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If a sudden national crisis (e.g. a major terrorist attack) were to occur, it would normally be appropriate for Parliament to be immediately recalled to debate the matter. But what would happen if such a crisis occurred just after Parliament had been dissolved in preparation for a general election?
Could the dissolution be revoked? Or could an 'unofficial' parliament be summoned, identical in membership to the official one just ended? Or could the crisis not be democratically debated at all until after the election, due to be held in some 3 weeks' time?
When the Second World War broke out, Parliament was recalled immediately for an emergency session (exceptionally on a Sunday, I believe). But after a dissolution, there is constitutionally no parliament and no MPs - no existing body that can be reconvened. This may sound like a pedantic legal point, but it would have to be resolved somehow.
Could the dissolution be revoked? Or could an 'unofficial' parliament be summoned, identical in membership to the official one just ended? Or could the crisis not be democratically debated at all until after the election, due to be held in some 3 weeks' time?
When the Second World War broke out, Parliament was recalled immediately for an emergency session (exceptionally on a Sunday, I believe). But after a dissolution, there is constitutionally no parliament and no MPs - no existing body that can be reconvened. This may sound like a pedantic legal point, but it would have to be resolved somehow.