Hung parliament: What happens next?
No party has been able to secure an outright majority in the House of Commons and there will now be a frantic period of negotiation to decide the shape of the next government.The situation is described as a hung parliament, with no single party having enough MPs - 326 - to win parliamentary votes without the support of members of other parties. Which party is in a position to form the next government will become clear in the following hours or days.
There is no formal deadline for when an administration must be formed but a key date is 25 May, when the Queen's Speech is due to set out the government's priorities during the parliament.
However, Dr Ruth Fox, director of the Hansard Society's parliament and government programme, believes it will be clear within days whether there will be a possibility of a deal between the parties.
"That will determine the direction of government," she says. But the finer details of policy might be worked out later.
Professor Hazell says that while the public is used to elections being over in a day or so, negotiations to form a government in a hung parliament could take between a week and 10 days.
Over the first few days, or weeks, of negotiations the role of the civil servants is likely to be crucial in smoothing talks between the parties.
They would not be allowed to provide policy advice but would be able to show where policy overlaps.
Professor Hazell says the civil servants are "very well prepared" to support negotiations between the parties in the event of a hung parliament.
Earlier this year, the Cabinet Secretary Gus O'Donnell drew up a document on how civil servants would help with these discussions.
In reality, civil servants have long played a part in such discussions, according to Ms Fox. But there is more agreement now on how civil servants could be seconded to parties who are not governing to give details on such matters as economic issues
A minority administration must show it has the confidence of the Commons but the Queen's Speech does not have to be the deadline for negotiations between parties.
The administration may put forward a slimmed down legislative programme which it believes is more likely to gain support.
But if it loses the vote on the Queen's Speech this would be seen as a "no-confidence" vote and force its resignation.
If no agreement can be reached between parties and no government was unable to command enough support to get the Queen's Speech through parliament there would be a need for a second election.
However, party leaders may not be keen to go to the polls again unless the opinion polls indicate voter intentions have changed markedly. Parties would also consider the fact that another election would be costly financially.
Ms Fox adds that "the country would not readily forgive them for forcing a second election" and says the parties, mindful of that, will be likely to strike a deal.
Source:www.news.bbc.co.uk
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There is no formal deadline for when an administration must be formed but a key date is 25 May, when the Queen's Speech is due to set out the government's priorities during the parliament.
However, Dr Ruth Fox, director of the Hansard Society's parliament and government programme, believes it will be clear within days whether there will be a possibility of a deal between the parties.
"That will determine the direction of government," she says. But the finer details of policy might be worked out later.
Professor Hazell says that while the public is used to elections being over in a day or so, negotiations to form a government in a hung parliament could take between a week and 10 days.
Over the first few days, or weeks, of negotiations the role of the civil servants is likely to be crucial in smoothing talks between the parties.
They would not be allowed to provide policy advice but would be able to show where policy overlaps.
Professor Hazell says the civil servants are "very well prepared" to support negotiations between the parties in the event of a hung parliament.
Earlier this year, the Cabinet Secretary Gus O'Donnell drew up a document on how civil servants would help with these discussions.
In reality, civil servants have long played a part in such discussions, according to Ms Fox. But there is more agreement now on how civil servants could be seconded to parties who are not governing to give details on such matters as economic issues
A minority administration must show it has the confidence of the Commons but the Queen's Speech does not have to be the deadline for negotiations between parties.
The administration may put forward a slimmed down legislative programme which it believes is more likely to gain support.
But if it loses the vote on the Queen's Speech this would be seen as a "no-confidence" vote and force its resignation.
If no agreement can be reached between parties and no government was unable to command enough support to get the Queen's Speech through parliament there would be a need for a second election.
However, party leaders may not be keen to go to the polls again unless the opinion polls indicate voter intentions have changed markedly. Parties would also consider the fact that another election would be costly financially.
Ms Fox adds that "the country would not readily forgive them for forcing a second election" and says the parties, mindful of that, will be likely to strike a deal.
Source:www.news.bbc.co.uk
If you wish to escape the election and have decided to take a gap year and go backpacking be sure to get the best travel insurance, just visit www.holidaysafe.co.uk for gap year travel insurance and backpacking travel insurance
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