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Could there be an early general election? | Could there be an early general election? |
(12 days later) | |
Now that MPs have rejected the government's three-day timetable for getting the Brexit bill through Parliament, the legislation is officially in "limbo". | |
If the EU confirms a Brexit delay until the new year, the prime minister has said he will push for a general election. | |
So how soon could an election happen and why does Boris Johnson want one? | |
Why does Boris Johnson want an early election? | Why does Boris Johnson want an early election? |
The next election isn't due until 2022 - but the prime minister wants an early election to try to restore the Conservative Party's ruling majority in the Commons. | |
At the moment, if every opposition MP voted against the government, it would lose by 45 votes. | At the moment, if every opposition MP voted against the government, it would lose by 45 votes. |
While calling an early election carries risks, Mr Johnson would hope to end the political stalemate and make it easier to deliver Brexit. | |
How quickly can an election happen? | How quickly can an election happen? |
Once an election is called, there has to be a gap of at least five weeks before polling day. | Once an election is called, there has to be a gap of at least five weeks before polling day. |
That's because the law requires Parliament to dissolve 25 working days before the election. | That's because the law requires Parliament to dissolve 25 working days before the election. |
At this point, politicians stop being MPs and campaign for re-election, if they choose to stand again. | At this point, politicians stop being MPs and campaign for re-election, if they choose to stand again. |
Traditionally, UK elections are held on a Thursday. So, if an election were triggered before Thursday 24 October, the earliest date the poll could take place is Thursday 28 November. | |
Why hasn't an election already been called? | Why hasn't an election already been called? |
In September, the prime minister twice challenged MPs to hold an early election - only to be rejected both times. | In September, the prime minister twice challenged MPs to hold an early election - only to be rejected both times. |
Mr Johnson can't just decide to hold an early election. He needs the support of two-thirds of MPs - at least 434. This is a legal requirement, set out under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act. | |
Labour says it will support an early election, but only once the risk of a no deal Brexit is "off the table." | |
How might the Brexit legislation trigger an early election? | |
The government has introduced the Brexit legislation, known as the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, to Parliament. It failed to fast-track its progress, which means it's very unlikely the Brexit legislation will be able to complete its passage before the 31 October deadline. | |
If the EU confirms a Brexit delay until the 31 January, the government has said it would abandon the Brexit bill altogether and could try to hold an election before Christmas. | |
This could happen in a number of ways: | |
A vote under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act | A vote under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act |
The simplest way for the government to trigger an early election would be to call another vote under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act. | |
However, this route would still require at least two-thirds of MPs to agree to it. | |
If it passed, Mr Johnson would then recommend the date of the election to the Queen. | |
Bypass the Fixed-term Parliaments Act | Bypass the Fixed-term Parliaments Act |
If the government felt it couldn't reach the two-thirds threshold, it may try to get round the requirement altogether. | If the government felt it couldn't reach the two-thirds threshold, it may try to get round the requirement altogether. |
It could do so by introducing a very short law that calls for an election and adds "notwithstanding the Fixed-term Parliaments Act". | It could do so by introducing a very short law that calls for an election and adds "notwithstanding the Fixed-term Parliaments Act". |
The advantage of this route - from the government's point of view - is that it would only require a simple majority of MPs to support it rather than two-thirds. | The advantage of this route - from the government's point of view - is that it would only require a simple majority of MPs to support it rather than two-thirds. |
But it would also need to clear all stages in the House of Commons and the House of Lords. That means there's a risk the law could be altered if MPs or peers propose changes to the wording. | |
Labour calls a motion of no confidence | Labour calls a motion of no confidence |
Rather than the government, it could be the opposition that triggers an early election. This could happen if Labour proposed a no-confidence vote. | |
This would give all MPs a vote on whether they wanted the current government to continue. | |
Only a simple majority would be needed. | |
If it succeeded, opposition parties would be allowed two weeks to come together to try to form an alternative government. If this happened, Mr Johnson would be expected to resign and a new prime minister would take over. | If it succeeded, opposition parties would be allowed two weeks to come together to try to form an alternative government. If this happened, Mr Johnson would be expected to resign and a new prime minister would take over. |
But if nothing was resolved during those two weeks, the Fixed-term Parliaments Act says a general election would be automatically triggered. | |
Under this scenario, an election would take place at least seven weeks after a no-confidence vote was passed. That's because two weeks would be taken up by opposition parties trying to form a government, plus a further five weeks to dissolve Parliament for the campaign. | Under this scenario, an election would take place at least seven weeks after a no-confidence vote was passed. That's because two weeks would be taken up by opposition parties trying to form a government, plus a further five weeks to dissolve Parliament for the campaign. |
Government calls a motion of no confidence in itself | Government calls a motion of no confidence in itself |
If the government felt it had no other way of forcing an early election, it could in theory call a motion of no confidence in itself. | If the government felt it had no other way of forcing an early election, it could in theory call a motion of no confidence in itself. |
In order for it to succeed, Conservative MPs would have to vote to bring down their own government. | In order for it to succeed, Conservative MPs would have to vote to bring down their own government. |
While such a tactic might appear extreme to outside observers, it would trigger an automatic early election - as long as opposition parties failed to form an alternative government within the 14 days. | While such a tactic might appear extreme to outside observers, it would trigger an automatic early election - as long as opposition parties failed to form an alternative government within the 14 days. |
As such, this option would be extremely high risk. | As such, this option would be extremely high risk. |
Brexit explained | Brexit explained |
Brexit - British exit - refers to the UK leaving the EU. A public vote was held in June 2016 to decide whether the UK should leave or remain. | |
More news explainers | More news explainers |