Majority

The difference between the winning side and the next closest side in an election or vote.

Also used as: majorities, election majority, parliamentary majority, vote majority

Source / explainer: Read the UK Parliament explainer on divisions

Last reviewed: 3 August 2026

In an election result, a majority usually means the difference in votes between the winning candidate and the runner-up. In parliamentary voting, majority can also mean the difference between the Ayes and Noes in a division. Because the word is used in several contexts, readers should look at whether the result being discussed is an election result, a Commons division, or the overall government majority in the House of Commons.

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