Opposition tie

[elgroucho]

Who will be the official opposition if, for example, the Lib Dems and the Tories get an equal number of seats in the general election?

[Didwot]

Leader of the Opposition - quizmonster
Shadow Chancellor - oneeyedvic
Shodow Home Secretary - MargeB
Shadow Foreign Secretary - Bangkok
Defence - BondGirl
Health - silly moo

over to you for more suggestions

[bernardo]

The party that forms the government will be whichever is most likely to form a majority by co-operating with other parties; whichever is left over is the opposition.

[acw]

Bernado - I don't think that helps.  Perhaps we need clarification:

Elgroucho - are you asking: if Labour wins, and the LDs and Tories have an equal number of seats (eg Labour get 50% of seats, and LD and Tory get 25% each [yes, that means NO-ONE else gets one, it's THEORY!]), who is the official opposition?

[kempie]

Or a more plausible scenario

• New Labour  = 359 seats
• Tory             = 120 seats
• Lib Dem       = 120 seats
• Others          =  60 seats

Since Labour have a clear majority they form the Government but who forms the Opposition? Is there a provision for a coalition opposition?

[bernardo]

Oh I see what you mean...
I suppose it would be the Conservative Party, because they are already incumbent as the official opposition already.

[jno]

Is there any such thing as an official opposition? (serious question)

[elgroucho]

I meant the more plausible scenario as suggested by kempie. But acw's scenario is even more tantalising!

jno, yes their is an official opposition, appointed by the Queen in the same way as the government I think.

[acw]

Yes - as elgroucho said there is an official opposition.  For election "vocab" see the BBC's excellent section on the election @ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/basics/4346975.stm

[jno]

thanks, acw and elgroucho