Wash-up
Selected letter
W
The wash-up period refers to the last few days of a Parliament before dissolution. Any unfinished business is lost at dissolution and the Government may need the co-operation of the Opposition in passing legislation that is still in progress.
In the past some Bills have been lost completely, while others have progressed quickly but in a much-shortened form. The introduction of Fixed-term Parliaments, where General Election dates are more predictable, was expected to make this less likely.