Fixed Term

LibDem MP Lynne Featherstone has written about Fixed Terms on her excellent blog, HERE. She draws an excellent comparison between the power of the Prime Minister and a football team taking their ball home.

It’s 80 minutes into an Arsenal-Tottenham football derby. Tottenham lead 1-0. Arsenal are piling on the pressure. The Tottenham manager shouts at the ref, “OK, that’s it – can we have the final score now please?” The ref agrees, all the players troop off the pitch 10 minutes early and Tottenham get the three points.

Sounds absurd doesn’t it (and I don’t just mean the idea of Tottenham beating Arsenal!)?

But that’s what passes for normal in the world of Palace of Westminster politics when it comes to general election dates. The Prime Minister – and the Prime Minister alone – gets to choose the date. Now – in theory Parliaments last for five years and the monarch has to agree to any earlier election, but in practice – the PM always gets his or her way.

Two LibDem MPs, David Howarth and David Heath, have tabled a Bill in the House of Commons to introduce Fixed Term Parliaments. More on the LibDem website HERE.

LibDem Leader Sir Menzies Campbell has called for Fixed Term Parliaments. Watch his BBC interview HERE.