Some Important Election Dates

The UK General Election has been called and I highlight some important dates and details below.? This applies to all individuals as well as payroll and reward professionals:

On 22 May 2024, a rain-soaked Prime Minister made the announcement that the UK General Election will be held on 04 July 2024.

This was the two-day period (23 and 24 May 2024) before the UK Parliament was dissolved when Ministers and Members of Parliament (MPs) decided which Primary legislation will make it through the Parliamentary session and, therefore, which Bills will fall away.?

For payroll and reward professionals, there were two Bills to look for, both now Acts of Parliament:?

1. The UK Government Finance (No.2 Act) 2024 , i.e. the second Finance Act of 2024.? This one was never going to fall away given that it gave the UK Government the authority to deduct Income Tax in tax year 2024/25. ?I don’t even like to think of the situation if this annual requirement for authority to deduct Income Tax had not made it through
2. The Private Members Paternity Leave (Bereavement) Act 2024 .? In the instances that the mother or Primary Adopter dies, this Act makes provision for the leave entitlement to pass to the father / partner / Secondary Adopter, regardless of whether they meet the qualifying service criteria.? Note that this may be an Act of the UK Parliament and may amend the Great British Employment Rights Act 1996, however, there is no commencement date at the moment ?for paternity leave to be available in the instance that the mother or Primary Adopter of the child dies

On Friday 24 May 2024, the UK Parliament was prorogued.? Simply, this means that the session was ended or interrupted.? Nothing happens after prorogation.?

There is not a lot that would have happened anyway in the period between 24 May and 02 June 2024 as there was already a scheduled Whitsun Recess.?

On 30 May 2024, the UK Parliament was dissolved.? Dissolution means that all seats in the House of Commons become vacant and MPs and peers (in the House of Lords) are ‘discharged’ of their duties.?

The UK does not currently have any MPs and all are referred to as candidates.? Ministers retain their positions but they cannot use them to support the election campaign by the governing Party.

You must be 18 or older on or before 04 July 2024 to be able to vote at a General Election.? Note that this age applies for the General Election but there are other elections in the UK and the age of 16 applies in some (for residents in Scotland or Wales).? See the guidance ‘Types of election, referendums, and who can vote’ .?

You must register to vote by 11:59 on 18 June 2024.??

In Great Britain, applications to vote by post must be made by 5pm 11 days before the General Election (i.e. by 19 June 2024).? There are different ways of applying to vote:?

• Apply for a postal vote online in England, Scotland or Wales
• Apply for a postal vote by post in England, Scotland or Wales

In Northern Ireland, the deadline for applying to vote by post (or proxy) is 5pm on 14 June 2024 via the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland’s website.

Some dates for your diary:

On 04 July 2024, don’t forget your photo ID in Great Britain, slightly different in Northern Ireland .

The first time that the new UK Parliament will meet is Tuesday 09 July 2024. ?At this time, elected MPs will be sworn in and they will elect a Speaker.

The next big diary date is Wednesday 17 July 2024 when there will be the State Opening of Parliament by the King.? At this time the Party that forms the UK Government will present the Bills for the first Parliamentary session which will outline its priorities in their first year.?

This is a date for your diaries, and..

If the spending plans of the new administration are different from the outgoing one, i.e. if there is a ?change of Party ‘colour’ at Westminster, possibly another diary date will be an Emergency Budget.?

Just the kind of thing to look forward to over the summer months!