Recall of MPs (Change of Party Affiliation) Bill — Expulsion from the House of Commons of MPs who Voluntarily Change Political Party — 2 Sep 2020 at 15:04

A majority of MPs voted for MPs who voluntarily change their political party affiliation to be subject to a recall petition, which if signed by 10% of eligible electors, would lead to their seats being declared vacant.

The motion supported by a majority of MPs in this vote was:

• That leave be given to bring in a Bill to enable the recall of Members of the House of Commons who voluntarily change their political party affiliation; and for connected purposes.

The full text of the Bill was not available at the time of the vote, and may not have existed.

While moving the motion MP Anthony Mangnall explained the intent of the Bill, saying: [2]:

"This Bill seeks to update the Recall of MPs Act 2015 with a fourth recall condition: any MP who voluntarily leaves the political party they represented upon their election to the House of Commons becomes subject to a recall petition. Such a petition would occur by Mr Speaker giving notice to a petitions officer, who would in turn give notice to the parliamentary electors in the relevant constituency, after which a petition would be open for eight weeks. If at the end of that period at least 10% of the eligible electors had signed that petition, the seat would be declared vacant and a by-election would be held."

• [1] Parliament's webpage on the Recall of MPs (Change of Party Affiliation) Bill, Parliament.uk
• [2] Anthony Mangnall MP, (Conservative, Totnes), House of Commons Official Record, 2 September 2020

Debate in Parliament |