General Election Date Should Be Fixed By Law, Not at Whim of Prime Minister, says John Leech MP (Manchester Liberal Democrats Online)

Manchester Liberal Democrats Online <info@manchester-libdems.org.uk>

General Election Date Should Be Fixed By Law, Not at Whim of Prime Minister, says John Leech MP

October 31, 2007 10:53 AM

Westminster Clock Tower Big Ben / Houses of Parliament [Photo: Emma Cooley]

Prime Minister Must Be Stopped from Manipulating Election Date to his Own Advantage, says John Leech MP

Following the fiasco of the cancellation of the general election in October, Manchester MP John Leech is joining his Liberal Democrat colleagues in calling for fixed-term parliaments.

"The Prime Minister must be stripped of the power to decide the date of the general election," John Leech MP said, "It is an archaic tradition that allows the Prime Minister to call a snap election when it suits their party."

"This autumn demonstrates exactly that. Gordon Brown encouraged election fever to grow, and but prevented it from going ahead because he realised he would probably lose. How can such a shambles be in the national interest?"

John Leech MP and the Liberal Democrats believe that each Parliament should last a fixed term of four years. This is already the case for the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh National Assembly.

Ends

Notes to editors:

1. Liberal Democrat MP David Howarth has proposed the new law for fixed term parliaments

2. The government on 25th October announced further reviews of the

constitutional system of the country, including the transfer of Royal Prerogative powers to declare war from the Prime Minister to Parliament. However, fixed term Parliaments were not mentioned.