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What happens if parliament is 'messily hung'?

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Another weekend poll, another drop in the Conservative lead. So increasingly, if the polls are to be believed, it looks like we may face a hung parliament in the aftermath of the upcoming General Election.

The last time it happened was 1974. But what will happen in the event of a hung parliament is not necessarily clear or straight forward.

Professor of Contemporary British History Peter Hennessey explains how whatever the nature of a hung parliament, Gordon Brown and the cabinet will remain in office.

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