FIXED TERM PARLIAMENTS

Early day motion 511, tabled 2 April 2001 by Austin Mitchell (Labour). Signed by 41 members.

That this House notes the current uncertainties about the timing of the General Election; considers that all recent governments have used their freedom to call elections at the time which offers them the best party prospects, with all too little consideration of the wishes of the people or the needs of democracy, by going to the country early when things were going well, hanging on to the last possible moment when they weren't and generally viewing election timing opportunistically as an issue of party convenience to maximise the advantages of the incumbent government; and suggests that the need to strengthen and modernise British democracy now points firmly to fixed-term four year parliaments with elections held only when a Government has no majority to carry on, or Parliament resolves that an election is necessary to form a new Government.

Signatures by party: Labour 18, Liberal Democrat 18, Conservative 2, Labour/Co-operative 2, Plaid Cymru 1.