Repeal of Fixed Term Parliament Act

[Nearly Sane]

Interesting article on the possible repeal of The Fixed Term Parliament Act


https://publiclawforeveryone.com/2020/12/02/repealing-the-fixed-term-parliaments-act/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

[Steve H]

FTP is a good idea in principle, but, oddly, since it was passed, we've had more General Elections than ever.

[Nearly Sane]

Yes, while there are obviously some odd circumstances over the last couple of elections, it seems quite difficult for opposition parties to refuse to vote for an election as the claim is then that they are keeping the govt in place which they know will become something that will haunt them
 

[jeremyp]

Yes, while there are obviously some odd circumstances over the last couple of elections, it seems quite difficult for opposition parties to refuse to vote for an election as the claim is then that they are keeping the govt in place which they know will become something that will haunt them

It's not normal for a government in mid term to be in a position to call an election. They are usually a bit too unpopular. I blame the complete incompetence of the last Labour leader.

[Steve H]

It's not normal for a government in mid term to be in a position to call an election. They are usually a bit too unpopular. I blame the complete incompetence of the last Labour leader.

You mean the one who, against all expectations, deprived the Tories of their majority?

[Anchorman]

 The problem may arise, though, when elections to the devolved parliaments are fixed term, but a Westminster GE is forced when a government collapses...and the two coincide or one occurs weeks after the other. (That's assuming that there are devolved parliaments to worry about by then....) One occasion arose when the Holyrood election was postponed for a year to make way for a Westminster GE. That led to a six-year term. Is this the only answer?

[Nearly Sane]

Agree, the devolved parliament stuff has been a guddle, especially given the terms are different lengths.  I think they should be the same lengths but off set by a couple of years.

[jeremyp]

You mean the one who, against all expectations, deprived the Tories of their majority?

The one who still lost an election after two years of utterly incompetent government and who then lost again badly after another two years of utterly incompetent government. Yes, that "leader".