Overview

This bill proposes to repeal the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011, returning the power to call general elections to the UK Prime Minister. The 2011 Act introduced a fixed five-year term for Parliaments, with exceptions for specific circumstances.

Description

The primary purpose of this bill is to revoke the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011. This act established a system where general elections would typically take place every five years, unless certain specific conditions were met such as a two-thirds vote in Parliament for an early election or a vote of no confidence in the government that wasn't followed by the formation of a new government within two weeks. This Bill removes that fixed five-year term system.

Key Provisions:

• Repeal of the 2011 Act: The bill completely abolishes the 2011 Act.
• Transitional Regulations: The Secretary of State is empowered to create regulations to manage the transition, subject to parliamentary approval.
• Commencement: Section 1 (the repeal) will take effect two months after the bill becomes law, the remainder taking effect immediately.

Government Spending

The bill is not expected to have a significant direct impact on UK government spending. The repeal of the 2011 Act itself has no associated financial implications. Any potential costs would be related to the transitional regulations, but these are unlikely to be substantial. No figures have been provided.

Groups Affected

• The Prime Minister and Government: The Prime Minister regains the prerogative to call a general election at their discretion.
• Parliament: Parliament's role in triggering early elections will revert to the pre-2011 situation where the government controls the timing of elections.
• Political Parties: Political parties will need to adapt their election strategies to a system with less predictable election timing.
• Voters: Voters might experience elections at times less predictable than the 5-year cycle under the 2011 Act.

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