header-logo header-logo

End of term?

21 October 2011 / Alec Samuels
Issue: 7486 / Categories: Features , Public , Constitutional law
printer mail-detail

Alec Samuels examines the law surrounding the length of parliamentary terms

How long should a Parliament last? Five years is the maximum, after which it automatically expires, and the statutory expectation seems to be that Parliament will last for the full five years (Septennial Act 1715 as amended by the Parliament Act 1911). However, in practice it has not worked out that way. Indeed, since the war the five-year Parliament has been less common than the shorter one. Who should decide when the next general election shall take place? And how?

Back in the day

In 1950, 1964, 1992, 1997 and 2010 the Parliament had lasted the full five years. It “went to the wire”. In 1951 Atlee “threw in the towel” after little more than a year. In 1955 the new Prime Minster Eden called an early election. In 1959 Macmillan did the same. In 1966 Wilson went early, in order to increase a slender majority; and in 1970 again he went early. In 1974 Heath called an early election, “Who

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
back-to-top-scroll