This briefing examines the way that Parliament scrutinises the Government's proposals for taxation, set out in the annual Budget statement.

This briefing examines the way that Parliament scrutinises the Government's proposals for taxation, set out in the annual Budget statement.

Spreadsheet listing MPs not standing in the next general election.

Spreadsheet listing MPs not standing in the next general election.

A briefing paper on the office and functions of the Prime Minister

A briefing paper on the office and functions of the Prime Minister

This briefing lists the Prime Ministers who have served in the United Kingdom since 1721. It also provides information on changes of Prime Minister between general elections since 1900.

This briefing lists the Prime Ministers who have served in the United Kingdom since 1721. It also provides information on changes of Prime Minister between general elections since 1900.

A list of all UK General elections dates since 1832.

A list of all UK General elections dates since 1832.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, further to the UKSA letter entitled Letter to leaders of political parties in advance of the May 2026 elections, what is the statutory basis for OSR and UKSA monitoring and commenting on statements made by opposition political parties in an election period.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, further to the UKSA letter entitled Letter to leaders of political parties in advance of the May 2026 elections, what is the statutory basis for OSR and UKSA monitoring and commenting on statements made by opposition political parties in an election period.

Election rules include a timetable that must be followed. This briefing explains what is in the timetables and how long they run.

Election rules include a timetable that must be followed. This briefing explains what is in the timetables and how long they run.

A quick guide to overseas voters, British expats who can vote in a general election.

A quick guide to overseas voters, British expats who can vote in a general election.

UK elections use different voting systems. This briefing explains which systems are used for which election and how they work.

UK elections use different voting systems. This briefing explains which systems are used for which election and how they work.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to including in the Cabinet Manual guidelines for government formation in the event of the next election not providing a Commons majority for a single party.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to including in the Cabinet Manual guidelines for government formation in the event of the next election not providing a Commons majority for a single party.

My Lords, as the Prime Minister announced yesterday, the Government have committed to updating the Cabinet Manual to ensure that it remains an authoritative guide to our constitutional arrangements. This update will restate and underline the rules and conventions that underpin our democracy, including those relating to elections and government formation. We will ensure that the second edition accurately articulates arrangements where there is no overall majority in the House of Commons. We will engage with parliamentary committees in both Houses on the draft text.

My Lords, as the Prime Minister announced yesterday, the Government have committed to updating the Cabinet Manual to ensure that it remains an authoritative guide to our constitutional arrangements. This update will restate and underline the rules and conventions that underpin our democracy, including those relating to elections and government formation. We will ensure that the second edition accurately articulates arrangements where there is no overall majority in the House of Commons. We will engage with parliamentary committees in both Houses on the draft text.

My Lords, I welcome this announcement and thank the Minister for alerting me to the Statement yesterday. The coalition Government produced the Cabinet Manual as a guide for future Governments to the conventions of our unwritten constitution. It was intended that successive Governments should update it after each election, but the chaos of single-party government and rapid turnover of Prime Ministers means that this is the first one. As it is now highly likely that the outcome of the next election might be one in which no single party has a majority, can the Government pay particular attention to the area of government formation to allow sufficient time to negotiate and establish another stable coalition Government?

My Lords, I welcome this announcement and thank the Minister for alerting me to the Statement yesterday. The coalition Government produced the Cabinet Manual as a guide for future Governments to the conventions of our unwritten constitution. It was intended that successive Governments should update it after each election, but the chaos of single-party government and rapid turnover of Prime Ministers means that this is the first one. As it is now highly likely that the outcome of the next election might be one in which no single party has a majority, can the Government pay particular attention to the area of government formation to allow sufficient time to negotiate and establish another stable coalition Government?

The noble Lord knows how fond I am, and I am delighted to have been able to announce that we are updating

the Cabinet Manual. While I understand that everybody in this building is very excited about elections—we all campaign for them—it is not yet two years since the previous general election and there are another three to go, and I look forward to ensuring that there is another Labour Government. In terms of ensuring the premises of formation of government, as ever, the convention remains that it is those best able to command the confidence of the other place.

The noble Lord knows how fond I am, and I am delighted to have been able to announce that we are updating

the Cabinet Manual. While I understand that everybody in this building is very excited about elections—we all campaign for them—it is not yet two years since the previous general election and there are another three to go, and I look forward to ensuring that there is another Labour Government. In terms of ensuring the premises of formation of government, as ever, the convention remains that it is those best able to command the confidence of the other place.

My Lords, does my noble friend reflect that when the noble Lord talks about chaos, we should go back to the coalition Government, when his party signed up to austerity, which caused such damage to our country? It also agreed to the disastrous NHS reform Bill brought in by Andrew Lansley—the noble Lord, Lord Lansley—which cost £4 billion extra and was a total disaster. Will he remember that?

My Lords, does my noble friend reflect that when the noble Lord talks about chaos, we should go back to the coalition Government, when his party signed up to austerity, which caused such damage to our country? It also agreed to the disastrous NHS reform Bill brought in by Andrew Lansley—the noble Lord, Lord Lansley—which cost £4 billion extra and was a total disaster. Will he remember that?

I am delighted to see my noble friend back in his place; we have missed him—I believe everyone has had their Weetabix this afternoon. Fundamentally, what is so important about the Cabinet Manual is making sure that the conventions and precedents are outlined so that, regardless of who is in power and what events are before us, there is a document to guide Ministers and civil servants about how we respond to them.

I am delighted to see my noble friend back in his place; we have missed him—I believe everyone has had their Weetabix this afternoon. Fundamentally, what is so important about the Cabinet Manual is making sure that the conventions and precedents are outlined so that, regardless of who is in power and what events are before us, there is a document to guide Ministers and civil servants about how we respond to them.

My Lords, will the Minister accept on behalf of this one member of the Constitution Committee, which has repeatedly asked for the manual to be updated, that it is singularly satisfying to have this Answer on the day when the once and future chair of the Constitution Committee, my noble friend Lord Strathclyde, has just taken his seat on these Benches again? Does she agree that the manual contains very important parts of our conventional constitutional structure and its updating is much to be welcomed?

My Lords, will the Minister accept on behalf of this one member of the Constitution Committee, which has repeatedly asked for the manual to be updated, that it is singularly satisfying to have this Answer on the day when the once and future chair of the Constitution Committee, my noble friend Lord Strathclyde, has just taken his seat on these Benches again? Does she agree that the manual contains very important parts of our conventional constitutional structure and its updating is much to be welcomed?

The noble Lord raises an important point, and I welcome all our colleagues back to their place. With regard to the Cabinet Manual, the reality is that it has not been updated since 2011. It considers us still to be a member of the European Union, and it reflects not just the Fixed-term Parliaments Act but a different set of relationships we had with the devolved assemblies. It needs updating to make sure that government and civil servants have the guidance before them.

The noble Lord raises an important point, and I welcome all our colleagues back to their place. With regard to the Cabinet Manual, the reality is that it has not been updated since 2011. It considers us still to be a member of the European Union, and it reflects not just the Fixed-term Parliaments Act but a different set of relationships we had with the devolved assemblies. It needs updating to make sure that government and civil servants have the guidance before them.