Political Parties and Elections Bill — to throw out — rejected — 20 Oct 2008 at 21:43

The majority of MPs voted against throwing out the Political Parties and Elections Bill by rejecting the motion:^[1]

• This House declines to give a Second Reading to the Political Parties and Elections Bill, because it
• imposes arbitrary and partisan new local spending rules at the end of a Parliament, which are designed to give an unfair advantage to Labour hon. Members in marginal seats in the forthcoming general election,
• proposes the commencement of vague trigger rules at Royal Assent, before Electoral Commission guidance has been produced, in contravention of the Government Code of Practice on Guidance on Regulation,
• contains new powers of entry into people's homes which risk undermining public confidence in giving to political parties,
• imposes disproportionate additional costs on local constituency associations and voluntary political parties, fails to tackle growing concern over electoral fraud, and
• lacks a comprehensive package of proposals to restore trust in politics, which would include the introduction of individual voter registration and an across-the-board cap on donations covering individuals, business and the trade unions.

Following the rejection of this proposed motion, the MPs then voted again to give the Bill its Second Reading.^[2]

• [1] Francis Maude MP, House of Commons, 20 October 2008
• [2] Division 276, House of Commons, 20 October 2008

Debate in Parliament | Source |