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| Could there be an early general election? | Could there be an early general election? |
| (4 days later) | |
| Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he wants to hold a general election on 12 December, to try to "get Brexit done". | Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he wants to hold a general election on 12 December, to try to "get Brexit done". |
| But how could an election happen and why does Mr Johnson want one? | But how could an election happen and why does Mr 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 PM wants an early election to try to restore the Conservative Party's majority. | The next election isn't due until 2022, but the PM wants an early election to try to restore the Conservative Party's majority. |
| 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 an early election carries risks, Mr Johnson would hope to win more seats in the House of Commons, to make it easier to deliver Brexit. | While an early election carries risks, Mr Johnson would hope to win more seats in the House of Commons, to 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 beforehand. | That's because the law requires Parliament to dissolve 25 working days beforehand. |
| At this point, MPs lose their title and campaign for re-election, if they choose to stand again. | At this point, MPs lose their title and campaign for re-election, if they choose to stand again. |
| So, in order for polling day to take place on 12 December, the election would have to be triggered before 6 November. | So, in order for polling day to take place on 12 December, the election would have to be triggered before 6 November. |
| Why hasn't an election already been called? | Why hasn't an election already been called? |
| 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. | 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. |
| In September, the prime minister twice challenged MPs to hold an early election - only to be rejected both times. | |
| Labour says it will support an early election, but only once the risk of a no-deal Brexit is "off the table." | Labour says it will support an early election, but only once the risk of a no-deal Brexit is "off the table." |
| There are a number of possible routes that could lead to an early election: | |
| A vote under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act | A vote under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act |
| The simplest way for the government to call an early election would be to hold a third vote under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act. | The simplest way for the government to call an early election would be to hold a third vote under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act. |
| This is what Mr Johnson will attempt on Monday. | This is what Mr Johnson will attempt on Monday. |
| If he is supported by two-thirds of MPs and the vote passes, the PM would then be expected to recommend a 12 December polling day to the Queen. | If he is supported by two-thirds of MPs and the vote passes, the PM would then be expected to recommend a 12 December polling day to the Queen. |
| Bypass the Fixed-term Parliaments Act | Bypass the Fixed-term Parliaments Act |
| If the government fails to reach a two-thirds threshold, it's likely to attempt to an early election through a different route. | |
| It could do so by introducing a very short law that 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. |
| It would also allow a fixed election date of 12 December to be set in law. | |
| This route to an early election is favoured by the SNP and Liberal Democrats, but they want a a different date. Under their plan, both parties would introduce a law that proposes an election on 9 December - three days earlier than Mr Johnson's preferred date. | |
| If a new election was brought via this route, it would need to clear all stages in the House of Commons and the House of Lords in time. There is also a risk the law could be altered if MPs or peers propose changes - such as allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to vote. | |
| Labour calls a motion of no confidence | Labour calls a motion of no confidence |
| Rather than the government, it could be the opposition that initiates an early election. This could happen if Labour proposed a no-confidence vote. | Rather than the government, it could be the opposition that initiates 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. | This would give all MPs a vote on whether they wanted the current government to continue. |
| Only a simple majority would be needed. | 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. | 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. |
| This would leave 19 December as the earliest possible date - a week after Mr Johnson's preferred date. | This would leave 19 December as the earliest possible date - a week after Mr Johnson's preferred date. |
| 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. | 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 |