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| Could there be an early general election? | Could there be an early general election? |
| (3 days later) | |
| Prime Minister Boris Johnson has failed to trigger an early general election. The PM had wanted one to be held on 15 October, two days before a crucial European Union summit in Brussels. | |
| So, why was Mr Johnson unable to call an election and what are his remaining options? | |
| How are elections usually called? | How are elections usually called? |
| Under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, a prime minister can no longer call an election on their own. They must have the backing of at least two-thirds of MPs. | Under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, a prime minister can no longer call an election on their own. They must have the backing of at least two-thirds of MPs. |
| In other words, at least 434 MPs have to give the green light to an early election. | In other words, at least 434 MPs have to give the green light to an early election. |
| But on Wednesday Mr Johnson only secured 298 votes. | But on Wednesday Mr Johnson only secured 298 votes. |
| The government has said MPs will get another chance to vote for an early election on Monday - assuming the Speaker, John Bercow, allows it. | The government has said MPs will get another chance to vote for an early election on Monday - assuming the Speaker, John Bercow, allows it. |
| But even if an early election vote is brought back again, it's unlikely to pass. Labour and other UK opposition parties have agreed not to lend their support. | |
| Why did Mr Johnson lose? | Why did Mr Johnson lose? |
| Many MPs were worried that Mr Johnson would not stick to his pledge to hold the election on 15 October. | Many MPs were worried that Mr Johnson would not stick to his pledge to hold the election on 15 October. |
| A motion, under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, to call an early election does not specify the day it is to take place. | A motion, under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, to call an early election does not specify the day it is to take place. |
| Instead, MPs simply voted on whether they agreed with the statement "that there shall be an early parliamentary general election". | Instead, MPs simply voted on whether they agreed with the statement "that there shall be an early parliamentary general election". |
| Senior Labour figures said they would not vote for an early election while there was a risk the prime minister could move the poll to after 31 October - by which point the UK would have left the European Union. | Senior Labour figures said they would not vote for an early election while there was a risk the prime minister could move the poll to after 31 October - by which point the UK would have left the European Union. |
| Had enough MPs supported an early election, the prime minister would then recommend the date of the poll to the Queen. | Had enough MPs supported an early election, the prime minister would then recommend the date of the poll to the Queen. |
| Once the date is known, Parliament shuts down - or dissolves - 25 working days before election day. | Once the date is known, Parliament shuts down - or dissolves - 25 working days before election day. |
| At this point politicians stop being MPs and they campaign for re-election, if they choose to stand again. | At this point politicians stop being MPs and they campaign for re-election, if they choose to stand again. |
| Does the PM have other options to call an early election? | Does the PM have other options to call an early election? |
| While the Fixed Term Parliaments Act requires a two-thirds majority to sanction an early election, it's not impossible for a government to get round this requirement. | While the Fixed Term Parliaments Act requires a two-thirds majority to sanction an early election, it's not impossible for a government to get round this requirement. |
| It could be achieved by introducing a very short law that calls for an election and adds "notwithstanding the Fixed Term Parliaments Act". | It could be achieved 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 (more voting for than against) 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 (more voting for than against) rather than two-thirds. |
| It would also allow an election date to be set in stone, which might make some MPs more likely to vote for it - although there's no guarantee the government would win. | It would also allow an election date to be set in stone, which might make some MPs more likely to vote for it - although there's no guarantee the government would win. |
| However, this route would take longer. The proposed law would need to clear the House of Lords, as well as the House of Commons. Given that Parliament is due to prorogue (or shut down) next week, getting the legislation passed would be a race against time. | However, this route would take longer. The proposed law would need to clear the House of Lords, as well as the House of Commons. Given that Parliament is due to prorogue (or shut down) next week, getting the legislation passed would be a race against time. |
| There's also a risk that the legislation could be amended - allowing pro-Remain MPs to make changes, such as forcing a further Brexit extension. | There's also a risk that the legislation could be amended - allowing pro-Remain MPs to make changes, such as forcing a further Brexit extension. |
| High-risk options | High-risk options |
| There is a third, extremely high-risk option. If the government was absolutely determined to hold an early election it could, in theory, call a vote of no confidence in itself. | There is a third, extremely high-risk option. If the government was absolutely determined to hold an early election it could, in theory, call a vote of no confidence in itself. |
| If it chose to do this, MPs would have to decide whether they want the current government to continue. | If it chose to do this, MPs would have to decide whether they want the current government to continue. |
| If such a vote passes, 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 could request a further Brexit delay to prevent a no-deal outcome. | If such a vote passes, 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 could request a further Brexit delay to prevent a no-deal outcome. |
| But, if nothing is resolved after 14 days, a general election is automatically triggered. | But, if nothing is resolved after 14 days, a general election is automatically triggered. |
| However, this would be a high stakes strategy, as it completely relies on opposition parties failing to form an alternative government. | However, this would be a high stakes strategy, as it completely relies on opposition parties failing to form an alternative government. |
| Catherine Haddon, from the Institute for Government think tank, says the chances of the government calling such a vote are "extremely unlikely". | Catherine Haddon, from the Institute for Government think tank, says the chances of the government calling such a vote are "extremely unlikely". |
| "From a political point of view, calling a vote of no confidence in yourself would look mad," she says. | "From a political point of view, calling a vote of no confidence in yourself would look mad," she says. |
| Why does the PM want an early election anyway? | |
| Legally, the next election does not have to happen until 2022 - five years after the last one. | Legally, the next election does not have to happen until 2022 - five years after the last one. |
| While calling an early election carries risks, Mr Johnson would aim to win more Conservative seats in an attempt to end the political stalemate and make it easier to deliver Brexit. | While calling an early election carries risks, Mr Johnson would aim to win more Conservative seats in an attempt to end the political stalemate and make it easier to deliver Brexit. |