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What is the Fixed-term Parliaments Act? What is the Fixed-term Parliaments Act?
(about 1 hour later)
Is the decision to call a general election up to Theresa May?Is the decision to call a general election up to Theresa May?
The Fixed-term Parliaments Act makes calling a general election the decision of the House of Commons, not the prime minister. But May has challenged the House of Commons to support a motion for an early election in a vote on Wednesday. Theoretically, the Fixed-term Parliaments Act makes calling a general election the decision of the House of Commons, not the prime minister. But May has challenged the House of Commons to support a motion for an early election in a vote on Wednesday in her surprise declaration outside Downing Street.
What is the Fixed-term Parliaments Act?What is the Fixed-term Parliaments Act?
The coalition agreement between David Cameron and Nick Clegg led to the introduction of a five-year, fixed-term parliament. Elections would be held on the first Thursday in May in 2015, 2020, 2025 and so on. But it also provided for a dissolution of parliament, which would trigger a general election if two-thirds of parliament voted in favour. The coalition agreement between David Cameron and Nick Clegg led to the introduction of a five-year, fixed-term parliament. Elections would be held on the first Thursday in May in 2015, 2020, 2025 and so on. But it also provided for a dissolution of parliament, which would trigger a general election if two-thirds of the Commons voted in favour.
Are there any other ways of achieving a general election? Will Theresa May get what she wants?
May could call a vote of no confidence in her own government, which would only have to be won by a simple majority of 51%. Jermey Corbyn has said....so....
Would May achieve either of these thresholds? According to May’s spokesman, if the necessary 434 MPs vote in favour of the June election on Wednesday – abstentions and absences count as votes against – then this would formally fire the starting gun on the election process – the Fixed Term Parliaments Act does not need the input of the Lords.
The prime minister will almost certainly achieve this by asking her own MPs to vote for an early election. Opposition MPs would find it almost impossible to vote against the chance of getting rid of the government, despite the vulnerability of many of their own seats. On this timetable would be dissolved 25 days before the 8 June election date, which would be 3 May. Although boundary changes have been proposed for 2020, this election will be fought on the existing boundaries with the traditional 650 MPs elected.
When do candidates have to be selected by? When do sitting MPs have to decide if they are standing again?
Would the local elections still take place on the same date?
Yes – there will be no change to the planned 4 May council and mayoral elections.
There is some potential oddity over the Manchester Gorton byelection, caused by the death of the longstanding Labour MP Gerald Kaufman, and due on the same day.
If it happened this would see the new MP win their seat the day after parliament is dissolved, and immediately plunged back into another election campaign. If they then lost, that would mean an MP being in place for five weeks and never taking their seat in the Commons. The Electoral Commission say they understand the byelection can still happen if the parties wish it.