Call an immediate general election due to authoritarian Coronavirus measures

Hold a general election: there is likely no opportunity until May 2024 to replace the Government. This could mean 3 more years of lockdowns & increasing restrictions on our personal freedoms. The election should be held no later than 30th November 2021 - this timetable is feasible as proved in 2017.

The Government have implemented the draconian Coronavirus Act which restricts our personal freedoms. Whilst there is opportunity for MPs to vote against it, there is no ability for constituents to replace these MPs, who were voted in under very different circumstances. The government can change the legislation whenever they want, with seemingly little parliamentary scrutiny. This has allowed them to introduce measures we were previously assured would not happen, such as vaccine passports.

The timing of general elections is currently governed through the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act 2011. In line with the Government’s 2019 Manifesto pledge, the Government has introduced a Bill before Parliament to repeal this legislation. This Bill will allow, if the Prime Minister decides that it is in the national interest, for an early general election to be called before a Parliament is automatically dissolved at the end of a maximum five year term.

However, the Government does not believe now is the right time for an election. We need to focus on ensuring that we build back better, continue to tackle the pandemic, and deliver on the manifesto commitments on which we were elected.

The Government is currently implementing its manifesto programme, alongside our response to COVID-19; we are focusing on economic recovery, supporting employment and ensuring that we invest to level up communities across the United Kingdom. The Government is also committed to making green industries fit for the future and has committed to an ambitious Net Zero target by 2050.

In our response to COVID-19 we continue to take proportionate and responsible action to respond to the changing situation, and assess the impact of our measures not just on the virus, but on the economy, on education, and on non-COVID health, including mental health.

The Prime Minister announced on Wednesday 8 December that England will move to Plan B as set out in our Autumn and Winter Plan. The most recent data showed that the Omicron variant has a very high growth rate and is spreading rapidly, and required this cautious and decisive step in order to slow the spread and reduce the chances of the NHS coming under unsustainable pressure.