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I’m not sure this is true. Cameron had a majority government after the 2015 election. Prior there was a coalition government which also held a majority. May los

by nvarsj 7y ago

I’m not sure this is true. Cameron had a majority government after the 2015 election. Prior there was a coalition government which also held a majority. May lost the majority after the snap election and had to build a coalition with the DUP and others. In Johnson’s case he doesn’t have any majority at all. It’s a weird situation that only exists afaik because of the fixed term act, as the PM can no longer trigger an election when he loses the majority. The current situation is far from normal.

NeedMoreTea 7y ago
Correct, the Fixed Term Parliament act was supposed to cure a government supposedly "abusing democracy" by calling an election at their whim. Well at least that seemed to be the LibDem line during the coalition. In requiring a super-majority, and a search for a second government first it's badly broken the system. As we can see, there is a government 20 odd votes short of a majority stuck there. Stuck there having lost every vote they've called. Stuck there because they are trying to evade the extension parliament voted for, that would take EU membership beyond an election. I am intrigued though, that neither side has made calls to repeal the Fixed Term Parliament Act, despite it very clearly not being fit for purpose.
- benj111 7y ago
  "I am intrigued though, that neither side has made calls to repeal the Fixed Term Parliament Act" Boris Johnson doesn't want an election. It was suggested after the first vote that he could table something that only required a simple majority, but he didn't, you cant really argue it's people against parliament, when you are (hopefully) a majority of parliament. Those against a hard Brexit don't want an election now because it impairs their ability to do that, plus its been nicely illustrated to them why you don't want too much power to reside with the executive.
dragonwriter 7y ago
> It’s a weird situation that only exists afaik because of the fixed term act, as PM can no longer trigger an election when he loses the majority And even then, it only exists because Johnson is overtly trying to use the disruption of an election as a mechanism to enable no-deal, which is why Parliament refuses to let him have one.
fergie 7y ago
Its true that Cameron won a majority in 2015- he just didn't manage to serve a full term. John Major took over from Margaret Thatcher (and so was unelected) and then despite winning the election in 1992, lost his majority again in 1996. So yes, it seems shocking, but the last Conservative leader to win an election and then serve a full term of majority government was Thatcher from '83 to '87
- NeedMoreTea 7y ago
  ...and that was only because of the early election on the back of the Falklands dividend. They were shaping up to lose badly until then, or at best a hung parliament.
pjc50 7y ago
Exactly. The FTPA has been a disaster here. What should have happened was May's deal being a confidence vote back in March, so either it would have passed or we'd have had a fresh election.

by nvarsj 7y ago

NeedMoreTea 7y ago

Correct, the Fixed Term Parliament act was supposed to cure a government supposedly "abusing democracy" by calling an election at their whim. Well at least that seemed to be the LibDem line during the coalition. In requiring a super-majority, and a search for a second government first it's badly broken the system. As we can see, there is a government 20 odd votes short of a majority stuck there. Stuck there having lost every vote they've called. Stuck there because they are trying to evade the extension parliament voted for, that would take EU membership beyond an election. I am intrigued though, that neither side has made calls to repeal the Fixed Term Parliament Act, despite it very clearly not being fit for purpose.

benj111 7y ago
"I am intrigued though, that neither side has made calls to repeal the Fixed Term Parliament Act" Boris Johnson doesn't want an election. It was suggested after the first vote that he could table something that only required a simple majority, but he didn't, you cant really argue it's people against parliament, when you are (hopefully) a majority of parliament. Those against a hard Brexit don't want an election now because it impairs their ability to do that, plus its been nicely illustrated to them why you don't want too much power to reside with the executive.

dragonwriter 7y ago

> It’s a weird situation that only exists afaik because of the fixed term act, as PM can no longer trigger an election when he loses the majority And even then, it only exists because Johnson is overtly trying to use the disruption of an election as a mechanism to enable no-deal, which is why Parliament refuses to let him have one.

fergie 7y ago

Its true that Cameron won a majority in 2015- he just didn't manage to serve a full term. John Major took over from Margaret Thatcher (and so was unelected) and then despite winning the election in 1992, lost his majority again in 1996. So yes, it seems shocking, but the last Conservative leader to win an election and then serve a full term of majority government was Thatcher from '83 to '87

NeedMoreTea 7y ago
...and that was only because of the early election on the back of the Falklands dividend. They were shaping up to lose badly until then, or at best a hung parliament.

pjc50 7y ago

Exactly. The FTPA has been a disaster here. What should have happened was May's deal being a confidence vote back in March, so either it would have passed or we'd have had a fresh election.