Recall Of Mps

The public will be given the right to recall their local MP if they are found to have engaged in serious wrongdoing under proposals announced in "Recall of MPs Draft Bill " ( ISBN 9780101824125, Cm.8241) published today. The proposals fulfil a commitment made in the Programme for Government as part of the political reform agenda. In the draft Bill, the Government is proposing to introduce a power of recall, allowing voters to force a by-election having had a petition signed by 10% of his or her constituents. At the last general election the manifestos of all three of the main parties included a commitment to establish a recall mechanism. The draft Bill is being published for pre-legislative scrutiny and sets out two triggers for a recall petition: firstly where an MP is convicted in the UK of an offence and receives a custodial sentence of 12 months or less, and secondly where the House of Commons resolves, through a vote by MPs, that a recall petition should be opened. The first trigger will close a gap in the existing legislation whereby MPs are only disqualified if they receive a custodial sentence of more than 12 months. The second trigger is an additional disciplinary power for the House of Commons, which for the first time allows constituents to have their say in deciding whether their MP should stay in office. The petition will be administered by the local returning officer and will be open for a period of 8 weeks. If 10% of eligible constituents sign the petition, the MP's seat will be vacated and a by-election will be held.

Enabling power: Recall of MPs Act 2015, ss. 8 (1) (2), 9 (5), 18 (1). Issued: 10.11.2015. Made: -. Laid: -. Coming into force: In accord. with reg. 1. Effect: 2015 c.25 modified & amended. Territorial extent & classification: E/W/S/NI. For approval by resolution of each House of Parliament

The Government published a draft Bill on the Recall of MPs, with the aim of restoring faith in the political process after the expenses scandal. But the restricted form of recall proposed could reduce public confidence in politics by creating expectations that are not fulfilled. Under the Government's proposals, constituents themselves would not be able to initiate a recall petition. Furthermore, the circumstances that the Government proposes would trigger a recall petition are so narrow that recall petitions would seldom, if ever, take place. The Committee believes that the new House of Commons Committee on Standards, which will include lay members, already has the sanctions it needs to deal with MPs who are guilty of misconduct, including recommending the ultimate sanction of expulsion from the House of Commons in cases of serious wrongdoing. The Committee argues that the option of expulsion must be actively considered and that the House must be prepared to act. The Committee recommends: that the Government replace the requirement for a single designated location for signing the recall petition with a requirement for multiple locations; that people with an existing postal vote should automatically be sent a postal signature sheet in the event of a recall petition; that constituents in Northern Ireland should have the same options for signing a recall petition as constituents elsewhere in the UK, rather than being restricted to signing by post

Enabling power: Recall of MPs Act 2015, ss. 8 (1) (2), 9 (5), 18 (1), sch. 5, para. 9 (1) (c) (ii) & Welsh Language Act 1993, s. 26 (2). Issued: 10.03.2016. Made: 03.03.2016. Laid: -. Coming into force: In accord. with reg. 1. Effect: 1993 c.2; S.I. 1960/543 amended. Territorial extent & classification: E/W/S/NI. General. Supersedes S.I. draft (ISBN 9780111141991) issued 18/12/15

A Bill to make provision about the recall of members of the House of Commons. Brought from the Commons on 25th November 2014. Explanatory notes to assist in the understanding of the Bill are available separately (HL Bill 62-EN, ISBN 9780108556418)

Recommends amendments to the Health and Social Care Bill to ensure that private (or voluntary) sector care homes which accommodate publicly-funded residents are brought within the scope of the Human Rights Act. House of Commons papers 303 2007-08.

Cornerstone's Electoral Legislation covers the five principal kinds of UK elections: Parliamentary; European; Local Government; Parish; and Referendums. The legislation governing the conduct of elections is necessarily technical and highly prescriptive with electoral officers expected to absolutely adhere to the rules. As legislation is amended every year this title enables electoral officers ready access to up-to-date legislation. This is a new title in the 'Cornerstone' series which is published with the highly respected chambers.