Clause 2 — Early parliamentary general elections

Part of Fixed-Term Parliaments Bill (Programme) (No. 2) – in the House of Commons at 3:00 pm on 24 November 2010.

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Photo of Mark Harper Mark Harper The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office 3:00, 24 November 2010

I am listening very carefully to my hon. Friend. I think that he is confusing the two different processes in the Bill. There is provision for having an early election if the Government lose a vote of no confidence. That is by a simple majority, as now, and it is not changed. The other provision is an extra power for the House of Commons, which it does not have today, for two thirds of MPs to vote for an early election. We are not in any way, changing the ability of a Government to be held to account by having to have a simple majority.