‘The conditions for when a snap election can be called were significantly restricted by the Fixed-term Parliaments Act of 2011. The Act of Parliament, which was part of the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition agreement produced after the 2010 general election, was introduced fixed-term elections to the Westminster parliament.’
Daily Telegraph, 31st May 2017
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
‘Was there ever a more hollow and impotent piece of legislation than the UK’s Fixed Term Parliaments Act? Trumpeted by the Conservative-led coalition as a way of stopping opportunist prime ministers ever again calling snap elections to capitalize on hefty poll leads – by complicating simple confidence votes in ways that prompted Labour to condemn it as a constitutional “stitch-up” – within six short years of receiving Royal Assent it has proved itself wholly incapable of doing any such thing. When it suited David Cameron to build a protective cordon around his unholy alliance with the Liberal Democrats, the Act was a useful confection: a road-block solid enough to stop either partner provoking an early return to the polls, by swerving out of the ministerial motorcade in a petulant huff. But the fact it could be so casually swept aside as soon as the Tories’ stars were back in the ascendancy – like a trifling traffic cone in the residents’ parking bay otherwise reserved for them outside Number 10 Downing Street – shows it wasn’t worth the statute-book it was written on. We should repeal this zombie law at the earliest opportunity.’
OUP Blog, 31st May 2017
Source: blog.oup.com
‘Charities have been silenced from speaking out about the Conservative social care plans despite believing they will be hugely damaging to elderly and disabled people across the country, it has been claimed.’
The Guardian, 29th May 2017
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘In the light of widespread dissatisfaction with the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 (‘FTPA’), the Conservative party manifesto states, at page 43, “We will repeal the Fixed-term Parliaments Act”. This post explores the constitutional implications if, as seems likely, the Conservative Government continues to command a majority in the House of Commons after the election and seeks to convince Parliament to repeal the Act.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 24th May 2017
Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org
‘The former mayor of Tower Hamlets Lutfur Rahman has launched a legal challenge to a court ruling that bans him from standing for election.’
The Guardian, 17th May 2017
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘The information commissioner has launched an investigation into the way UK political parties target voters through social media with a warning that if they send political messages to people based on their individual data, they could be breaking the law.’
Daily Telegraph, 17th May 2017
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
‘On 18 April 2017, despite previous assertions to the contrary, Theresa May called an early general election for 8 June. The unexpected move was intended to bolster the prime minister’s support in parliament as she leads the UK into Brexit negotiations. The decision also left opposition parties little more than seven weeks to attempt to mount successful campaigns.’
Law Society’s Gazette, 15th May 2017
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘Last November the judge decided that the UK’s air pollution plans under EU and domestic laws were not good enough. The case has a long, and unedifying back-story of Government not doing what the law says it should do.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 16th May 2017
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
‘Election rules are failing to keep pace with rapid changes in technology, allowing political parties to spend millions of pounds on locally targeted Facebook adverts with national campaign funds, experts have warned.’
The Independent, 15th May 2017
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘Nick Vamos, CPS Head of Special Crime, said: “We have considered files of evidence from 14 police forces in respect of allegations relating to Conservative Party candidates’ expenditure during the 2015 General Election campaign.”‘
Crown Prosecution Service, 10th May 2017
Source: www.cps.gov.uk
‘The Crown Prosecution Service has announced it will make no charges against Conservative candidates who were alleged to have broken election spending rules.’
The Independent, 10th May 2017
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘The Government has lost a High Court bid to delay publication of an air pollution plan – described as a “controversial bomb” by its own lawyer – until after the General Election.’
The Independent, 27th April 2017
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘The legislation to introduce restrictions on corporation tax deductions for interest payments will not be included in the UK Finance Bill that will become law before the general election. The government tabled amendments to the bill withdrawing most of its provisions before it went through the remaining House of Commons stages on 25 April.’
OUT-LAW.com, 27th April 2017
Source: www.out-law.com
‘The ease with which Theresa May was able to secure an early dissolution last week has led to suggestions that the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 serves no useful purpose and should be scrapped. Drawing on wider evidence of how fixed-term parliaments legislation works in other countries, Robert Hazell argues that there is a danger that it is being judged prematurely, on the basis of a single episode. Future circumstances in which a Prime Minister seeks a dissolution may be different, and in these cases the Fixed-term Parliaments Act may serve as more of a constraint.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, April 2017
Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org
‘The government has been ordered back to the high court to explain its last-minute bid to delay publication of the UK’s clean air plan.’
The Guardian, 25th April 2017
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘Theresa May has deftly launched a gambit to get around the core purpose of the Fixed Term Parliaments Act 2011 – and all signs are that it will succeed without delay. The purpose of that Act (for a tidy summary of resources see here) was to stop prime ministers from calling an election at a time that suited the Government’s rather than the country’s political future. The Coalition Government formed between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats in 2010 gave effect to the insistence by the Liberal Democrats that legislation put an end to the Prime Minister’s power to call an election at will. The Act prescribes five year periods between elections, alterable only by (1) the passing by the House of Commons of a motion of non-confidence without subsequent withdrawal, or (2) the passing by the House of Commons of a motion calling for an early election by a majority of two-thirds. The election that follows an early election will occur in May of the fifth calendar year following the early election.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 19th April 2017
Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org
‘Gina Miller, the pro-EU campaigner behind a successful court challenge over article 50, is planning to launch a tactical voting initiative to support election candidates opposed to hard Brexit.’
The Guardian, 19th April 2017
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘Coalition agreement introduced five-year parliaments but act allows for early elections if two-thirds of MPs vote in favour.’
The Guardian, 18th April 2017
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘MPs are set to debate scrapping Britain’s “First Past the Post” voting system and switching to a form of proportional representation.’
The Independent, 15th March 2017
Source: www.independent.co.uk
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