UK
Election Trivia: Fascinating Facts That You May Not Know The UK election is a time of significant political activity, as political parties battle each other to gain control of the country. However, beyond the headlines and the campaign rhetoric, there is so much about UK elections that is fascinating and quirky. Here are some of the cold, hard facts that you may not have known about UK elections.
1. UK Elections are Rare In the UK, general elections are held approximately every five years. However, there have been instances where the government has called for early elections due to political instability or significant events like Brexit. Incredibly, between 1935 and 1979, there were only three general elections held.
2. The Number of MPs is Constantly Changing The UK Parliament has a fixed number of seats – 650. However, over the years, the number of MPs from each region or constituency has changed due to population growth or decline. The last boundary review took place in 2018, and it is predicted that the next review will occur in 202
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3. There Was Once an MP Who Was Elected Despite Being Dead In the 2017 UK general election, an MP was elected despite being dead. Gerry Adams of the Sinn Fein party won the Belfast West seat, although he did not attend Parliament as Sinn Fein MPs refuse to take their seats.
4. The Queen Can Sack the Prime Minister Technically, the UK Prime Minister serves under the Queen, and she has the power to dismiss him or her if she chooses. However, this hasn't happened since 1834, and it is doubtful if it ever will.
5. Elections are Held on Thursdays UK general elections are always held on a Thursday. The reason for this is not clear, but it is believed to be linked to markets being open on a Friday, giving people the weekend to digest the election results and adjust their finances as needed.
6. A Candidate Can Change Their Name on the Ballot Paper In the UK, candidates for Parliament can change their names on the ballot paper as long as they have used that name for at least a year. Famous examples of this include Boris Johnson, who once stood for election as "Boris the Buffoon," and the late Screaming Lord Sutch, who changed his name to "The Monster Raving Loony" for several elections.
7. The Defeated Candidate has to Pay a Deposit In the UK, every candidate who stands in a general election has to pay a £500 deposit. If they fail to win more than 5% of the votes cast, they lose their deposit. The deposit rule was introduced in 1918 as a way of preventing frivolous candidates from standing.
8. The Candidate with the Fewest Votes Can Become an MP In a first-past-the-post (FPTP) system, which the UK uses, it is possible for a candidate to win an election without gaining the most votes. If several candidates stand, and the vote is split, the candidate with the fewest votes can still become an MP if the other candidates win by a small margin.
9. The Age of the Voting Population is Continuously Changing In the UK, as in most countries, the age of the voting population is changing. In 1918, the voting age was 21, and only men could vote. In 1928, women over 21 got the vote, and the age was reduced to 18 in 196
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10 There Were No Women in the UK Parliament Until 1918 Although women can now vote and stand for election in the UK, there were no female MPs until 191
8. The first female MP was Constance Markievicz, who refused to take her seat as she was a member of Sinn Fein. In conclusion, the UK election is not only about politics, but there is an interesting and quirky side to this event, from the dead election winner to the power of the Queen. Understanding these fascinating facts can provide us with a unique insight into the world of UK elections.