thumb|350px|Major Peter Oweh, Common Cryer and Serjeant-at-Arms of the City of London, reading the dissolution proclamation at the [[Royal Exchange, London, on 31 May 2024]]
The dissolution of the Parliament of the United Kingdom occurs automatically five years after the day on which Parliament first met following a general election, or on an earlier date by royal proclamation issued by the King-in-Council upon the advice of the prime minister. The monarch's prerogative power to prematurely dissolve Parliament in this way was revived by the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022, which also repealed arrangement for five year fixed terms that had been put in place just in 2011. This Act also amended Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983, such that the dissolution of Parliament automatically triggers a general election; such elections take place 25 working days after each dissolution.
The last dissolution of Parliament occurred on 30 May 2024, following the prime minister's announcement that a general election was to be held on 4 July 2024.
Mechanism
Parliament is usually prorogued or adjourned before it is dissolved. Parliament may continue to sit for a wash-up period of a few days after the Prime Minister has announced the date when Parliament will be dissolved, to finish some last items of parliamentary business. Business left unresolved after this period will lapse and legislation still in-progress will not become law (unless it is taken up again by the next parliament).
As soon as Parliament is dissolved, members of Parliament cease to hold office: they may no longer enter the Palace of Westminster, although they and their staff continue to be paid until polling day. Ministers retain their positions as members of the executive government (but not as MPs) until the return of the results of the election and formation of a new government, but during the run up to the election government activity is limited. This caretaker period is designed to maintain the policy status quo, preclude the spending of public funds in a way that would advantage the incumbent government's re-election campaign, and yet allow for the continuation of essential government functions. Similar reading also takes place on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh by the Lord Lyon King of Arms. This tradition was again carried out in May 2024, using the following text.