Can the Queen say no to Theresa May forming a government? Does she vote in general elections and what’s her role?
The Prime Minister meets the Queen today
THE COUNTRY has woken up to a hung parliament after a turbulent election night.
Theresa May is now visiting the Queen and seeking permission to form a new minority government after the Tories suffered a number of casualties overnight.
Could the Queen stop Theresa May forming a government?
As the Head of State, the Queen has to remain strictly neutral with respect to political matters.
However she does have an important ceremonial and formal roles in relation to the UK government.
But when it comes to whether the Queen would be able to stop Theresa May from forming a minority government, the simple answer is no.
If a party leader has the required 326 seats in Parliament to make a majority, however small it may be, a monarch does not have the power to refuse permission for a government to be formed.
Therefore if Mrs May manages to pull together a coalition, the Queen would be unable to say no.
Does the Queen vote in general elections?
In theory the Queen is entitled to vote as there is no British law which bans the monarchy from voting.
However in order to remain strictly neutral with respect to political matters, the Queen chooses not to cast her vote.
An Electoral Commission spokesperson told the : "By convention the Queen doesn't vote, rather than because of a legal impediment."
What is the Queen's role during general elections?
After every UK general election, the Queen invites the leader of the largest party to Buckingham Palace, who will ask the sovereign for permission to form a new government.
If the party has enough seats to make up a majority, permission from the sovereign should be given.
The Queen is also responsible for opening Parliament after a new government has been formed.
This is often called the State Opening and marks the beginning of the parliamentary year.
The Queen also dissolves parliament before a general election is held.
