The surprise general election may leave many suddenly nostalgic for the principle of fixed-term parliaments. The original central arguments for fixed terms have been reawakened. In this post, Meg Russell and Robert Hazell revisit these long-standing arguments, summarise the birth and death of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011, and argue that – on the basis of UK and international experience – we should consider returning Westminster to fixed terms.
The lengthy and debilitating speculation about when Rishi Sunak might call the general election may have reminded many of the arguments in favour of fixed-term parliaments. His shock announcement on 22 May that such an election would take place in July only reinforces those views. This blog post revisits the arguments for fixed terms, reminds readers of how the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 (FTPA) was created and abolished, and argues for reintroduction of the principle of fixed terms – albeit with flexibility to allow early elections on occasion, as applies in many other democracies (and existed under the FTPA).
The arguments for fixed-term parliaments
The following is a summary of points in favour of the principle of fixed-term parliaments:
- Allowing the government to decide the timing of elections provides an unjustified incumbency advantage.
- It also confers disproportionate power on the executive over parliament.
- A fixed election cycle is better for both civil service and electoral administration planning, and encourages more long-term thinking in government.
- Fixed terms are also better for political parties, prospective parliamentary candidates, and the regulation of election spending.
- Speculation about an early election may unnecessarily unsettle commercial and economic decisions.
- Parliamentary business, including the work of select committees, can be planned and carried through with less risk of interruption.
These are not our words; they are drawn (mostly verbatim) from the report of the cross-party parliamentary Joint Committee on the Fixed-term Parliaments Act (paragraph 17), published in March 2021. Based on recent experience, some of them may now feel very familiar.
Continue reading