general election

[annie b]

how often do we have a general election ?

[Quizmonster]

A parliament may last for five years in the UK. However, the party in government may choose to call an election at any time within that period.

[fredo-cb]

i was gonna say that

[ianess]

Wouldn't it be a better idea if EVERY MP was elected and had to sit for a full 5 year period?  This could take account of by-elections and eventually everything would level itself out so that the need for a full-scale General Election would become unnecessary and may just possibly lead to better government [given time and supreme optimism].

As an aside, just exactly why are we having an election a year early?

[Loosehead]

I'll have to think about the 5 year bit.

We are having an election a year early because the PM thinks this is the best time. Generally when calling an election the PM must try and estimate when the best time is. Historically for a government with a sizable majority and a lead in the polls 4 years is the usual because, where as they say a week is a long time in politics, a year is an absolute age, plenty of time for **** ups etc. Also hanging to the end is frought with danger. However a PM with nothing to lose will hang on longer, Major for example had a very small majority and not much in the way of polls in his favour, nothing to lose by waiting a bit. Obviously many other factors would enter the PM's head, I just given a few thoughts.

[Loosehead]

OK, I've thought about it. presumably you are saying that barring death or other removals an pm sits for 5 years and then effectively has a by election so there is never a general elecion. I like the idea but I think the main problem is that with 645 seats there would be on average 2 by-elections a week, no one would have any time for governing/opposing as each seat would be fought by the whole party.

[jno]

Loosehead, perhaps the opposite would happen: precisely because elections were happening all the time, they'd no longer be such a big deal, the parties nationally simply wouldn't be able to afford to spend much time and money on them, and they would then be much more low-key and decided on the basis of more local issues. Could be a good thing; an intriguing idea, anyway. ianess, suggest it to whoever wins.