Any party with more than half the MPs (326) in the Commons usually forms the government. Parties with well below 50% of the national vote can take power as a result of the UK's voting system. If no party has a majority of MPs, the one with the most can form a coalition - or partnership - with one or more other parties to gain control.

The views of many UK political parties differ on issues including the economy, immigration, foreign policy, and other issues. They tend to fall on the political spectrum, with a variety of left-wing and right-wing parties present in the UK.