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| Version 13 | Version 14 |
|---|---|
| General election: When is the next one and who decides? | General election: When is the next one and who decides? |
| (12 days later) | |
| In a dramatic reshuffle, Rishi Sunak has appointed former Prime Minister David Cameron as Foreign Secretary. | |
| The newly-ennobled Lord Cameron will fill the position from the House of Lords. He replaced James Cleverly, who became home secretary after Suella Braverman was sacked. | |
| The overhaul of government ministers was announced as speculation grows about the timing of the next general election. | |
| What was the strategy behind Rishi Sunak’s reshuffle? | |
| When is the next general election due? | When is the next general election due? |
| UK general elections - where all 650 Members of Parliament (MPs) are elected to the House of Commons - have to be called no more than five years apart. | UK general elections - where all 650 Members of Parliament (MPs) are elected to the House of Commons - have to be called no more than five years apart. |
| The next election must therefore take place by 28 January 2025. | The next election must therefore take place by 28 January 2025. |
| This represents five years from the day the current Parliament first met (17 December 2019), plus the time required to run an election campaign. | This represents five years from the day the current Parliament first met (17 December 2019), plus the time required to run an election campaign. |
| Who decides when an election takes place? | Who decides when an election takes place? |
| The prime minister (PM) decides when to call the election, but this has not always been the case. | The prime minister (PM) decides when to call the election, but this has not always been the case. |
| In 2011, a law was passed which removed the PM's power to choose the date of an election, and instead handed control to the House of Commons. | In 2011, a law was passed which removed the PM's power to choose the date of an election, and instead handed control to the House of Commons. |
| Under those rules, an early election before the end of the five-year term could only be held under certain circumstances - such as if two-thirds of MPs agreed. | Under those rules, an early election before the end of the five-year term could only be held under certain circumstances - such as if two-thirds of MPs agreed. |
| However, after winning the 2019 election, the Conservatives introduced a new law called the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022. | However, after winning the 2019 election, the Conservatives introduced a new law called the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022. |
| This restored the PM's power to call elections at a time of their choosing, at any point within the five-year period. | This restored the PM's power to call elections at a time of their choosing, at any point within the five-year period. |
| How does the PM call a general election? | How does the PM call a general election? |
| The PM needs to make a formal request to the King to "dissolve" Parliament - the official term for closing Parliament ahead of an election. | The PM needs to make a formal request to the King to "dissolve" Parliament - the official term for closing Parliament ahead of an election. |
| Rishi Sunak is the second prime minister of King Charles's reign | Rishi Sunak is the second prime minister of King Charles's reign |
| Once an election is called, polling day is expected to take place 25 working days later. | Once an election is called, polling day is expected to take place 25 working days later. |
| At the point of dissolution, MPs lose their status, and campaign for re-election - assuming they choose to stand again. Some MPs choose to stand down ahead of a general election. | |
| Government also enters a "pre-election period"- previously known as "purdah" - which restricts ministerial and department activity during the campaign. | Government also enters a "pre-election period"- previously known as "purdah" - which restricts ministerial and department activity during the campaign. |
| What does the prime minister actually do? | What does the prime minister actually do? |
| How to be a former prime minister | How to be a former prime minister |
| How is the general election decided? | How is the general election decided? |
| The UK is divided into 650 areas, called constituencies. Each one elects a MP to represent its residents in the House of Commons in London. | The UK is divided into 650 areas, called constituencies. Each one elects a MP to represent its residents in the House of Commons in London. |
| On election day, registered voters in each constituency vote for their preferred candidate in their local polling station. Some people choose to vote by post in advance. | |
| Most candidates represent a specific political party, but some stand as independents. | |
| In a general election, each person has one vote. Under the "first past the post" system, the candidate who gets the most votes becomes the MP for that area. | In a general election, each person has one vote. Under the "first past the post" system, the candidate who gets the most votes becomes the MP for that area. |
| After a general election, the King asks the leader of the party with the most MPs to become prime minister, and to form a government to run the country. | After a general election, the King asks the leader of the party with the most MPs to become prime minister, and to form a government to run the country. |
| The leader of the party with the second highest number of MPs becomes the leader of the opposition. | The leader of the party with the second highest number of MPs becomes the leader of the opposition. |
| Find your MP | Find your MP |
| Who can vote in a general election? | Who can vote in a general election? |
| Anyone on the electoral register aged 18 or above on polling day has a vote as long as they are: | |
| a British citizen, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen or a Republic of Ireland citizen | a British citizen, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen or a Republic of Ireland citizen |
| resident at a UK address, or a UK citizen living abroad who has been registered in the last 15 years | resident at a UK address, or a UK citizen living abroad who has been registered in the last 15 years |
| not legally excluded from voting | not legally excluded from voting |
| You can register to vote at any time if you are 16 or over - or 14 or over in Scotland. | You can register to vote at any time if you are 16 or over - or 14 or over in Scotland. |
| How to register to vote | How to register to vote |
| What photo ID do you need to vote? | What photo ID do you need to vote? |
| Can the opposition force an election? | Can the opposition force an election? |
| The prime minister must have the "confidence" of the House of Commons to govern, which means they must be supported by a majority of MPs. | The prime minister must have the "confidence" of the House of Commons to govern, which means they must be supported by a majority of MPs. |
| A motion of no confidence sees MPs from all parties decide whether they want the government to continue. | A motion of no confidence sees MPs from all parties decide whether they want the government to continue. |
| If the leader of the opposition introduces such a motion, the government is expected toprovide parliamentary time for a debate and a vote. | |
| In order to pass, the motion needs just one more MP voting in favour than against. | In order to pass, the motion needs just one more MP voting in favour than against. |
| If the government loses the vote, a general election is normally called. | If the government loses the vote, a general election is normally called. |
| Former PM Boris Johnson survived a vote of no confidence in June 2022 | Former PM Boris Johnson survived a vote of no confidence in June 2022 |
| It is also possible that the King could invite somebody else to form a government, if they could win a vote of confidence in the House of Commons. | It is also possible that the King could invite somebody else to form a government, if they could win a vote of confidence in the House of Commons. |
| However, for a no confidence motion to pass, the incumbent party's MPs need to vote down their own government - which is very unlikely. | |
| What is a vote of no confidence? | What is a vote of no confidence? |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| UK Parliament | UK Parliament |
| Rishi Sunak | Rishi Sunak |