# Simple, very stupid, Q re British Govt System

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-very-stupid-q-re-british-govt-system/127484>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 8, 2002, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-very-stupid-q-re-british-govt-system/127484 "2002-09-08T00:04:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2002, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-very-stupid-q-re-british-govt-system/127484/1 "2002-09-08T00:04:24Z")

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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?

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2002, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-very-stupid-q-re-british-govt-system/127484/2 "2002-09-08T00:20:10Z")

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I believe elections must be called after five years in office. Most PMs try to hold them before that point, and while their popularity is high.

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**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2002, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-very-stupid-q-re-british-govt-system/127484/3 "2002-09-08T00:33:03Z")

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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.

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**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2002, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-very-stupid-q-re-british-govt-system/127484/4 "2002-09-08T11:52:22Z")

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…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.