This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8681624.stm
The article has changed 19 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Backlash over election vote rules | Backlash over election vote rules |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| The new coalition government is facing a backlash over its plans to change the rules on how an election is called. | The new coalition government is facing a backlash over its plans to change the rules on how an election is called. |
| The Lib Dem-Tory deal agrees to fixed-term parliaments which can only be dissolved with support from 55% of MPs. | The Lib Dem-Tory deal agrees to fixed-term parliaments which can only be dissolved with support from 55% of MPs. |
| Labour figures including Jack Straw and Lord Adonis say it is a "fix" and a "stitch up" - currently 50% of MPs plus one can trigger a no confidence vote. | Labour figures including Jack Straw and Lord Adonis say it is a "fix" and a "stitch up" - currently 50% of MPs plus one can trigger a no confidence vote. |
| Downing Street says Labour put through fixed-term laws in Scotland requiring 66% of MSPs to dissolve Parliament. | Downing Street says Labour put through fixed-term laws in Scotland requiring 66% of MSPs to dissolve Parliament. |
| The row comes as Prime Minister David Cameron puts the finishing touches to his ministerial team and heads to Scotland to meet First Minister Alex Salmond and other party leaders in Scotland. | The row comes as Prime Minister David Cameron puts the finishing touches to his ministerial team and heads to Scotland to meet First Minister Alex Salmond and other party leaders in Scotland. |
| Five year term | Five year term |
| The prime minister has the power to ask the Queen to dissolve parliament at any time within a five-year period - which critics say benefits the ruling party. | The prime minister has the power to ask the Queen to dissolve parliament at any time within a five-year period - which critics say benefits the ruling party. |
| The new coalition government has instead proposed to have five-year fixed term parliaments. But in a coalition agreement drawn up between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, it says legislation "will also provide for dissolution if 55% or more of the House votes in favour". | The new coalition government has instead proposed to have five-year fixed term parliaments. But in a coalition agreement drawn up between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, it says legislation "will also provide for dissolution if 55% or more of the House votes in favour". |
| Currently a majority of MPs - 50% plus one - are needed to carry a vote of no confidence. In 1979 James Callaghan's minority Labour government fell after losing a confidence vote. | Currently a majority of MPs - 50% plus one - are needed to carry a vote of no confidence. In 1979 James Callaghan's minority Labour government fell after losing a confidence vote. |
| Four senior Labour figures - and, it is understood, some Conservative backbenchers, have expressed concern about the plans. | Four senior Labour figures - and, it is understood, some Conservative backbenchers, have expressed concern about the plans. |
| Former Transport Secretary Lord Adonis called it a "brazen attempt to gerrymander the constitution which calls into question the legitimacy of the coalition from day one". | Former Transport Secretary Lord Adonis called it a "brazen attempt to gerrymander the constitution which calls into question the legitimacy of the coalition from day one". |
| He added: "If the legislation ever gets to the House of Lords, it will meet opposition of an intensity and bitterness not seen for many years. This is a constitutional outrage." | He added: "If the legislation ever gets to the House of Lords, it will meet opposition of an intensity and bitterness not seen for many years. This is a constitutional outrage." |
| 'Totally confused' | 'Totally confused' |
| Even for this to be theoretically possible is, I'm afraid, outrageous and unconscionable Lawyer Carl Gardner Read a round-up of analysis by lawyers, MPs and academics | |
| Mr Straw said the plan was "completely undemocratic and totally unworkable" while Mr Blunkett described it as a "stitch-up". | Mr Straw said the plan was "completely undemocratic and totally unworkable" while Mr Blunkett described it as a "stitch-up". |
| Labour former Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer - a supporter of fixed-term parliaments told BBC Newsnight he feared it would result in a "zombie government" - as it would mean 53% of MPs could vote against a government but it would still continue until the fixed date. | Labour former Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer - a supporter of fixed-term parliaments told BBC Newsnight he feared it would result in a "zombie government" - as it would mean 53% of MPs could vote against a government but it would still continue until the fixed date. |
