UK General Election - May 7th 2015

[andrew_c]

If Labour wins a narrow majority, defections and resignations, coupled with possible by-election losses over the course of 2-3 years, could potentially turn a narrow majority parliament into a hung parliament.  In that case, it is somewhat likely that a government would be defeated on a non-confidence vote or loss of supply, therefore triggering a dissolution of parliament and a general election.

[andrew_c]

The major parties are going to impose cordon sanitaire on the SNP, especially if the SNP wins a lot of seats.

[andrew_c]

If there's a minority government or coalition government in Britain after 2015 that collapses at some point, do they hold an election to complete the term (until 2020) or does a new five-year fixed term start then (say if it collapses in 2017 the next election is 2022, or if in 2018 the next term ends 2023, etc.)? Just curious for my Timeline I'm writing.

A new 5 year term would most likely begin.  Under the law, a parliament expires 5 years after it is initially elected.  If the government falls before expiration of parliament, parliament is usually dissolved.  A dissolution ends the current parliamentary term, even if it is not complete.