How soon after a prime minister calls an election can it take place?

Hello, I wonder if anyone can tell me, how soon an election in the UK can take place after it is called. So for example, if Gordaon Brown told us on Monday that there was to be a general election, could it take place on Thursday?!! I imagine that this is totally unrealistic, so wonder how many weeks there are between when it is announced and when it takes place. Many thanks

Public Comments

1. If he did announced a general election on Monday you looking at October time.
2. I believe the absolute minimum is three weeks and the maximum for the official campaign is six weeks. Having said that, I agree with the first poster that if there were an announcement now, the election would not be until Autumn. It would be extraordinary to do it that way but we do live in extraordinary times.
3. I understand it is 17 days after proclaimed dissolution, but that Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays are not counted. For example the current government must end by midnight Monday 10 May 2010 and polling day would be Thursday 3 June 2010. Or, dissolution 15 September 2009, polling day 8 October 2009. It's highly unlikely that there will be a general election this side of the summer recess. For a more (long winded) explanation see the election timetables of the House of Commons Library at http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2009/rp09-044.pdf
4. The average time between the dissolution of parliament and the actual poling day is normally four weeks. This gives time for the ballot papers to be printed, postal votes to be sent out and returned etc. A minimum of 3 weeks is possible the longest I can remember is six weeks (election in 1997) The earliest one is now likely to be called is October as it is too close to the Summer recess to have one now. I am, however, thinking it is more likely to be mid-May next year.