Analysis: What is a hung parliament?
By Robin Oakley, CNN Political Contributor
May 7, 2010 -- Updated 1011 GMT (1811 HKT)
London, England (CNN) -- The British election has ended in a hung parliament, as official returns show it is impossible for any one party to get a majority of seats. The leader of the largest party traditionally gets the first chance to form the government and become prime minister. But if no party has a majority, the sitting prime minister -- currently Gordon Brown -- has the right to stay in office and try to win a confidence motion in parliament.
Hung parliaments are unusual in Britain. The last time it happened, in 1974, voters were back at the polls within months. CNN's Political Contributor Robin Oakley, a veteran of 12 UK elections, answers questions about a hung parliament.
What exactly is a "hung parliament?"
To enjoy a governing majority in the parliament, a party -- realistically either the Conservatives, led by David Cameron, or the ruling Labour Party, led by Prime Minister Gordon Brown -- needed to win a minimum of 326 seats. That's more than half the total of 650 being contested.
A "hung parliament" is one in which no single party reaches that minimum number. Without a majority in parliament, a government becomes dependent on MPs -- or lawmakers -- from other parties to get its program voted through the House of Commons, the chamber which passes laws and legislation…..more>>>>>
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