Point Of Order....

[ToraToraTora]

If there is a vote in the house for a GE do they need 2 thirds of the total or 2 thirds of those that vote?

[Buenchico]

Quote:
"The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 provides for general elections to be held on the first Thursday in May every five years. There are two provisions that trigger an election other than at five-year intervals:

A motion of no confidence is passed in Her Majesty's Government by a simple majority and 14 days elapses without the House passing a confidence motion in any new Government formed ;

A motion for a general election is agreed by two thirds of the total number of seats in the Commons including vacant seats (currently 434 out of 650)"

Source:
https://www.parliament.uk/education/about-your-parliament/general-elections/

[Fibonacci]

I understand it's 2/3 of all MPs .
https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainers/early-election

[jourdain2]

I think it is 2/3rds of the total vote. What an unnecessary rule to bring in, just to stabilise the Con/Libdem alliance.

[ToraToraTora]

ok thanks, so jezza threatening to abstain is bottling it again.

[TonyV]

Depends on what EU parliament think over the weekend, and whether BJ wants to play his hand now or later IMO.

[ichkeria]

There is no way two thirds of MPs will vote for an election. A fact Boris Johnson must surely also realise.
Rumour has it hardly any Labour MPs want one while Corbyn is in charge.

[jourdain2]

Well, given that today Tusk (I think) was saying that the EU would not approve the length of an extension until they were sure that the UK would hold a G.E. to use the time properly and get some sort of majority and resolution of our position, that puts Labour in a bit of a cleft stick so far as I can see. Perhaps we'll get 'WTO' after all on the 30th!

[ichkeria]

A further option is a simple Bill that temporarily overrides the FTPA. This only needs a simple majority but could be subjects to amendments unfavourable to the Bill’s sponsor (a popular recent trend).
Or the govt call a vote of no confidence in itself, arguably the ultimate in farce, especially were they to lose and be forced to stay in power :-)

[ichkeria]

I don’t think what sort of delay the EU recommend has a lot of relevance any more with regard to whether Labour MPs would support an election now. They have no confidence in Corbyn.

[TonyV]

We will have to see what Monday or the 31st brings then, BJ could simply resign from being PM?

[ichkeria]

That wouldn’t bring a general election.

[drmorgans]

Ich: Are you joking, or can the government propose a vote of no confidence in itself? I thought it was just the official opposition. Different rules for a minority government?

[TonyV]

perhaps not immediately ichkeria but who in Conservative party would want to pick up the reigns at the moment?

[ToraToraTora]

yes, drmorgans, they can propose a VONC in themselves and then you'd have the peculiar spectacle of Labour fighting tooth and nail to vote in favour of the Tories!

[ichkeria]

There is a view that even were the government to try a vote of no confidence in itself the Speaker night disallow it on the grounds that it is being tabled dishonestly. However it might be a reasonable argument by the government that it had no confidence in itself to be able to pass legislation and therefore needs an election. Not sure that would fly.
On Johnson resigning, apart from the fact I can’t see why he’d do that now, I also can’t see why anyone would be reluctant to replace him. Someone would have to anyway!