Fixed-term Parliaments Act

[TheKnightWho]

Some Tory backbenchers wanting an end to fixed-term parliaments. No doubt so scaremongering about coalitions can begin again in future, and all this silly nonsense about people other than the Conservatives and Labour getting a say in government can be put to rest :roll:

 

[TheNewNo2]

Given the fact that short termism is endemic in both business and politics - fixed term 5 year governments seem a step in the right direction to me

And short-termism increases the shorter the gap between important elections. The US is a mess what with nationwide elections every two years, not to mention gubernatorial elections in some of the off-years.

 

[Busaholic]

And short-termism increases the shorter the gap between important elections. The US is a mess what with nationwide elections every two years, not to mention gubernatorial elections in some of the off-years.

Democracy is a mess, dictatorship so much simpler for everybody.

 

[deltic]

Democracy is a mess, dictatorship so much simpler for everybody.

except for those who express a different opinion - democracy is not perfect but it is better than anything else

 

[TUC]

I get the impression that most other democracies operate on fixed-term parliaments (or equivalents). Is that correct?

I do wonder whether the fixed-term issue was one of the causes of the election campaign being a bit lacklusture. It made it too easy for parties to plan every element of their campaign, down to specific dates.

 

[Busaholic]

I get the impression that most other democracies operate on fixed-term parliaments (or equivalents). Is that correct?

I do wonder whether the fixed-term issue was one of the causes of the election campaign being a bit lacklusture. It made it too easy for parties to plan every element of their campaign, down to specific dates.

Italy seems to have had more parliaments/governments in some decades than we've had in total since the English Civil War.

The situation now is so redolent of 1992 - a Conservative majority government gets in much to its own and everyone else's surprise. The party is racked with divisions over Europe, with a leader despised by a good proportion of his MPs who can't wait to depose him. Waiting in the wings waiting to be helpful (at a price) are a group of Unionists who, in the event of some of the Tories becoming serial rebellers, will prop up the government even if it leads to sectarian strife again in Northern Ireland. All it now takes is a couple of unfortunate deaths among incumbent Tories vulnerable to a swing of up to 20% in a by-election, which would bring the majority down to 8, and a couple more who decide to go and spend more time with their money/ someone else's partner of either sex,etc (and it happens with the Tories almost every parliament) and the electorate punishes them accordingly again, and, hey presto, a working majority of 4 or so.

Into the equation this time steps Boris Johnson, just waiting for the imminent publication of the government's reaction to the Davies Report on expansion of London-area airports and waiting to mount his leadership bid if/when expansion of Heathrow is given the green light and he can lead the oppposition to it. Exciting times indeed - time to dust down that act and see just how a government can get kicked out within its provisions.

 

[TheKnightWho]

Italy seems to have had more parliaments/governments in some decades than we've had in total since the English Civil War.

The situation now is so redolent of 1992 - a Conservative majority government gets in much to its own and everyone else's surprise. The party is racked with divisions over Europe, with a leader despised by a good proportion of his MPs who can't wait to depose him. Waiting in the wings waiting to be helpful (at a price) are a group of Unionists who, in the event of some of the Tories becoming serial rebellers, will prop up the government even if it leads to sectarian strife again in Northern Ireland. All it now takes is a couple of unfortunate deaths among incumbent Tories vulnerable to a swing of up to 20% in a by-election, which would bring the majority down to 8, and a couple more who decide to go and spend more time with their money/ someone else's partner of either sex,etc (and it happens with the Tories almost every parliament) and the electorate punishes them accordingly again, and, hey presto, a working majority of 4 or so.

Into the equation this time steps Boris Johnson, just waiting for the imminent publication of the government's reaction to the Davies Report on expansion of London-area airports and waiting to mount his leadership bid if/when expansion of Heathrow is given the green light and he can lead the oppposition to it. Exciting times indeed - time to dust down that act and see just how a government can get kicked out within its provisions.

Or we could just wait til 2020 and see what happens. An imploding Tory government could lead to another 1997, although it would have to be accompanied by a rising star on the left. Boris Johnson is indeed a wildcard though, and a force to be reckoned with.

