Repealing the Fixed Term Parliaments Act

5 October 2020

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Listen to the recording

The Conservative party manifesto had a clear commitment to repeal the FTPA (as did the Labour party), which was repeated in the Queen’s speech.  Nothing further has happened from the government.  But in September two parliamentary committees published reports explaining the complications, which include reviving the prerogative power of dissolution, allowing the Prime Minister to decide the timing of elections, and whether parliaments should run for four or five years.  

Speakers:

• Baroness (Ann) Taylor, chair of the Lords Constitution Committee, discussed their report
• Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP, member of the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, talked about the report from PACAC
• Professor Petra Schleiter (Oxford), put the issues in a comparative perspective

Chair: Professor Meg Russell, Director of the Constitution Unit.