Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022

Key Points

• Repeals the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011.
• Restores the ability to dissolve Parliament and call a general election (Prime Minister advising the monarch).
• Maintains a maximum five-year term between general elections (with dissolution possible earlier).
• Clarifies the process for calling a new Parliament after dissolution to ensure timely elections.
• Bill passed through Parliament with broad support in key votes and is now law.

Progress

The bill has completed its passage and received Royal Assent; it is now in force as law.

Voting

In key votes, Conservative MPs largely supported the bill (310 Aye, 79 No), with Reform UK, DUP and a few others also voting in favour. Labour and several opposition parties (Liberal Democrats, SNP, Plaid Cymru, SDLP) mostly opposed, while some independents voted either way. The bill’s passage included major early cross-party support (e.g., Second Reading 367-65) and a government-disagreed Lords Amendment 292-217 before final assent.