 

[PaxmanValenta]

I want to see the Fixed term parliament reduced to 4 years instead of 5 or abolished and the old system brought back.

I think 5 years fixed is far too long especially with the prospect that no election can be called if a government gets votes of no confidence. The thought of having the Tories for the next 5 years is quite a depressing though, 4 years would not be great but better than 5.

4 years between general elections works in America and I think it should be the same here.

 

[Abpj17]

Five years, with appropriate 'no confidence' is fine. Perhaps 4 at a push.

It provides certainly. It avoids an incumbent bias (if they pick a point in the economic/news cycle that favours them). It provides a form of relative stability. There is even a case to make it longer - newly elects tend to fiddle, and that amount of change isn't great for major pillars like the NHS and education.

There are bigger fish to fry - like proportional representation.

 

[sheeldz]

To add a wrinkle to the discussions, the Fixed Term Parliaments Act conflicted with the Fixed Term Scottish parliament sitting, which is a four year cycle. The current term, 2011 to 2015, was extended by a year to accommodate the 2015 General Election, which apparently was missed by the Tory/LibDem team who created the Act in the first place.

This brings me to the "wrinkle" - that would mean in 2016 a vote for a Scottish Parliament that will once again clash with the General Election in 2020 - so Scotland has to decide if the 2016-2020 sitting is for a shortened three years or for another extended five years.

Either way, the two are out of sync and this will keep happening, I guess.
2020/2021 will mean that they will clash again in 2025.

It harks back to the point made earlier about constitutional change being rushed through and how the impact to the devolved governance really wasn't considered.

 

[TheNewNo2]

I think 5 years fixed is far too long especially with the prospect that no election can be called if a government gets votes of no confidence. The thought of having the Tories for the next 5 years is quite a depressing though, 4 years would not be great but better than 5.

If the government loses a motion of no confidence, and then does not within two weeks win a motion of confidence, there is an election.

 

[12CSVT]

If the government loses a motion of no confidence, and then does not within two weeks win a motion of confidence, there is an election.

Next question - if there was an election as a result no confidence vote, would it be an interim government in charge until the 5 (or 4) years are up, or would the new government be in power for a full term ?

I also beileve there should be a referendum on whether a general election should take place if a prime minister resigns mid term (such as in 1990 and 2007).

 

[WillPS]

Next question - if there was an election as a result no confidence vote, would it be an interim government in charge until the 5 (or 4) years are up, or would the new government be in power for a full term ?

I also beileve there should be a referendum on whether a general election should take place if a prime minister resigns mid term (such as in 1990 and 2007).

And will happen within the next parliament (probably).

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

To add a wrinkle to the discussions, the Fixed Term Parliaments Act conflicted with the Fixed Term Scottish parliament sitting, which is a four year cycle. The current term, 2011 to 2015, was extended by a year to accommodate the 2015 General Election, which apparently was missed by the Tory/LibDem team who created the Act in the first place.

Let us ask if there are any likely future discussion motions on the current matter of a 5-year term....but in the place that has the power to let this occur rather than on this particular thread of armchair politicians.

 

[Starmill]

Fixed-Term Parliaments = good
Five Year Parliaments = bad!

Why wasn't it four years?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The drawback though, is that it paves the way for a Tory-UKIP coalition on this year's figures. I don't think I can think of anything worse for this country.

I strongly agree - but those are out opinions.

What your views are politically should not mean an undemocratic result - which is what this Parliament - as one of the least representative ever, is.

I'm reminded of John Swinney of the SNP who said that even though his party gained hugely from FPTP, they still support proportionally elected representation.

 

[Busaholic]

If you go back to my original posting on this thread and see the day and time it was posted (five minutes before polling finished on Election Day) you can see that I wasn't making any party political point, as I was as in the dark as practically everyone else as to the election outcome. I now think that the current, unanticipated situation may come to be exacerbated by this act, but it's all speculation, and none the worse for that. Politics is far too important to be left to politicians!

I am also pleased to see I've had some support for my views on the act, and also on whether the duration of a parliament should be four or five years maximum. I'm prepared to change my views on anything if given cogent arguments in opposition, except for London Transport being the best transport organisation ever known, which will never be surpassed, because no rightthinking individual could ever disagree!