Updated on
Summary
A hung parliament is a distinct possibility in the forthcoming British general election, an outcome not seen in the country since the 1970s. With both the major parties, Labour and Conservatives, struggling to convince the public of their ability to lead Britain through its economic difficulties, and the public's growing disdain for mainstream politicians in wake of the MPs expenses scandal, a result in which no party secures an overall parliamentary majority looks ever more likely. The strong performance of Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg in the first-ever televised leaders' debate and his party's subsequent rise in opinion polls, has also increased speculation of an inconclusive election result. Recent polls suggested that the ruling Labour Party could finish in third place in terms of the number of votes cast, but still end up as the largest party in parliament due to the concentration of its vote in its heartland areas. The last time a British general election produced an inconclusive result was in February 1974.A group of British political reform campaigners claims that far from ushering in a period of ineffectual leadership, an inconclusive poll outcome could be a blessing for Britain's economy and a powerful catalyst for change.
