With PMQs underway, focus is beginning to........>

UK: With PMQs underway, focus is beginning to switch to how the Brexit deal sees

passage through parliament. With one of the options bandied around being an

early UK election we look at the process for calling the election. Under the

Fixed Parliament Act, there are two ways to call an election:

1) A vote of no confidence is passed and no new government is formed by the end

of a 14 day period.

2) 434 MPs vote for a general election (2/3 of the House including any vacant

seats).

- In 2017 the second of these options was used with May announcing on 18 April

she wanted an election, the vote taking place on 19 April, the date of the

election set on 25 April, parliament dissolved 3 May and the election held on 8

June.

- There must be 25 working days between parliament being dissolved and election

being held. This makes it very unlikely an election can be called for 2018 as

even if parliament were dissolved today, the earliest an election could be held

would be 20 December.