We call on the UK Government to introduce legislation that would trigger an immediate general election if a governing party breaks a commitment set out in its election manifesto.

Election manifestos are critical to the democratic process, providing the basis on which voters make informed choices. Once elected, a government’s manifesto is the contract between the electorate and those in power. If a government breaks the promises on which it was elected, this undermines democratic accountability. To restore public trust in politics, the electorate should have the right to re-evaluate a government’s mandate through a general election if manifesto commitments are broken.