An end to snap general elections?
Written by Mark Pack on 19th July 2008 – 1:54 pmA welcome suggestion, in line with what the Liberal Democrats have previously called for, from the Electoral Commission in one of its new reports:
The prime minister should give more than a month’s notice if he is calling a general election, a watchdog has suggested in a report.
The Electoral Commission recommends extending the parliamentary election timetable from 17 to 25 working days - in line with that of local government.
Posted in News
19th July 2008 at 3:16 pm
Pff. The Prime Minister should not have the power to decide when General Elections are held, full-stop.
19th July 2008 at 3:52 pm
I’m still convinced of fixed terms, but even 24 hour notice of a GE wouldnt save Brown & Labour at present!!
20th July 2008 at 8:32 pm
Agree with Alex.
22nd July 2008 at 1:17 pm
And of course would make it easier for us to win by elections!
23rd July 2008 at 10:25 am
We have fixed term (4-year)parliaments in Scotland, so what on earth is preventing the UK parliament from doing likewise. There is a mechanism written into the Scotland Act
which allows for a premature election to be held if the government falls or cannot construct a majority, but as the follow-up from last May’s “hung” election showed, no-one wanted this to happen, so the SNP formed a minority administration. Not being able to “cut and run” for a snap election concentrates the mind wonderfully.