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She's announced her intention to call a general election. Before it can actually happen, she needs 2/3s of MPs to agree, according to the Fixed Term Parliament

She's announced her intention to call a general election. Before it can actually happen, she needs 2/3s of MPs to agree, according to the Fixed Term Parliament Act. Otherwise, it's a five-year term whether the current PM likes it or not. This is an odd one, because if we have the election then it's likely to be a Tory landslide, but the Tories have only a narrow majority in the House of Commons and so need the turkeys to vote for Christmas. On the other hand, Labour is currently led by Jeremy Corbyn, so it's entirely possible that enough of the turkeys will vote for every day of the year to be Christmas.

tonyedgecombe 10y ago
Labour have already announced they will support it.
- thenomad 10y ago
  I believe Jeremy Corbyn has announced Labour will support it. That's not really the same thing at this point.
- pmontra 10y ago
  According to what I read here the Labour is going to lose many seats. Are those Labour MPs so eager to lose their job? Amazing.
  - timrichard 10y ago
    More amazing if they voted against an election, with the inevitable implication that the current regime is doing a good job and they don't want to take over right now, thanks all the same for asking.
    - nicky0 10y ago
      This is why I have always thought the fixed term parliaments act is a nonsense. What opposition would ever vote against the motion to call an election?
      - Silhouette 10y ago
        One that expected to be in a worse position afterwards than before, presumably. For example, a party whose MPs are mostly opposed to the current leadership and think it will cost them a lot of seats they currently have if an election is held.
        nicky0 10y ago
        So the Labour party then.
    - Silhouette 10y ago
      It's all about politics and probably an element of self-interest now, though. Public perception doesn't actually matter in our system until the next election, whenever that is. So, if opposition MPs want to put that off for another three years, everyone currently sitting as an MP keeps their seat by default, the Tories are still in charge but still only with a narrow working majority, and those in opposition parties have only three years to wait for another shot after cleaning house instead of five years. I'm not sure whether that sort of rebellion is a realistic prospect given the views expressed so far today, but I think it would be a rational position for opposition MPs to take given the current unpopularity of both Labour and the Lib Dems among the general public.
  - michaelt 10y ago
    If they think (a) their seat is safe and (b) nothing can unseat Corbyn short of an election loss and (c) the party can't win an election with Corbyn at the helm; then they might figure they might as well unseat Corbyn in 2017 and have a fighting chance in the 2022 election; rather than unseating Corbyn in 2020 and hoping to win the 2025 election. Of course, if they think their seat isn't safe; or they think they can dump Corbyn early and win in 2020; it's easy to imagine them opposing an election.
  - tonyedgecombe 10y ago
    Many were looking to loose their seats after the boundary changes next year, they might prefer their chances now.
- DonaldFisk 10y ago
  An early election can be called if 2/3 of MPs support it, OR if there's a vote of no confidence in the Government. Labour should say that they won't support it, but will support a no-confidence vote. That will only be carried if enough Tories also vote no-confidence.

tonyedgecombe 10y ago

Labour have already announced they will support it.

thenomad 10y ago
I believe Jeremy Corbyn has announced Labour will support it. That's not really the same thing at this point.
pmontra 10y ago
According to what I read here the Labour is going to lose many seats. Are those Labour MPs so eager to lose their job? Amazing.
- timrichard 10y ago
  More amazing if they voted against an election, with the inevitable implication that the current regime is doing a good job and they don't want to take over right now, thanks all the same for asking.
  - nicky0 10y ago
    This is why I have always thought the fixed term parliaments act is a nonsense. What opposition would ever vote against the motion to call an election?
    - Silhouette 10y ago
      One that expected to be in a worse position afterwards than before, presumably. For example, a party whose MPs are mostly opposed to the current leadership and think it will cost them a lot of seats they currently have if an election is held.
      - nicky0 10y ago
        So the Labour party then.
  - Silhouette 10y ago
    It's all about politics and probably an element of self-interest now, though. Public perception doesn't actually matter in our system until the next election, whenever that is. So, if opposition MPs want to put that off for another three years, everyone currently sitting as an MP keeps their seat by default, the Tories are still in charge but still only with a narrow working majority, and those in opposition parties have only three years to wait for another shot after cleaning house instead of five years. I'm not sure whether that sort of rebellion is a realistic prospect given the views expressed so far today, but I think it would be a rational position for opposition MPs to take given the current unpopularity of both Labour and the Lib Dems among the general public.
- michaelt 10y ago
  If they think (a) their seat is safe and (b) nothing can unseat Corbyn short of an election loss and (c) the party can't win an election with Corbyn at the helm; then they might figure they might as well unseat Corbyn in 2017 and have a fighting chance in the 2022 election; rather than unseating Corbyn in 2020 and hoping to win the 2025 election. Of course, if they think their seat isn't safe; or they think they can dump Corbyn early and win in 2020; it's easy to imagine them opposing an election.
- tonyedgecombe 10y ago
  Many were looking to loose their seats after the boundary changes next year, they might prefer their chances now.
DonaldFisk 10y ago
An early election can be called if 2/3 of MPs support it, OR if there's a vote of no confidence in the Government. Labour should say that they won't support it, but will support a no-confidence vote. That will only be carried if enough Tories also vote no-confidence.