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| Snap elections and the Fixed-term Parliaments Act: what happens next? | Snap elections and the Fixed-term Parliaments Act: what happens next? |
| (2 days 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? |
| Theoretically, the Fixed-term Parliaments Act makes calling a general election the decision of the House of Commons, not the prime minister. But on Tuesday, May challenged the House of Commons to support a motion for an early election in a vote the next day in her surprise declaration outside Downing Street. | Theoretically, the Fixed-term Parliaments Act makes calling a general election the decision of the House of Commons, not the prime minister. But on Tuesday, May challenged the House of Commons to support a motion for an early election in a vote the next day 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 the Commons 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. |
| Will Theresa May get what she wants? | Will Theresa May get what she wants? |
| Seemingly so. Jeremy Corbyn has backed the call for a snap election, saying he welcomes the chance to battle May at the polls. The Conservatives and Labour together make up 559 of the 650 seats in the Commons, which should be enough to reach the necessary two-thirds threshold with ease, even accounting for abstentions, absences and rebellions. | Seemingly so. Jeremy Corbyn has backed the call for a snap election, saying he welcomes the chance to battle May at the polls. The Conservatives and Labour together make up 559 of the 650 seats in the Commons, which should be enough to reach the necessary two-thirds threshold with ease, even accounting for abstentions, absences and rebellions. |
| If the necessary numbers vote in favour of an 8 June election on Wednesday it would formally fire the starting gun on the election process – the Fixed-term Parliaments Act does not need the input of the Lords. | If the necessary numbers vote in favour of an 8 June election on Wednesday it would formally fire the starting gun on the election process – the Fixed-term Parliaments Act does not need the input of the Lords. |
| On this timetable parliament would be dissolved 25 days before the 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 650 MPs to be elected. | On this timetable parliament would be dissolved 25 days before the 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 650 MPs to be elected. |
| When do candidates have to be selected by? | When do candidates have to be selected by? |
| Under Electoral Commission rules, nominations have to be filed by 4pm on the 19th working day before the poll – in this case 11 May. This means the candidates must be in place at least a week beforehand, to allow the necessary arrangements to be made and paperwork to be filed. | |
| That gives the parties just over a fortnight to fill any gaps. Some have already been working on this, based on earlier predictions that a snap election would be called. The Liberal Democrats say they have 400 candidates in place and ready to go. | That gives the parties just over a fortnight to fill any gaps. Some have already been working on this, based on earlier predictions that a snap election would be called. The Liberal Democrats say they have 400 candidates in place and ready to go. |
| Labour will call an emergency national executive committee meeting within days to draw up plans for candidate selection, one senior source said. It is highly likely sitting MPs and unsuccessful 2015 candidates will be asked to automatically stand again. | Labour will call an emergency national executive committee meeting within days to draw up plans for candidate selection, one senior source said. It is highly likely sitting MPs and unsuccessful 2015 candidates will be asked to automatically stand again. |
| When do sitting MPs have to decide if they are standing again? | When do sitting MPs have to decide if they are standing again? |
| Beyond the 10 May nominations deadline, the only timetable will be imposed by parties. Realistically, if an MP decides they want to stand down, they will need to make their mind up in the next few days to give their party a chance to find a replacement. | Beyond the 10 May nominations deadline, the only timetable will be imposed by parties. Realistically, if an MP decides they want to stand down, they will need to make their mind up in the next few days to give their party a chance to find a replacement. |
| Will the local elections still take place on the same date? | Will 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. | Yes – there will be no change to the planned 4 May council and mayoral elections. |
| One potential oddity could be the Manchester Gorton byelection, following the death of the longstanding Labour MP Gerald Kaufman, which is also due to take place on 4 May. 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 says the byelection can still happen if the parties wish it. | One potential oddity could be the Manchester Gorton byelection, following the death of the longstanding Labour MP Gerald Kaufman, which is also due to take place on 4 May. 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 says the byelection can still happen if the parties wish it. |
| • This article was amended on 20 April 2017. An earlier version gave a date of 10 May where it should have had 11 May. |