The BBC, like the rest of the mainstream media, have been pushing the misleading line that a new general election can only take place under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act (FTPA) if a two-thirds majority of all 650 MPs in the House of Commons votes for it.

In fact, as the SKWAWKBOX showed two weeks ago, the FTPA has several sections. One of them says that MPs voting specifically for a new election do require the two-thirds majority.

However, the Act also contains another provision: that a vote of no confidence in the government sets in motion a process that results in the calling of a new general election. The government can only prevent this process by winning another confidence vote within fourteen days of the first:

(3) An early parliamentary general election is also to take place if— (a) the House of Commons passes a motion in the form set out in subsection (4), and (b) the period of 14 days after the day on which that motion is passed ends without the House passing a motion in the form set out in subsection (5). (4) The form of motion for the purposes of subsection (3)(a) is— “That this House has no confidence in Her Majesty’s Government.”

The BBC’s Andrew Marr still pushed the false line during his programme on Sunday morning – until Labour’s Barry Gardiner stopped him and pointed out the truth.

But the BBC News channel, shortly afterwards, had begun to acknowledge reality – and in some detail:

SKWAWKBOX comment:

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