Cameron defends change over election vote rules

David Cameron has said his government's plans for fixed term parliaments are a "huge" and "good" change - amid concern some changes amount to a "stitch up".

He said he was the first British PM to give up power over when an election was called and that should be "welcome".

But Labour and some of his own MPs have attacked plans to allow 55% of MPs to vote for Parliament to be dissolved.

Tory Christopher Chope said it may be a "recipe for anarchy", as 51% of MPs could back a no-confidence vote.

The Lib Dem-Tory coalition deal builds on the Lib Dem manifesto commitment to fixed-term parliaments. It commits the government to a five-year term - rather than, as currently, allowing the prime minister to choose when to call an election within a five-year period.

Constitutional concerns

But concerns have been raised about a clause in the document which says the legislation "will also provide for dissolution if 55% or more of the House votes in favour". The current threshold for a no-confidence vote, of 50% plus one MP, will remain unchanged.

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