Forming a government

The party with most MPs forms the government. The leader of the winning party automatically becomes Prime Minister and appoints the Cabinet. The members of the Cabinet are the leading government ministers. The Prime Minister is the most important person in parliament (Britain does not have a President). The party who comes second is the Opposition and forms its own Shadow Cabinet.

British Prime Ministers have lived at 10 Downing Street since 1731. The Chancellor of the Exchequer (responsible for money and finance) lives next door at number 11. People often talk “Downing Street” when they mean the Prime Minister and his or her Cabinet.

Policemen guarding 10 Downing Street.

The Prime Minister and his Cabinet meet here

almost every week. Together they run the country.