How a government is formed

From votes to a government · 3 min read

Part of: How the government works · 8 short reads

This is number 7 of 8

The nutshell

A general election chooses 650 MPs. The party with the most MPs usually forms the government, and its leader becomes Prime Minister.

Every fact on this page comes from official guides to how UK government works and non-partisan explainers. Each source tag — like Parl — opens where a fact comes from.

Keep scrolling. The basics is next

The basics

What happens after an election

A general election fills all 650 seats in the House of Commons. Each area, called a constituency, picks one MP. The party with the most MPs can usually get its plans through the Commons, so it forms the government.Parl The leader of that party is asked to become Prime Minister.Parl

The main rule: confidence

To take office, a government must be able to command the confidence of the House of Commons. This means having the support of most MPs.HoC A party that wins more than half of the 650 seats has that support on its own.

Who invites the Prime Minister

The monarch appoints the Prime Minister. By long custom, the monarch picks whoever can command the confidence of the Commons, usually the leader of the largest party.IfG When another party wins a majority, the Prime Minister already in the job resigns the morning after the election.IfG

When nobody wins outright

Sometimes no party wins more than half the seats. This is called a hung parliament. The House of Commons Library explains that a coalition of parties, a confidence and supply deal, or a minority government can form instead.HoC

What supporters say

The main rule is confidence. A government has to command the confidence of the House of Commons, which means the support of most MPs (House of Commons Library)
The party with the most MPs usually forms the government, and the monarch asks its leader to become Prime Minister (UK Parliament)
The rules are written down. The Cabinet Manual sets out the conventions on how a government is formed after an election (GOV.UK)

What critics say

The Prime Minister is not chosen by a separate national vote. Each voter elects a local MP, and the leader of the winning party is asked to become Prime Minister (UK Parliament)
The monarch does not pick the government freely. By long custom the monarch appoints whoever can command the confidence of the Commons, usually the leader of the largest party (Institute for Government)
No single party has to win outright. When no party has a majority, the House of Commons Library explains that a coalition, a confidence and supply deal, or a minority government can form instead

Got it?

Three quick questions. Nothing is saved.

1. After a general election, who usually forms the government?

2. What must a government be able to do to take office?

3. What can happen when no single party wins a majority?

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Once the Cabinet agrees a decision, every minister must back that decision in public or resign.

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The deep end6 min

How a government forms, in full

A UK general election fills all 650 seats in the House of Commons at once. UK Parliament records that the party with the most MPs across the UK forms the government, and the monarch asks its leader to become Prime Minister.ParlA party needs 326 seats for an overall majority.

Confidence is the core rule

The House of Commons Library explains that a government must be able to command the confidence of the House of Commons — the support of a majority of MPs — both to take office and to stay in office.HoC A single party with a majority has that confidence on its own. Where no party has a majority, the same rule still decides who governs.HoC

The monarch's role, and where the rules are written

The Institute for Government records that appointing the Prime Minister is one of the few remaining prerogative powers of the monarch, but that the choice follows convention rather than personal preference.IfG When one party wins a clear majority, the appointment is straightforward. If that majority belongs to a different party from the one in power, the incumbent Prime Minister resigns the morning after the election and is replaced.IfG

Many of these conventions are set out in one place. The Cabinet Manual, published by the Cabinet Office, records the main laws, conventions and rules on how government operates, including elections and government formation.GOVIt reflects that it is for political parties to work out, and to make clear to the sovereign, who is best placed to command the confidence of the House of Commons.GOV

When no party has a majority

A result where no single party wins more than half the seats is a hung parliament. The House of Commons Library sets out three routes. Two or more parties can agree a formal coalition and share ministerial jobs. Other parties can agree a confidence and supply deal, backing the government on confidence votes and the budget without joining it. Or a single party can run a minority government and seek support vote by vote.HoC