-
Implemented by the 2010 Coalition Government
-
Removed the traditional right of royal prerogative for PM to call early general elections
-
e.g. Thatcher in 1983 called an early election during the Falklands War
-
Required 2/3 majority to call early election
-
Or when government loses vote of no confidence
-
Both Labour and Tory manifestos promised to repeal the act
-
Repealed by Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022 (passed under BoJo)
-
Restored pre-2011 royal prerogative
-
Removed judicial review from exercise of these powers (after Miller II (2019))
-
Automatic dissolution after five years
Attempted circumvention (2019)
-
Tories want to push Brexit through but wanted a greater majority
-
Labour was under Jeremy Corbyn so was vastly unpopular
-
BoJo tried to call early elections in 2019 but did not get two-thirds majority