Overview

The Fixed Term Parliaments Bill aimed to establish fixed five-year terms for UK general elections, ending the Prime Minister's ability to call an election at will. It set a specific date for the next election and a formula for future elections, with a limited ability for Parliament to adjust the day of the week.

Description

This bill sought to regulate the timing of UK general elections.

• Fixed Election Dates: It mandated that the next general election would be held on 7 May 2009, and subsequent elections would occur on the first Thursday in May every four years thereafter.
• Parliamentary Dissolution: It restricted the dissolution of Parliament, permitting it only 30 days before the fixed election date, preventing the Prime Minister from dissolving Parliament early for political advantage.
• Flexibility on Day of the Week: The House of Commons was given the power to change the day of the week of the election, although this power was constrained: the election could not be earlier than, or more than 6 days later than the initially prescribed date.
• Amendments to Existing Legislation: The Secretary of State was empowered to amend existing electoral laws, if necessary, to align them with the provisions of the bill. These changes were subject to parliamentary approval.

Government Spending

The bill did not directly specify any increase or decrease in government spending. Any costs would be associated with administering the elections under the new fixed-term system. The exact figure is not provided in the provided text.

Groups Affected

The bill would impact several groups:

• The Prime Minister: The bill significantly reduced the Prime Minister's power to choose the timing of elections.
• Political Parties: Parties would have to plan their campaigns around the fixed election dates.
• The Electoral Commission: The commission would be responsible for administering elections under the new rules.
• Voters: Voters would know the date of future elections in advance.

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