Dissolution of Parliament: recent developments

Dissolution is the formal term for the end of a Parliament before a general election. When Parliament is “dissolved”, every seat in the House of Commons becomes vacant.

History of dissolution

Historically, the legal power to dissolve Parliament existed under the royal prerogative and was exercised by the Monarch following a request from the Prime Minister. Between 2011 and 2022, however, the dissolution of Parliament was governed by statute – chiefly the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011.

This is no longer the case, as the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022 explicitly sought to “revive” the historical dissolution prerogative. Today – as prior to 2011 – a Parliament is dissolved on the expiry of its maximum term (currently five years from the date it first met) or, if sooner, via a Proclamation signed by the King.

The May 2024 dissolution

The dissolution which preceded the 2024 general election was therefore the first to take place under the royal prerogative since 2010. The process began with a request from then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on 22 May, continued two days later with the prorogation of Parliament (though this was not strictly necessary for a dissolution) and concluded on 30 May when King Charles III signed a dissolution Proclamation at a meeting of the Privy Council. When this was sealed by the Crown Office at 11.57am, Parliament was legally dissolved, and the statutory 25-day election timetable was triggered. The general election took place on 4 July 2024.

Can a prerogative power be revived?

Prior to 2022, it had been an accepted principle that once abrogated by statute, a prerogative power could not be revived. The passage of the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022 provoked a largely academic debate as to whether the dissolution prerogative had been revived or remained rooted in statute.

This research briefing supplements Commons Library research briefing SN05085, Dissolution of Parliament.