When is the next UK general election?
The short answer: by August 2029 at the latest — Parliament dissolves automatically on 9 July 2029, five years after it first met, with polling day up to 25 working days later. The Prime Minister can call one earlier at any time.
The rules, in plain English
The Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022 restored the old system: there is no fixed election date. Two things bound the timing:
- The five-year limit. A Parliament automatically dissolves five years after it first met. This Parliament first met on 9 July 2024, so it dissolves no later than 9 July 2029.
- The 25-working-day campaign. Polling day must be within 25 working days of dissolution — which is how you get to roughly 15 August 2029 as the last possible date.
In practice, prime ministers avoid August elections (holidays, low turnout) — so if this Parliament runs long, a May or June 2029 election alongside the local elections is the widely expected scenario. Going earlier is entirely in the Prime Minister's gift.
What history suggests
Since 1945, only a handful of parliaments have run essentially full term (1959–64, 1992–97, 2010–15, 2019–24). Governments with big majorities usually choose year four — when they can pick their moment — rather than being forced to the wire in year five. That points at spring 2028 to spring 2029 as the realistic window, with 2029 the base case.
What's at stake
Whenever it comes, the choice will be between very different programmes. We've analysed 32 concrete proposals from the five main parties — from Reform's £20,000 tax-free allowance to the Greens' wealth tax and the Conservatives' stamp-duty abolition — each with the case for and against, and a calculator showing what it would mean for you.
- Which party should I vote for? Take the 2-minute quiz →
- Compare the parties issue by issue →
- See what each party's plans would do to your money →
Key dates
- 4 July 2024 — last general election (Labour majority of 174).
- 9 July 2024 — this Parliament first met.
- 9 July 2029 — automatic dissolution if no earlier election is called.
- ~15 August 2029 — latest possible polling day.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next UK general election?
The next UK general election must be held by August 2029 at the latest. Under the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022, Parliament automatically dissolves five years after it first met — 9 July 2029 — and polling day follows within 25 working days, making roughly 15 August 2029 the last possible date. The Prime Minister can call an election earlier at any time.
Can the Prime Minister call an election early?
Yes. Since the Fixed-term Parliaments Act was repealed in 2022, the Prime Minister can ask the King to dissolve Parliament at any moment, triggering an election about five to six weeks later. Most post-war parliaments have not run their full five years.
Who can vote at the next general election?
British, Irish and qualifying Commonwealth citizens aged 18 or over on polling day who are registered to vote. The government has set out plans to lower the voting age to 16 across the UK before the next general election — if legislated, around 1.5 million 16- and 17-year-olds would join the electorate.
What happened at the last general election?
On 4 July 2024, Labour under Keir Starmer won 411 seats and a 174-seat majority on 33.7% of the vote. The Conservatives fell to 121 seats, the Liberal Democrats won 72, the SNP 9, Reform UK 5 and the Greens 4.
Could the election happen before 2029?
It could. A government losing a confidence vote, a leadership change seeking a mandate, or favourable polling could all trigger an earlier vote. But governments with working majorities rarely go early without a reason — most expectations centre on 2028–2029.