Purdah meaning

Nearly a dozen regulatory measures for the industry have been paused as the civil service enters the pre-election purdah period. Although the two main parties appear broadly aligned on many pensions policy questions, differences persist, and voices across the sector are urging concrete manifesto commitments. “A key uncertainty concerns the destiny of the recently overhauled pensions tax regime, alongside several other unresolved ideas, including the Chancellor’s Mansion House package,” noted Helen Ball, a partner at law firm Sacker & Partners LLP. “At present, it is far from certain how many will make it through the formation of a new government.” Mansion House Over the past year the pensions landscape has shifted markedly and visibly, driven by a strong political impetus, most notably, for retirement savings vehicles to channel more capital into growth assets such as start-ups and infrastructure schemes and projects. In June 2024, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced a suite of measures he said would “unlock” investment from pension funds into so-called productive finance, intended to spur economic...

What has happened? The Prime Minister (PM) has confirmed that the next UK general election will take place on 4 July 2024. This is the first such announcement since DCPA 2022 reinstated the Sovereign’s prerogative to dissolve Parliament on the PM’s advice. What follows is guided mainly by parliamentary convention rather than statute. The headline timetable is: 22 May — PM asked the King to dissolve Parliament 22 May — King Charles agreed; the election was announced to the country 23 May — ‘Wash-up’ period starts 24 May — Parliament prorogued 25 May — Pre-election period of sensitivity begins (formerly ‘purdah’) 30 May — Parliament dissolved 30 May — Pre-election period begins 4 July — General Election What does ‘wash-up’ mean? ‘Wash-up’ is the stretch between calling a general election and prorogation of Parliament. It typically covers the final days of a Parliament, when any remaining business must be approved by both Houses or it...

In this issue: Key developments and materials Legislation: some statutory instruments approved prior to prorogation of Parliament Types of pension schemes Daily and weekly news alerts Dates for your diary Trackers Key developments and materials Snap 4 July election leaves pension reform in disarray The UK government’s move on 22 May 2024 to call a snap general election for 4 July has, according to experts, placed the pensions landscape in limbo, casting doubt on whether the next government will pursue the ambitious reform programme. Around a dozen regulatory initiatives are paused as the civil service enters pre-election purdah. While the two main parties appear to agree on many pensions policy themes, notable differences remain, and industry voices are growing louder for clear manifesto commitments. ‘One of the big questions surrounds the fate of the recently reformed pensions tax system, as well as many other outstanding proposals, including the Chancellor’s Mansion House reforms’ said Helen Ball, a partner...

This Practice Note sets out the rules on dissolution, election and the summoning of Parliament in the UK. A Parliament endures for no more than five years before dissolution. Once Parliament is dissolved, a parliamentary general election follows, after which a new Parliament is summoned. Dissolution of Parliament By long-standing practice, the monarch exercises the prerogative to dissolve Parliament upon the Prime Minister’s request. There is no convention requiring the Prime Minister to consult others in advance. A Prime Minister seeking a general election asks the monarch to grant a dissolution so the election can proceed. By convention, the monarch typically agrees. For over a decade, from 2011 to 2022, the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 (FTPA 2011) placed the monarch’s dissolution prerogative in abeyance and installed a statutory scheme for calling early elections. The Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022 (DCPA 2022) repealed the FTPA 2011. Section 2 of DCPA 2022 restores the monarch’s dissolution power, making it exercisable once more as though the FTPA 2011...

ARCHIVED : This archived Practice Note sets out the pensions impact of the General Election 2024, including the pensions pledges and policy statements from the Labour Party, the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats in advance of the General Election on 4 July 2024. It is not maintained and is for background information only. Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, sought and secured the King’s permission to dissolve Parliament, announcing a General Election for 4 July 2024. Parliament was therefore prorogued on 24 May 2024, and dissolved on 30 May 2024. The parliamentary timetable unfolded as follows: 22 May – PM asked the King to exercise the prerogative to dissolve Parliament 22 May – King Charles agreed to the request and the General Election was announced to the country 23 May – ‘Wash-up’ period commenced 24 May – Parliament was prorogued 25 May – Pre-election period of sensitivity began (previously known as ‘purdah’) 30 May – Parliament was dissolved 30 May –...

This archived Practice Note summarises the employment law pledges and policy statements of the Labour Party, the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats ahead of the General Election on 4 July 2024. Employment-related commitments are arranged by topic in tables. For reference, links to other parties’ manifestos are also included—see: Other parties’ manifestos, below. Parliamentary process Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sought, and obtained, the King’s approval to dissolve Parliament and announced a general election for 4 July 2024. Parliament was prorogued on 24 May 2024 and dissolved on 30 May 2024. The timeline is: 22 May: PM asked the King to exercise the prerogative to dissolve Parliament 22 May: King Charles agreed and the general election was announced 23 May: ‘Wash-up’ period begins 24 May: Parliament is prorogued 25 May: Pre-election period of sensitivity begins (formerly ‘purdah’) 30 May: Parliament is dissolved 30 May: Pre-election period begins 4 July: General election For an explanation of...