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What Happens During a Dissolution of Parliament?
Last updated: 17 March 2010
This is our main page for the 2010 Dissolution of parliament. As information about the arrangements arrives, we will post it here or create links to more detailed information, both on the public parliament website on on the parliamentary intranet.
Update: 17 March 2010
The 39 page guidance booklet Dissolution Arrangements (February 2010) is now available on the public parliament website here: http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/dissolutionarrangements.pdf.
Update: 1 March 2010
The W4MP companion guide to the Dissolution is now live. Click here.
Update: 25 February 2010
A W4MP guide on what the Dissolution means for Members' staff - and tips on how to cope - has been prepared and is currently being checked; it will be published on W4MP on Monday 1 March.
Update 24 February 2010
We have now received detailed guidance, both for Members and for their staff, on the arrangements for the 2010 Dissolution. Click here to access it.
Update 15 February 2010
We are hoping - very soon - to have current information relating to the 2010 General Election. There is already a draft version of the new 'Dissolution Arrangements' guide available on the intranet here and we hear that the final edition is imminent. We also understand from the Resources Dept that a guidance note for Members' staff is due shortly.
We have also commissioned a new W4MP guide, from a staffer who has been
through it all before,
which puts all the official information and guidance in a friendly version.
This will cover topics such as:
-
what you should do ahead of time, what you need to do on dissolution day and what you are allowed and not allowed to do during dissolution;
-
how much annual or unpaid leave to take, how long to spend in the constituency;
-
what kind of work you can legitimately be paid to do, and
-
why it's really not a good idea to stay with your boss during the campaign!
Watch this space......
So, what is this 'Dissolution'?
Dissolution is the official term for the end of a
Parliament. A Parliament can last for up to five years and is dissolved by
Royal Proclamation followed by a general election. The Prime Minister may
call a general election before the end of the five year term and he or she
asks the Monarch to grant a dissolution.
Further information on this subject can be found from the following link: http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/elections/general.cfm.
