It seems one of the terms of the Con/Lib coalition is fixed length Parliament. Surely this should need a referendum because it removes the possibility of the electorate throwing out a bad Government. Also what happens if by-elections removed the Government majority.
Fixed term Parliament
- Thread starter maltaron
- Start date
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L
Lincsbodger
nothing has changed. As it stands the government can call an election anytime it likes, but it MUST cal lan election within a certain date (cant remember how its calculated). All this does is put an exact date on the latest time you can call one - in this case, it woudl be May 7 2015.
Apart from that nothing has changed. The government stays in power unless it decides to call an early election, which may or may not be related to its losing its majority
I dont see how it 'removes the possibility of removing a bad government'. The only way you can do that is at an election anyway. And government lose there majority, its up to them to decide if they want to carry on to the next election or not.
I think you have got hold of the wrong end of the stick - it doesnt mean there cant be an election earlier than the fixed date one.
Apart from that nothing has changed. The government stays in power unless it decides to call an early election, which may or may not be related to its losing its majority
I dont see how it 'removes the possibility of removing a bad government'. The only way you can do that is at an election anyway. And government lose there majority, its up to them to decide if they want to carry on to the next election or not.
I think you have got hold of the wrong end of the stick - it doesnt mean there cant be an election earlier than the fixed date one.
Quote from BBC News Website:
The next general election will be held on the first Thursday of May 2015, says soon-to-be foreign secretary William Hague. He can say this with confidence because one of the points of the coalition agreement is to introduce fixed term, five-year parliaments from now.
The next general election will be held on the first Thursday of May 2015, says soon-to-be foreign secretary William Hague. He can say this with confidence because one of the points of the coalition agreement is to introduce fixed term, five-year parliaments from now.
Again, it is just a 'at the latest' date. It was probably seen as good PR to say the date already as it instills in everyone the assumption that the coalition will last that long.
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It also would stop the Conservatives from calling a snap election 2 yrs down the line to try and get rid of the Libdems and win an overall majority.
I guess it's the end of the no confidence motion as well, which is a shame as it was always handy in a tight commons.
R
RedHerring2
Don't you guys read well?
•Fixed-term Parliaments - next election in May 2015
the idea of this is to prevent the Tories from calling a snap election when they think they'll win an outright majority, thus ending the Lib Dem/Tory coalition. So they're both in till May 2015, unless:-
•55% of MPs required to bring government down in confidence vote
An election can still be called early by a No Confidence vote in the government/coalition, but the number of majority votes has been raised. Previously it was 50% plus 1.
So an early election can still be engineered. Suppose the Tories want an early election they have a No Confidence vote in the government. Which you would expect the opposition to support?? Perverse, yes, but effective.
•Fixed-term Parliaments - next election in May 2015
the idea of this is to prevent the Tories from calling a snap election when they think they'll win an outright majority, thus ending the Lib Dem/Tory coalition. So they're both in till May 2015, unless:-
•55% of MPs required to bring government down in confidence vote
An election can still be called early by a No Confidence vote in the government/coalition, but the number of majority votes has been raised. Previously it was 50% plus 1.
So an early election can still be engineered. Suppose the Tories want an early election they have a No Confidence vote in the government. Which you would expect the opposition to support?? Perverse, yes, but effective.
I'm fairly proficient I think but if you can offer any advice please be my guest.
However I have been reading the same as you,the only way to ensure genuine fixed-term parliaments is to fully separate the executive from the legislature.
Who's to say what is on the cards ? after many years of political apathy I find the forthcoming Government of this country intriguing, in so much as I really still couldn't give a **** but it will bring a smile to my face reading over the papers at breakfast.
R
RedHerring2
Well it is kind of seperate. The execuitve power is in the PM, Cabinet, Depts and Civil Service and the Legislative power is in the Houses of Commons & Lords.
i.e. the PM/Cabinet carry out day to day government but new/changes of law need Houses of Commons & Lords approval.
There's always been a requirement for elections every 5 years at least, give or take a bit, but the incumbent Government always had the option of an early election. Now the Government (The Executive) have agreed a fixed term of 5 years. No change to law required.
A fixed term of say 6 years would have required legislative approval.
Incidentally, the electorate could only 'throw out' a bad government, at election time.
Whether that election was the normal 5 year election, one 'snapped' by an incumbent government, or one caused by a no confidence motion, caused perhaps by the incumbent losing their majority or their 'moral' support from opposition MPs.
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