Fixed term parliaments,what happens if ?

Leekbrookgull · Mar 31, 2015

If on May 8th there is no outright winner so it's coalition time again and maybe this time with more then two parties i/e Tories/Libs/Dup/Ukip (?) as seen in Guardian,what happens if one of the 'partners' walks-out ? Can a vote of confidence be called for ? How does it work in a fixed term parliament ? Could we be voting again this year ? http://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2015/feb/27/guardian-poll-projection

Titanic · Mar 31, 2015

Parliament can vote for a dissolution... if no one is able to govern. However, I am sure the larger parties would be pretty keen to avoid being seen to be responsible for such a decision.

Gwylan · Mar 31, 2015

Titanic said:
Parliament can vote for a dissolution... if no one is able to govern. However, I am sure the larger parties would be pretty keen to avoid being seen to be responsible for such a decision.

IIRC it has to be a vote by two-thirds: the Tories put that in to stop Lib Dems and Labour ganging up with SNP/PC and forcing a no-confidence vote

Titanic · Mar 31, 2015

Gwylan said:
IIRC it has to be a vote by two-thirds: the Tories put that in to stop Lib Dems and Labour ganging up with SNP/PC and forcing a no-confidence vote

No... Labours 4-year-term and Conservatives 'enhanced 55% majority' were both voted down... so it is a straight majority vote.

clippedgull · Mar 31, 2015

Leekbrookgull said:
If on May 8th there is no outright winner so it's coalition time again and maybe this time with more then two parties i/e Tories/Libs/Dup/Ukip (?) as seen in Guardian,what happens if one of the 'partners' walks-out ? Can a vote of confidence be called for ? How does it work in a fixed term parliament ? Could we be voting again this year ? http://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2015/feb/27/guardian-poll-projection

This is quite interesting: http://www.theguardian.com/politics/datablog/2015/mar/31/how-uk-2015-general-election-works

Titanic · Mar 31, 2015

Gwylan said:
IIRC it has to be a vote by two-thirds: the Tories put that in to stop Lib Dems and Labour ganging up with SNP/PC and forcing a no-confidence vote

Titanic said:
Labours 4-year-term and Conservatives 'enhanced 55% majority' were both voted down... so it is a straight majority vote.

So, actually, both situation are possible...

Early elections can be held only:
• if a motion for an early general election is agreed either by at least two-thirds of the whole House or without division or;
• if a motion of no confidence is passed and no alternative government is confirmed by the Commons within 14 days.

Blue Valkyrie · Mar 31, 2015

What happens if there is a hung parliament but a government can be formed with a Lib Dem coalition, and Clegg has lost his seat?

Will there be an interim deputy PM like Lord Pantsdown whilst the Lib Dems elect a new leader ?

Titanic · Mar 31, 2015

Blue Valkyrie said:
What happens if there is a hung parliament but a government can be formed with a Lib Dem coalition, and Clegg has lost his seat?

Will there be an interim deputy PM like Lord Pantsdown whilst the Lib Dems elect a new leader ?

There is no requirement for the larger party to have a DPM from the smaller party, that was just a convenient offer for Cameron to persuade Clegg over the line.

Blue Valkyrie · Mar 31, 2015

Titanic said:
There is no requirement for the larger party to have a DPM from the smaller party, that was just a convenient offer for Cameron to persuade Clegg over the line.

I see, thanks. I wonder how vulnerable Clegg's seat is this time.

Kuipers Supporters Club · Mar 31, 2015

Blue Valkyrie said:
I see, thanks. I wonder how vulnerable Clegg's seat is this time.

He will hold - with a reduced majority.

drew · Mar 31, 2015

Gwylan said:
IIRC it has to be a vote by two-thirds: the Tories put that in to stop Lib Dems and Labour ganging up with SNP/PC and forcing a no-confidence vote

Probably doesn't really matter what the actual Act of Parliament refers to, if a Government is in a minority and the majority of MPs vote down every bill then they won't really have a choice will they?

Gwylan · Mar 31, 2015

drew said:
Probably doesn't really matter what the actual Act of Parliament refers to, if a Government is in a minority and the majority of MPs vote down every bill then they won't really have a choice will they?

That's a good constitutional question: as far as I can see if there's a minority government (one that's passed the 14-day rule) then it does require a two-thirds majority to call a new election. I believe that bills will just get continue to get voted down until a couple of parties have had enough but that's one for a sharper legal mind than mine

Cian · Mar 31, 2015

Titanic said:
There is no requirement for the larger party to have a DPM from the smaller party, that was just a convenient offer for Cameron to persuade Clegg over the line.

There's no requirement for a DPM at all is there?

Kuipers Supporters Club · Mar 31, 2015

Gwylan said:
That's a good constitutional question: as far as I can see if there's a minority government (one that's passed the 14-day rule) then it does require a two-thirds majority to call a new election. I believe that bills will just get continue to get voted down until a couple of parties have had enough but that's one for a sharper legal mind than mine

Exactly, so in a bizarre circumstance a parties own MP's could vote against their own Government for a General Election if that is wanted / needed to pass the 2/3s majority.

Leekbrookgull · Mar 31, 2015

So lets do this way CMD,Dup,Ukip are in charge with a total of 310 M/Ps and CMD says right it's Euro referendum time and lets say they as a 'pact' say lets leave,but they lose the referendum vote,would that bring him down ?

Titanic · Mar 31, 2015

Brighton4Cambridge3 said:
Exactly, so in a bizarre circumstance a parties own MP's could vote against their own Government for a General Election if that is wanted / needed to pass the 2/3s majority.

I can't imagine that would go down well with voters in a subsequent election.

Kuipers Supporters Club · Mar 31, 2015

Titanic said:
I can't imagine that would go down well with voters in a subsequent election.

Well maybe not - if the opposition are blocking everything, the ruling parties MP's could be seen as pragmatic.

Titanic · Mar 31, 2015

Brighton4Cambridge3 said:
Well maybe not - if the opposition are blocking everything, the ruling parties MP's could be seen as pragmatic.

or the ruling party failing to produce any policies that can be supported by the whole house. Surely that can't be so difficult??

Kuipers Supporters Club · Mar 31, 2015

Titanic said:
or the ruling party failing to produce any policies that can be supported by the whole house. Surely that can't be so difficult??

Yep also true, it's just ideas that could happen, and my suggestion is just one of many!

Titanic · Mar 31, 2015

Brighton4Cambridge3 said:
Yep also true, it's just ideas that could happen, and my suggestion is just one of many!

It would require that our elected representatives behave like grown-ups. Which would be nice.

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Fixed term parliaments,what happens if ?

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