1. Minority and coalition government
Professor Robert Hazell and Akash Paun
The Constitution Unit, UCL
Institute for Government
15 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 governments in 1999 and 2003
SNP minority government since 2007
Wales
Labour minority government 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 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

6. 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 House of Commons
House of Lords is already chamber with no overall control. Government defeated in one third of votes in the Lords

7. Differences between Scottish Parliament and Westminster
No PR at Westminster
Strong majoritarian culture: government used to getting its way
Save now for hung chamber in the House of Lords
No fixed term at Westminster
Brown’s proposal to make dissolution subject to parliamentary approval

8. Making minority and coalition government work
What needs to change, in the rules and behaviour of
The Executive, and Prime/First Minister
The Civil Service
Parliament
The political parties
The media?

9. For our research on minority and coalition government contact
Professor Robert Hazell
0044 (0)
Akash Paun