UK General Election June 2001

General Election June 2001

GENERAL ELECTION – JUNE 2001

The Prime Minister has today asked Her Majesty The Queen to proclaim the Dissolution of Parliament. Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to signify that She will comply with this request.

Parliament will be dissolved on Monday 14 May. The General Election will take place on Thursday 7 June. The new Parliament will be summoned to meet on Wednesday 13 June, when the first business will be the election of the Speaker and the swearing-in of members. The State Opening will be on Wednesday 20 June.

8 May 2001

- From Press Briefing...

LOBBY BRIEFING: 11AM TUESDAY 8 MAY 2001

PM'S DAY/ELECTION

The Prime Minister's Spokesman (PMS) advised journalists that the Prime Minister would have an Audience with the Queen at 1pm today. The meeting had been brought forward from this evening. He was due to return to Downing Street at around 1.30pm. He had an engagement in London which he would depart for at about 2.30pm. We would give more details about the event in due course. Later this afternoon, he was due to have a meeting with Bob Kiley. Questioned as to whether there might be an event in the Street this afternoon, the PMS said he did not anticipate the Prime Minister saying anything in the Street today. Asked if the Prime Minister would be asking the Queen to dissolve Parliament, the PMS said he was unable to say anything further at this stage.

Asked to describe the Prime Minister's mood today, the PMS said he was very focussed. Asked on what, the PMS said on a whole variety of different issues.

Asked when Special Advisers, including the Chief Press Secretary, would have to resign, the PMS pointed out that an Election had not yet been called. That said, under the terms of the contracts, Special Advisers had to resign if they were publicly identified as a candidate or prospective candidate for Parliament, if they were taking part in the General Election campaign, or helping in the Party HQ or Research Unit during such a campaign. The arrangements were no different to the previous election.

ENDS

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