In the UK I understand that a Prime Minister may lose the confidence of Parliament and, losing a vote of confidence, his/her Government may fall at any time regardless of whether there was an election or not.
But what I don’t understand very well is how the timing of elections are decided …
A. I get the strong impression a PM may call elections at any point to maximize her/his advantage is that correct?
B. Assuming “A” IS correct, then how often must elections be held? IS it on a regular timed cycle or …. What?
No more than five years may go between elections. And, yes, a prime minister may call for an election at any time up to five years. No, there is no regular time cycle like we have of a four-year cycle in the U.S. When a vote of no confidence passes, the Prime Minister has some particular amount of time (a month? three months? I forget) in which to call for an election.
…and yes, the ability to call an election is used very cynically. It’s not unusual to see one of two tactics:
[1] Hint that you’re going to call an election, force the opposition to spend their entire advertising budget, then wait a bit longer to call it and blitz them publicity-wise.
[2] Announce tax cuts just before you call an election.
The second tactic is a bit more risky, since people don’t like feeling they’re being conned.