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General Election: When is the next one and could it be called sooner? General Election: When is the next one and could it be called sooner?
(about 2 months later)
Liz Truss will be the UK's next prime minister, after winning the Conservative Party leadership contest. Rishi Sunak is to be the UK's next prime minister, following the withdrawal of Tory leadership rivals Penny Mordaunt and Boris Johnson.
What does that mean for when the next general election will be held? Opposition politicians have been leading calls for a general election, following Liz Truss's resignation.
So, why is there a new prime minister without an election?
When is the next general election due?When is the next general election due?
UK general elections - where all 650 MPs are elected to the House of Commons - have to be held no more than five years apart.UK general elections - where all 650 MPs are elected to the House of Commons - have to be held no more than five years apart.
Unless an earlier one is called, the next election isn't due until January 2025.Unless an earlier one is called, the next election isn't due until January 2025.
This represents five years from the day the current Parliament first met (17 December 2019), plus the time required for an election campaign.This represents five years from the day the current Parliament first met (17 December 2019), plus the time required for an election campaign.
Who can call an early election?Who can call an early election?
The decision to hold an early election usually rests with the prime minister.The decision to hold an early election usually rests with the prime minister.
However, until very recently, this wasn't the case.However, until very recently, this wasn't the case.
In 2011, a law was passed that removed the PM's power to hold an early election and instead handed control to the House of Commons. In 2011, a law was passed that removed the PM's power to hold an early election and instead handed control to the House of Commons. Under those rules an early election could only be held under certain circumstances - such as if two-thirds of MPs agreed to one.
Under those rules an early election could only be held under certain circumstances - such as if two-thirds of MPs agreed to one. 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 traditional power to call elections at a time of their choosing.
However, after winning the 2019 election, the Conservatives introduced a new law - called the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022. How will the new PM be chosen?
This restored the PM's traditional power to call elections at a time of their choosing. Liz Truss's resignation speech in full
Would a new PM need to hold an early election?
Ms Truss was chosen to be PM by Conservative Party members - of which 172,437 were eligible to vote. This represents less than 1% of the UK population.
While Ms Truss could choose to call an early election, she is not obliged to and could wait until 2024.
When Gordon Brown took over from Labour prime minister Tony Blair in 2007, for example, he did not hold an early election. Boris Johnson became PM in July 2019, but didn't call an election until December.
How is an early election called?How is an early election called?
If a PM wants an early election they need to make a "request" to the Queen to dissolve Parliament - the official term for closing Parliament in order to hold an election. If a PM wants an early election they need to make a "request" to the King to dissolve Parliament - the official term for closing Parliament in order to hold an election.
Once an election is called, polling day would be expected to take place 25 days later. Once an election is called, polling day would be expected to take place 25 working days later.
At this point, MPs lose their status and campaign for re-election (assuming they choose to stand again). At the point of dissolution, MPs lose their status and campaign for re-election (assuming they choose to stand again).
Could the Queen refuse to allow an early general election? Does having yet another new PM mean there is an obligation to hold an early election?
As the PM is required to "request" permission from the Queen, in theory she could refuse it. Not in constitutional terms. Twice in the 20th Century there were occasions when the prime minister was replaced twice without a general election being called.
Catherine Haddon, from the Institute for Government think tank, says principles exist that would allow the Queen to refuse an early election request. These include not drawing the monarch into party politics. Stanley Baldwin won the 1935 election and was then replaced by Neville Chamberlain in 1937 who in turn resigned in 1940 to be replaced by Winston Churchill. But that was in an emergency situation while World War Two was being fought and there was no general election until 1945.
However, she says these have "never been tested in the cold light of day". Also after the 1900 election there were two changes of prime minister before the next election in 1906, although Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman called a general election as soon as he became prime minister.
Meg Russell, director of the Constitution Unit - which carries out research into political institutions - agrees: "There is a tacit acceptance that the Palace has some role. There have been several occasions when new prime ministers did not call early general elections to seek a fresh mandate.
"So the question becomes 'under what circumstances would the Queen block it?', but it would be politically problematic." When Gordon Brown took over from Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair in 2007, for example, he did not hold an early election. Boris Johnson became PM in July 2019, but didn't call an election until December. Theresa May became prime minister in 2016 but did not call an election until 2017.
Of course, there will be a great deal of political pressure on the new prime minister to call an election, particularly as the current government is so far behind in opinion polls.
Is there any way an early election could be forced?
A prime minister must have the "confidence" of the House of Commons, which means they must be supported by a majority of MPs.
A motion of no confidence would see MPs from all parties decide whether they want the government to continue.
If Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer introduced such a motion, convention means that the government should provide time for a debate and a vote.
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 would normally be called.
It is also possible that the King could invite somebody else to form a government - someone who could win a vote of confidence in the House of Commons.
However, for a no confidence motion to pass, Conservative MPs would need to vote down their own government - something many would be very unlikely to do.
The Conservatives' current working majority is 71.
What is a vote of no confidence?