Confidence and supply facts for kids
A confidence and supply agreement is a special deal in some types of government, like the one in the United Kingdom. It happens when a political party that doesn't have enough seats to win votes on its own (called a minority government) gets help from smaller parties or politicians who don't belong to a party (called independents). This agreement means the smaller groups promise to support the government on two very important types of votes: votes of no confidence and votes about money (like the budget). This support helps the government stay in power and pass its plans.
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What is a Confidence and Supply Deal?
A confidence and supply deal is a formal agreement. It's like a promise from smaller groups to help a government that doesn't have a clear majority. This means the government can usually win votes that decide if it stays in power or if it can spend money.
Why Governments Need This Deal
Sometimes, after an election, no single political party wins enough seats to have more than half of all the votes in the main part of Parliament. This is called a minority government. A minority government can find it hard to pass new laws or even keep running. They need help from other groups to make sure their ideas get approved.
Votes of No Confidence
A "vote of no confidence" is a very serious vote. If the government loses this vote, it usually means they have to resign, and there might be another election. In a confidence and supply deal, the smaller groups promise to vote with the government. This helps the government avoid being forced out of power.
Supply or Budget Votes
"Supply votes" are about money. They are votes on the government's budget and how it plans to spend public money. If a government can't get its budget approved, it can't pay for public services or carry out its plans. The smaller groups in a confidence and supply deal agree to support these important money votes.
How is it Different from a Coalition?
A confidence and supply agreement is not the same as a coalition government. In a coalition, two or more parties join together to form the government. They share power, and members from different parties become ministers in charge of government departments.
Key Differences
- Sharing Power: In a confidence and supply deal, the smaller groups usually don't get jobs as ministers in the government. They stay outside the main government team.
- Formal Agreement: A confidence and supply deal is often less formal than a full coalition. It focuses mainly on those two key types of votes (confidence and supply). The smaller groups might still vote against the government on other laws.
- Stability: While it helps a minority government stay in power, a confidence and supply deal can sometimes be less stable than a full coalition. This is because the smaller groups have more freedom to disagree on other issues.
Where Are These Deals Common?
Confidence and supply agreements are often seen in countries that use the "Westminster system" of government. This system is named after the Palace of Westminster in London, where the UK Parliament meets. Many countries that were once part of the British Empire use a similar system.
What is a Westminster System?
In a Westminster system, the government is formed by the party or group that has the most support in the main elected part of Parliament (often called the "lower house"). The leader of this group becomes the Prime Minister. The government needs the support of the majority of members in this house to pass laws and stay in power.
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