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Question

Difficulty: MediumThe 21st Century and Recent Events

In May 2010, the United Kingdom general election resulted in a 'hung parliament,' where no single political party won an overall majority. Which two parties subsequently formed a coalition government, the first in the UK since the Second World War?

  1. The Conservative Party and the Liberal DemocratsAnswer
  2. B
    The Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats
  3. C
    The Conservative Party and the Democratic Unionist Party
  4. D
    The Labour Party and the Scottish National Party

Answer

The Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats
The correct answer is the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats. In May 2010, for the first time since the Second World War, the UK had a coalition government because the general election resulted in no single party having a majority of seats in the House of Commons.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the election year and the context of a 'hung parliament'.
The May 2010 election left no party with a majority.
This sets the historical context for the formation of a coalition.
2
Recall which parties negotiated to reach a governing majority.
The Conservatives (as the largest party) and the Liberal Democrats agreed to work together.
The coalition agreement provided the parliamentary numbers needed to form a stable government.

Key Concept

The 2010 Coalition Government

Practice More

Review the details of the 2011 Alternative Vote referendum, which was a direct result of the coalition agreement between these two parties.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

The 21st Century and Recent Events

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