On 22 May 2024, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made a significant announcement: the UK Parliament would be dissolved on 30 May 2024, and a General Election was set to take place on Thursday, 4 July 2024. This article breaks down what dissolution means and its impact on parliamentary business, government activity, and the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
What is the Dissolution of Parliament?
The UK Parliament operates in cycles called ‘Parliaments,’ each consisting of ‘Sessions’ that typically last a year, running from spring to spring. The dissolution marks the end of a Parliament and paves the way for a general election. This is different from the Scottish Parliament, where the time between general elections is referred to as a ‘Session,’ made up of ‘Parliamentary Years.’
Dissolution is a critical juncture in the UK’s parliamentary cycle, triggering a general election and impacting legislative processes across the entire United Kingdom. While it brings parliamentary business in Westminster to a temporary halt, it also affects the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, pausing the progress of significant bills and initiatives.
How Parliament is Dissolved
Under the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022, there are two ways to dissolve the UK Parliament:
- Royal Prerogative: King Charles III can dissolve Parliament on the advice of the Prime Minister, through a Proclamation under the Great Seal.
- Automatic Dissolution: If not dissolved earlier, Parliament automatically dissolves five years after its first meeting. This would have occurred on 17 December 2024 under normal circumstances.
The 2022 Act replaced the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011, which mandated general elections every five years, with automatic dissolution 25 working days before polling day. The older act also allowed early elections via a no-confidence vote or a two-thirds majority vote for a general election. In his announcement, Prime Minister Sunak confirmed that King Charles III had agreed to dissolve Parliament on 30 May 2024. This sets the stage for a general election 25 days later, excluding weekends and bank holidays, resulting in an election date of 4 July 2024.
The Mechanics of Dissolution
Once Parliament is dissolved, ‘writs’ are issued to returning officers who oversee elections in each constituency. These writs are legal documents authorizing the election and are officially delivered the day after dissolution.
What Happens to Parliamentary Business?
Following the Prime Minister’s announcement, Parliament enters a ‘wash-up’ period—a final attempt to pass pending legislation before dissolution. On 24 May 2024, Parliament was prorogued, ending the current Session. Prorogation, a formal ceremony in the House of Lords Chamber led by the King on the advice of the Privy Council, halts all parliamentary activities, and bills not passed before dissolution are dropped.
Impact on Devolved Administrations
Scotland
Some UK Parliament bills require consent from the Scottish Parliament under the Sewel Convention, particularly those affecting Scottish legislative or executive competence. As dissolution approached, several bills awaiting Scottish consent were not passed, affecting their progress.
Wales
In Wales, dissolution impacts the legislative process similarly. Any bills before the UK Parliament that require the consent of the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) and are not passed before dissolution will fall. This includes legislation that affects areas devolved to Wales, such as health, education, and local government. The Senedd must then consider these bills in future sessions if they are reintroduced, potentially delaying significant policy changes or reforms. Additionally, the dissolution period creates a temporary halt in collaborative projects between the UK government and the Welsh government. This can affect funding, implementation of joint initiatives, and the legislative agenda in Wales.
Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, the dissolution of the UK Parliament can have profound implications, especially given the unique political and social context. Any pending UK legislation that impacts Northern Ireland directly and requires the consent of the Northern Ireland Assembly will fall if not passed before dissolution. This includes crucial areas such as policing, justice, and certain aspects of social policy.
Northern Ireland’s political stability can also be sensitive to changes in the UK government, and the upcoming general election might influence the dynamics within the Northern Ireland Assembly and among the region’s political parties. The dissolution period could also slow down negotiations and implementation of key agreements, including those related to the Northern Ireland Protocol and Brexit-related adjustments.
Dissolution is a critical juncture in the UK’s parliamentary cycle, triggering a general election and impacting legislative processes across the entire United Kingdom. While it brings parliamentary business in Westminster to a temporary halt, it also affects the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, pausing the progress of significant bills and initiatives. Stay informed with our next article, where we delve into the specifics of the upcoming election, including key issues, parties, and candidates to watch.