Overview

The Fixed Term Parliaments Bill aimed to establish fixed-term parliamentary elections in the UK, ending the Prime Minister's power to call an election at will. It specified the dates of future general elections and limited the circumstances under which Parliament could be dissolved early.

Description

This bill mandated that the next general election would be held on May 7th, 2009, and subsequent elections on the first Thursday in May every four years. It restricted the Prime Minister's ability to dissolve Parliament, allowing it only 30 days before the scheduled election. However, the House of Commons retained the power to change the day of the week of the election, but only within a six-day window of the set date. The bill also allowed the Secretary of State to amend existing Representation of the People Acts to align with the new fixed-term system, with these amendments subject to parliamentary approval. Finally, the bill specified its short title, commencement date (the day it was passed), and that it applied to Northern Ireland.

Government Spending

The bill itself did not directly allocate or change any specific government spending figures. Its impact on government spending would be indirect, potentially affecting election-related costs depending on the timing and execution of future elections.

Groups Affected

The bill primarily affected:

• The Prime Minister: Lost the power to call snap elections.
• The House of Commons: Gained limited control over the exact day of elections.
• Political Parties: Required longer-term strategic planning for elections.
• The Electoral Commission: Required to adapt to the new fixed-term system.
• The Public: Experienced more predictable election cycles.

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