| But former Lib Dem MP David Howarth, a legal academic who drew up the original Lib Dem plans for a fixed-term parliament, told the BBC the vote of confidence and dissolution of Parliament were "entirely different things" and said Mr Straw was "totally confused". | But former Lib Dem MP David Howarth, a legal academic who drew up the original Lib Dem plans for a fixed-term parliament, told the BBC the vote of confidence and dissolution of Parliament were "entirely different things" and said Mr Straw was "totally confused". |
| In other countries with fixed term parliaments, if a government lost a vote of confidence the parties would have to try to work out a new government within the fixed term, he said. | In other countries with fixed term parliaments, if a government lost a vote of confidence the parties would have to try to work out a new government within the fixed term, he said. |
| He said critics had got "entirely the wrong end of the stick" adding: "This dissolution vote, the 55% for a dissolution, is not the same as, for a vote of confidence." | He said critics had got "entirely the wrong end of the stick" adding: "This dissolution vote, the 55% for a dissolution, is not the same as, for a vote of confidence." |
| NEW CABINET Who's Who: New government At-a-glance: Coalition policies No confidence threshold to rise Cameron in Scotland for SNP talks Send us your comments | |
| A Downing Street spokeswoman said the old rule would still apply to no confidence votes - but should a government be defeated, it would not automatically trigger an election, a 55% vote would be required to dissolve parliament. | A Downing Street spokeswoman said the old rule would still apply to no confidence votes - but should a government be defeated, it would not automatically trigger an election, a 55% vote would be required to dissolve parliament. |
| She said the details would all be debated and voted on in parliament and the former Labour government had put through the fixed term legislation in Scotland which requires a 66% vote to dissolve parliament. | She said the details would all be debated and voted on in parliament and the former Labour government had put through the fixed term legislation in Scotland which requires a 66% vote to dissolve parliament. |
| 'Iffy politics' | 'Iffy politics' |
| There is also some confusion among constitutional experts. Professor Peter Hennessy, of Queen Mary University of London University, told the BBC it looked like "very very iffy politics indeed" and there was a "certain brutal efficiency... about traditional confidence votes that one is enough and confidence votes under our system trump everything else". | There is also some confusion among constitutional experts. Professor Peter Hennessy, of Queen Mary University of London University, told the BBC it looked like "very very iffy politics indeed" and there was a "certain brutal efficiency... about traditional confidence votes that one is enough and confidence votes under our system trump everything else". |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| But Professor Robert Hazell, director of the Constitution Unit think tank, told the BBC he understood the 55% threshold was intended to prevent the government from calling an early election without the consent of both coalition partners - effectively protecting the Lib Dems. | But Professor Robert Hazell, director of the Constitution Unit think tank, told the BBC he understood the 55% threshold was intended to prevent the government from calling an early election without the consent of both coalition partners - effectively protecting the Lib Dems. |
| "It certainly won't prevent the opposition from tabling confidence motions on which the normal threshold of 50% will and should, continue to apply." | "It certainly won't prevent the opposition from tabling confidence motions on which the normal threshold of 50% will and should, continue to apply." |
| However Conservative backbencher Charles Walker has also expressed concerns: "This is perhaps just a little too much for our unwritten constitution to bear." | However Conservative backbencher Charles Walker has also expressed concerns: "This is perhaps just a little too much for our unwritten constitution to bear." |
| He added: "We have a quasi-presidential system here, without the checks and balances. This would be the loss of an enormous check." | He added: "We have a quasi-presidential system here, without the checks and balances. This would be the loss of an enormous check." |
| The Conservatives currently have 306 out of 649 MPs - a 47% share. | The Conservatives currently have 306 out of 649 MPs - a 47% share. |
| One seat, Thirsk and Malton, is empty, pending a by-election on 27 May, while Sinn Fein's five MPs have not taken the oath of allegiance allowing them to sit in Parliament. | One seat, Thirsk and Malton, is empty, pending a by-election on 27 May, while Sinn Fein's five MPs have not taken the oath of allegiance allowing them to sit in Parliament. |
| It would be impossible for opponents, even if fully united, to muster the 55% needed to dissolve Parliament, unless at least 16 Tories rebelled against their party leadership. | It would be impossible for opponents, even if fully united, to muster the 55% needed to dissolve Parliament, unless at least 16 Tories rebelled against their party leadership. |