by Boris Johnson agreed to resign on Thursday after a massive Tory revolt less than three years into his tumultuous tenure as prime minister.
The news broke shortly after 9 am Johnson was expected to seek to stay on as caretaker prime minister to allow for the election of a new Tory leader and successor at No. 10 for the party’s autumn conference.
However, some MPs expressed opposition to it remaining in Downing Street for any length of time.
But what are the rules for calling a general election and who can call an early vote?
When is the next UK general election?
The maximum term for Parliament is five years. As the current Parliament met for the first time on December 17, 2019, it will automatically dissolve on December 17, 2024.
Voting day would take place 25 days later, meaning the next general election is currently in January 2025. However, the Queen can dissolve parliament before this date.
Given that two general elections have been called early, in 2017 and 2019, it is not entirely unlikely that we will wait until 2025 to hold another general election in the UK.
When were the last general elections?
The last general election was on December 12, 2019. The Conservative party won the majority. Boris Johnson called the election after months of parliamentary deadlock that delayed Brexit.
There was another general election in 2017, called by then Prime Minister Theresa May, hoping to strengthen her position in the Brexit negotiations.
At this time, general elections were not scheduled until 2020.
2019 General Election: Conservative ad campaign coming true
When can general elections be held?
The Fixed Term Parliament Act 2011 created fixed periods of five years between elections and only allowed early elections in specific circumstances.
The specific circumstances were: if two-thirds of MPs voted for an early general election, or if the House of Commons voted against the government and failed to pass a confidence motion in any government within 14 calendar days, according to Government Institute.
As mentioned above, the House of Commons has decided to hold snap general elections in 2017 and 2019.
On March 24, 2022, the government repealed the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act. This means that the Queen can dissolve the government at the request of the Prime Minister, which will lead to a general election.
When the law was repealed, Cabinet Office minister Michael Ellis said: “The Fixed Term Parliaments Act was unfit for its purpose, causing constitutional chaos in 2019 and delaying government action on parliamentary priorities. people.
“In critical moments, we must rely on the good judgment of the British public. Elections give the public a voice, and it is right that we go back to a tried and tested system that allows them to be held when necessary.”
As a result, the Prime Minister can request a dissolution of the Queen, which, if granted, would allow the Prime Minister to call a general election at any time.
However, with the Conservatives trailing in the polls, the party is unlikely to risk taking countries to the polls any time soon.
Why are elections held on a Thursday?
Every general election since 1931 has been held on a Thursday.
It was suggested that being a Thursday would see more people vote.
It has been said that elections on Friday would have seen a lower turnout given people’s desire to start their weekends.
Saturday and Sunday were said to have been scrapped due to the need to pay election staff (traditionally local council employees) more to then work extra days over the weekend.
