Commons Sense

House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement

Section 7(4) of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011

01 December 2020 · Cabinet Office

Proposed by Chloe Smith Con Norwich North

Parliamentary Procedure

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

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At a glance

Key points

  • Government is publishing the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 (Repeal) Bill to repeal the FTPA
  • Draft bill will be scrutinized and Government welcomes input from parliamentary committees
  • Bill aims to restore pre-FTPA constitutional norms while retaining certain aspects for electoral system operability

Issue summary

The Government is publishing the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 (Repeal) Bill to repeal the FTPA and revive the prerogative power to dissolve Parliament.

Action requested

The draft bill will be scrutinized, and the Government welcomes input from parliamentary committees. The bill aims to restore pre-FTPA constitutional norms while retaining certain aspects of the act for electoral system operability.

Key facts

  • Draft Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 (Repeal) Bill published.
  • Dissolution prerogative will be revived with an ouster clause to prevent judicial review.
  • Maximum length of Parliament is fixed at five years.
  • Prime Minister has discretion to set a new polling day in the event of the demise of the Crown, within clearly defined limits.
  • Draft document on non-legislative constitutional principles for dissolving Parliament deposited in House libraries.
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