Source · Select Committees · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Recommendation 4
4
It is clear that one of the main purposes of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011...
Conclusion
It is clear that one of the main purposes of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 was to provide assurance to the Coalition partners that an early election would not be called. The fact that the Coalition Government was maintained for the full 2010–15 Parliament, makes it evident that the Act achieved this narrow purpose. Whatever system replaces the Act needs to be able to accommodate the formation of future coalition governments without further changes to the law for dissolving Parliament and calling elections. The Government and review committee in considering what should replace the Fixed-term Parliaments Act must establish a system that will support majority, coalition and minority governments to be formed, and for them to govern for a full term, notwithstanding circumstances in which an early general election is the only means of resolving political deadlock, or if the House of Commons expresses no confidence in the Government. (Paragraph 23) Review committee
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
We note that the 2011 Act was passed by the Coalition Government in order to provide stability to that administration. However, we would question the merits of making such fundamental changes to long-standing constitutional practice for short-term expediency. Since 2015 the Fixed-term Parliaments Act has not had its intended effect. Neither the 2015 Parliament nor the 2017 Parliament lasted for a full-five year term. The fact that Parliament had to introduce bespoke primary legislation in 2019 to allow for an early general election shows that the FTPA has not worked effectively. Flexibility is an essential part of the parliamentary system. It is the Government’s view that the draft FTPA (Repeal) Bill is the means by which flexibility can be re-introduced into our system via a return to the pre-FTPA position where the Prime Minister is able to seek an early dissolution of Parliament. The Government awaits with interest the findings of the Joint Committee undertaking a review of the FTPA and also any conclusions it reaches about the system of dissolution and how it operates in relation to majority, coalition and minority governments.