General Election Bulletin – 30 May 2024
Date published: 30 May 2024
Please read the full General Election guidance on our website.
Need to know
If you stand down or lose your seat you will have a four-month winding-up period after the election, from 5 July to 4 November.
Check out the winding-up checklist for a summary of the actions you must complete during the four months.
You should give timely notice to your staff. Please note that IPSA will not fund pay-in-lieu-of-notice (PILON) for staff where the notice period falls outside of the winding-up period.
We have introduced several measures to assist you if you are affected by constituency boundary changes. For more information, visit Boundary changes.
The winding-up period
We recognise that if you have decided to stand down – or if you are unsuccessful at the election – this will be a difficult moment for you and your staff.
You will have a four-month winding-up period after the election – from 5 July to 4 November – to conclude your parliamentary affairs, with IPSA’s support.
On our website you can find a winding-up checklist that gives a summary of the actions you must take during the four months.
Staff redundancies
One of the most important things you must do during the winding-up process is to give timely notice to your staff when making their roles redundant. This should happen as soon as possible after the election.
IPSA and the Members’ HR team will support you through this process, but it is your responsibility as the employer to consult and give notice to your staff.
Please note – IPSA will not fund pay-in-lieu-of-notice (PILON) for staff where the notice period falls outside of the winding-up period.
The new four-month winding up period enables you to give your staff notice of redundancy at a point that allows them to work their notice period if required without your personal liability for PILON costs.
We will only pay PILON costs where staff notice periods fall within the winding up period.
Redundancy calculations
For MPs’ staff who have two years of continuous service with the same employer, if their employer stands down or loses their seat at the next election, they will receive a redundancy payment based on the number of whole years of continuous service (with the same MP) and other factors.
You can share a link to HMRC’s Calculate your redundancy pay tool with your staff.
Boundary changes
We have introduced several measures to assist you if you are affected by constituency boundary changes.
For more information, visit Boundary changes.
If you are returned in a different seat, or re-elected in a constituency affected by boundary changes, this may impact your staff. You can continue to employ the same staff – in which case they will keep continuous service. However, in some cases, boundary changes may result in significant changes to staff roles – for example, where their working location changes.
You should seek advice from the Member's HR Advice team to ensure you follow the correct procedures.
We will support you throughout the General Election period, with advice on issues ranging from dissolution and pay, to staffing and notice periods, and any matters relating to winding-up should you find yourself in that situation.