General Election 2019: Opinion polls over the last seven days
As the UK votes today, final opinion polls indicate a late surge of support for Labour, which pollsters say may yet deny the Conservatives a majority and result in another hung parliament.
Boris Johnson said there was a “clear and present danger” of the Conservatives failing to win an outright majority for the second successive election.
His predecessor Theresa May lost her majority in the 2017 snap election and was forced to lead a minority government supported by the DUP.
So what happens if no party wins the general election? And could a hung parliament result in a coalition government?
What is a hung parliament?
A hung parliament is when no single political party wins enough seats in a general election to secure a majority in the House of Commons.
General election: Facts and figures
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What happens in a hung parliament?
When there is no majority, whoever was prime minister before the election stays in power and is given the first chance to create a government.
If the Tories fail to win a majority, this would mean Boris Johnson would stay in office until it is decided who will attempt to form a new government.
The prime minister may decide to negotiate with other parties to form a coalition government, or try and govern with a minority of MPs.
The government agreed a financial package with the DUP in exchange for support on certain issues.
There is also the option of a minority coalition, where the governing party makes a formal agreement with a smaller party but together they still don't have a majority. This would mean the government would need to seek support in the Commons for every vote.
Alternatively, a party that lacks a majority could simply try to govern as a minority government.
However, this makes it significantly harder for government to get legislation passed by the Commons and indicates no clear mandate from the people.
What are the odds of a hung parliament?
A hung parliament remains an unlikely scenario according to recent polls, with most pointing towards a Conservative majority.
However an eve-of-election poll by BMG Research for The Independent indicates a late surge of support for Labour
It put Conservatives on 41 per cent, Labour on 32 and Liberal Democrats on 14.
This points towards a small overall majority for Boris Johnson’s party but leaving open the possibility of a hung parliament.
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