of minority and coalition government
20 governments in C20 at Westminster
5 were coalition governments
5 were minority governments
No experience of coalition government since 1945
Last experience of minority government
Minority government seen as unstable, ineffective, incoherent and undesirable

4. Experience in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Lab/Lib Dem coalition govts in 1999 and 2003
SNP minority government since 2007
Wales
Labour minority govt in and
Labour/Lib Dem coalition , and
Labour/Plaid Cymru coalition since 2007
Northern Ireland
Compulsory power sharing coalition, with four parties
Led by Ulster Unionist Party/SDLP
Led by Democratic Unionists/Sinn Fein since 2007

5. Lessons from minority government in Scotland
Legislation lite: seven bills in two years
Scottish Parliament has not filled the gap, despite committees’ power to initiate legislation
Adversarial culture of government versus opposition, no acceptance so far that minority government might be desirable or become the norm
Opposition parties have not wanted to trigger early election
Scotland Act constrains possibility of early election

6. Lessons for the Civil Service
Be prepared for inter party negotiations before new government is formed
Minority government is conducted with an eye to the next election, which might be soon
Government wants to deliver quickly. Little scope for Civil Service to amend or improve its policies
Policies need to be negotiated with other parties to get their support
Be aware of MPs with swing votes and their interests

7. Lessons for Parliament
Minority government strengthens Parliament vis-a-vis the Executive
Could increase prospects for parliamentary reform, but only if support parties promote that agenda
Tighter whipping likely in Commons
House of Lords is already chamber with no overall control. Govt defeated in one third of votes in the Lords

8. Minority government can work if
It has confidence and supply agreements with support parties
It can build legislative coalitions with different parties on different issues
It is not frightened of a snap election, and is doing well in the polls
The PM does not seek to govern in a majoritarian way

9. For our research on minority and coalition government contact
Professor Robert Hazell
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