1
                 CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Annual Report (Form 20-F)
of MERANT plc of our report dated 12 September 2000, included in the 2000 Annual
Report of Shareholders of MERANT plc.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statements
(Form S-8 Nos. 333-24867, 333-45701, 333-65027 and 333-92819) pertaining to the
employee share plans named on the facing sheets thereof of our report dated 12
September 2000, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of MERANT
plc incorporated by reference in the Annual Report (Form 20-F) for the year
ended April 30, 2000 in respect of the UK format financial statements.

Our audits also included the financial statement schedule of MERANT plc listed
in Item 19(a)2 - UK Format. This schedule is the responsibility of the Company's
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our audits. In
our opinion, the financial statements schedule referred to above, when
considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole,
presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.



Reading, England
October 24, 2000