How to call a General Election

The timing of a General Election is at the discretion of the Prime Minister.

The PM asks the Queen to dissolve Parliament by Royal Proclamation. The election is then usually held 17 working days after the date of the Proclamation.

Since 1935 every General Election has been held on a Thursday. Of the 16 elections between 1945 and 2001, four have been in October, four in June, three in May and two in February.