By IRNA,
London : Britain’s parliament session has been adjourned until after next month’s general election with a final flurry of around 20 bills passed in a 48-hour marathon session.
Although ministers temporarily retain their government post, all MPs seeking re-election become parliamentary candidates among others contesting seats.
The final session of parliament has been described as one of the most scandalised in British history and included revelations about the extent of expenses claimed by MPs from all parties.
A formal ceremony proroguing parliament was witnessed by an unusually high number of MPs, including many of the record 146 members retiring, on Thursday, although parliament will not be officially dissolved by the monarch until Monday.
Candidates wishing to stand in Britain’s 650 constituencies have until April 20 to seek nomination. It is also the last date when former MPs can declare their intentions to withdraw.
The next three Thursdays have been set aside for a series of television debates among the leaders of the country’s three main parties, Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats – the first-ever to be held in the UK, before the election on May 6.
Successful candidates begin their swearing-in process to take up their responsibilities as members of parliament on May 18 followed by the Queen’s speech to launch the new parliament planned for May 26.
By this time, the leader of the largest party will have been asked by the monarch to form a government and take up the post as prime minister.
If as opinion polls tend to suggest the opposition Conservative win their first election victory since 1994, the process will first require Labour leader Gordon Brown to resign as prime minister.