Local election votes are still being counted, but some are wondering about the differences between a local election and a general election. In addition, outside of the 5-year limit on a government, some wonder what else could trigger a general election.
The maximum term of a Parliament is five years from the day on which it first met. This Parliament first met on the 4th of July 2024, which means there is just over 3 years until the term is up and a new general election is held.
However, there are other conditions which mean that a general could be held sooner than that. Many of those who have just voted in the local elections were wondering what it takes, so we’ve collected a list of the conditions that could mean a larger election would be held.
It’s important to remember that there is a cost to holding a general election, not just changing your MP, but a financial cost to taxpayers. The cost of the 2019 UK Parliamentary general election was £147,415,582, to pay for postal voting as well as the officers who officiate the results.
With that being said, these are the ways a general election can be called in the UK.
Prime Minister requests the Monarch dissolve Parliament
Under the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022, the Prime Minister has the power to request that the Monarch dissolve Parliament at any time of their choosing. The cabinet can advise, but the ultimate power remains with the Prime Minister.
Once the Royal Proclamation is issued, Parliament is shut down, and the 25-working-day election clock begins.
However, a monarch might refuse a request if a parliament remained “vital, viable, and capable of doing its job”, if an election would be detrimental to the national economy or if the monarch can find another prime minister who could “govern for a reasonable period with a working majority in the House of Commons”.
No prime minister in modern times, as far as is known, has been refused a dissolution, and the principles for refusing one have therefore not been tested.
Confidence vote
While the Prime Minister has full control of requesting the Monarch to dissolve Parliament, this method is the only way the House of Commons would be able to force a vote. If the government loses a House of Commons confidence vote, it is expected that they either resign from office or call a general election.
If the government were to resign, that would mean that the opposition party would take its place and attempt to form a government. As a result, unless some MPs within the current Government rebelled against their own party alongside other MPs from other parties, a vote would likely fail.
This is different to a vote challenging the party leader. If the sitting prime minister had lost a party leadership confidence vote, it would trigger a leadership contest to elect a new party leader.
In the past, outgoing leaders have remained as prime ministers while the leadership contest took place. For a prime minister to request a dissolution from the Monarch at that point would prove highly controversial.
As for the public’s will, it can only try to put pressure on local MPs to push the prime minister if they believe an election should be held sooner.
Read more: Local election results 2026 LIVE: North East counting now as Reform take all 12 seats in Hartlepool
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