A service from mySociety A service from mySociety

TheyWorkForYou

Menu

Bedford

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Electoral Registration – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 15 December 1949.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Mr Thomas Skeffington-Lodge Mr Thomas Skeffington-Lodge , Bedford 12:00, 15 December 1949

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the fact that I am going greatly to increase my Majority?

majority

The term "majority" is used in two ways in Parliament. Firstly a Government cannot operate effectively unless it can command a majority in the House of Commons - a majority means winning more than 50% of the votes in a division. Should a Government fail to hold the confidence of the House, it has to hold a General Election. Secondly the term can also be used in an election, where it refers to the margin which the candidate with the most votes has over the candidate coming second. To win a seat a candidate need only have a majority of 1.