Would longer election cycles allow UK governments to focus more on long-term decisions?
UK parliamentary terms have a five-year maximum under law, with the current parliament elected in July 2024 due to run until 2029 unless called earlier. Fixed-term proposals have historically aimed to reduce short-termism by removing prime ministerial discretion over election timing, though evidence is mixed on whether longer cycles improve policy outcomes. Some commentators argue cycles of ten years or more would better support infrastructure, science and housing investment that takes decades to deliver results.
5 Opinions
It would allow policies and changes time, to see how they go. At present, a change takes place, and it's not given time to start improvements, before we get a general election, then it's all change, again. I can see how a long term would encourage complacency, and give us a worn out PM. This is where all parties need to stop the squabbling and try working together, what a good thing that would be, working for the public and not the party.
Our currrent governmental system seems broken, resulting in ineffective governments that fail to deliver manifesto pledges. 5 years is long enough between chances to change government, we definitely do not want to extend this.
Hell no! What Sir Edward Leigh Conservative Gainsborough, Jeremy Corbyn Your Party Islington North and Sir Roger Gale Conservative Herne Bay and Sandwich have in common? They all serve us as MPs since 1983. 43 years. Many other is there for a few terms but no signs of remotely long-term decisions could be seen. I blame party system, we should vote for people not parties, lack of separation legislature from executive, and finally unwritten constitution that Blair spoiled.
A better solution would be to sandbox certain topics, such as the NHS, Social Care, and Education, as Designated Non-Partisan Services (DNPS). Professionals run all of them and consult with the Government w.r.t. the legislative framework and financing.
If our government were working in the interests of the people and the country they should be able to follow through with consistent policies. However, they’re not, they’re interested in power and legacy not slow consistent progress!