Motion of no confidence | |
|---|---|
| Chamber | House of Commons |
| Usually tabled by | Leader of the Opposition |
| If passed | The government resigns or calls an election |
A motion of no confidence is a motion in the House of Commons stating that the House no longer has confidence in the government. It is the most direct way for Parliament to remove a government between elections, and it rests on the basic rule of the constitution: a government can only govern while it has the confidence of the Commons.
Contents
Procedure
A motion of no confidence is usually tabled by the Leader of the Opposition, though on the UKOGB website any MP can table one with enough support. The Speaker schedules a debate, and the House then votes in a division.
Consequences
If the motion fails, the government carries on, often strengthened. If it passes, the Prime Minister must either resign, so that someone else who can command the confidence of the House can form a government, or ask for a new general election. Where no party has a majority, talks to form a coalition can reopen, overseen by the Electoral Commission.
This page was last edited on 3 November 2026.