Our democratic systems and institutions are strong and are rightly admired around the world. This Government will build on this, further strengthening our democracy and encouraging full participation from eligible voters.

It was a challenge to deliver separate local and general elections in 2024, following complex reforms to electoral law and...

Our democratic systems and institutions are strong and are rightly admired around the world. This Government will build on this, further strengthening our democracy and encouraging full participation from eligible voters.

It was a challenge to deliver separate local and general elections in 2024, following complex reforms to electoral law and...

My Honourable Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Homelessness and Democracy (Rushanara Ali MP) has today made the following statement:

Our democratic systems and institutions are strong and are rightly admired around the world. This Government will build on this, further strengthening our democracy and encouraging full participation from eligible...

My Honourable Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Homelessness and Democracy (Rushanara Ali MP) has today made the following statement:

Our democratic systems and institutions are strong and are rightly admired around the world. This Government will build on this, further strengthening our democracy and encouraging full participation from eligible...

I thank the Minister for her response and the noble Lord, Lord Rennard, for his comments. The point he raises is perfectly fair. It is a slightly complex issue. The Electoral Commission should certainly, I hope, be able to produce an answer to it. Indeed, I may even be able to produce one myself...

I thank the Minister for her response and the noble Lord, Lord Rennard, for his comments. The point he raises is perfectly fair. It is a slightly complex issue. The Electoral Commission should certainly, I hope, be able to produce an answer to it. Indeed, I may even be able to produce one myself...

Before the Minister sits down, will the amendments to be introduced by the Government deal not only with loans, but also with the question of guarantees and other forms of security, which seem to me to be essential?

Before the Minister sits down, will the amendments to be introduced by the Government deal not only with loans, but also with the question of guarantees and other forms of security, which seem to me to be essential?

I rise to speak to my two amendments—Amendments Nos. 120 and 121—which I think complement nicely the amendment moved by my noble friend. I disagree with him in just one respect—I do not think that this matter is small fry. This set of amendments is important in terms of what the Bill seeks to achieve. The Bill...

I rise to speak to my two amendments—Amendments Nos. 120 and 121—which I think complement nicely the amendment moved by my noble friend. I disagree with him in just one respect—I do not think that this matter is small fry. This set of amendments is important in terms of what the Bill seeks to achieve. The Bill...

Not much. I speak as something of a walking expert on the topic, having listened to debates in the House and chaired a body where another body had to have regard to our recommendation. It was a council, which promptly read it and completely ignored everything we said and did something...

Not much. I speak as something of a walking expert on the topic, having listened to debates in the House and chaired a body where another body had to have regard to our recommendation. It was a council, which promptly read it and completely ignored everything we said and did something...

My approach to Committee on every Bill is that I will look at everything that we discuss again, except where I believe I have completely satisfied a probing amendment with an explanation. I hope the noble Lord will accept that that is exactly what I shall do with this piece of legislation as well. If noble...

My approach to Committee on every Bill is that I will look at everything that we discuss again, except where I believe I have completely satisfied a probing amendment with an explanation. I hope the noble Lord will accept that that is exactly what I shall do with this piece of legislation as well. If noble...

I wonder whether my noble friend might take the issue back to departmental officials to see whether the Government could come forward with something that slightly strengthens this. We have concerns and, with all due respect to my noble friend, I still feel that it needs strengthening.

I wonder whether my noble friend might take the issue back to departmental officials to see whether the Government could come forward with something that slightly strengthens this. We have concerns and, with all due respect to my noble friend, I still feel that it needs strengthening.

I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Hanningfield, because clearly I am losing the ability to speak properly. Within the department’s budget, as an addition to everything else we described in our earlier discussions about funding—£21.5 million in this Bill—there is a small fund that will enable us to give us about £3,000 to...

I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Hanningfield, because clearly I am losing the ability to speak properly. Within the department’s budget, as an addition to everything else we described in our earlier discussions about funding—£21.5 million in this Bill—there is a small fund that will enable us to give us about £3,000 to...

I might declare an interest here. Generally, elections are mostly paid for by the people in the area. Essex County Council paid £1 million for elections last year. I am pleased to hear about the £3,000. Presumably that is for each local authority. In Essex that would be an encouragement to vote. It...

I might declare an interest here. Generally, elections are mostly paid for by the people in the area. Essex County Council paid £1 million for elections last year. I am pleased to hear about the £3,000. Presumably that is for each local authority. In Essex that would be an encouragement to vote. It...

I presume the £3,000 is in addition to other monies.

I presume the £3,000 is in addition to other monies.

moved Amendment No. 119B:"After Clause 55, insert the following new clause—" ““DEFINITION OF DONATIONS (1)   Section 50(2) of the 2000 Act is amended as follows. (2)   In paragraph (e) after ““than”” insert ““by a bank as part of its business and””. (3)   After paragraph (f) insert— ““(g)   the giving of a guarantee of debt of a registered party.”””” The...

moved Amendment No. 119B:"After Clause 55, insert the following new clause—" ““DEFINITION OF DONATIONS (1)   Section 50(2) of the 2000 Act is amended as follows. (2)   In paragraph (e) after ““than”” insert ““by a bank as part of its business and””. (3)   After paragraph (f) insert— ““(g)   the giving of a guarantee of debt of a registered party.”””” The...

In subsection (2)(c) there are the words ““is obscene or offensive””. Does my noble friend know where the word ““offensive”” came from? Is it in previous legislation? If it is not, and if it is new and has to be introduced now, does that not suggest that subjective judgments, perhaps...

In subsection (2)(c) there are the words ““is obscene or offensive””. Does my noble friend know where the word ““offensive”” came from? Is it in previous legislation? If it is not, and if it is new and has to be introduced now, does that not suggest that subjective judgments, perhaps...

I am grateful to my noble friend for speaking long enough to ensure that I have the answer to the question. It is in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. If my noble friend looks at Section 28 on registration he will see that much the same language is used to translate across...

I am grateful to my noble friend for speaking long enough to ensure that I have the answer to the question. It is in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. If my noble friend looks at Section 28 on registration he will see that much the same language is used to translate across...

Are there various budgets being allocated to local authorities to cover this area?

Are there various budgets being allocated to local authorities to cover this area?

My noble friend just referred to £3,000. I did not quite grasp in what context she was making that reference.

My noble friend just referred to £3,000. I did not quite grasp in what context she was making that reference.

As indicated at Second Reading, I agree with the principle of the amendment. I agree openly, and have done for some time, with the principle of limited state funding. The amendment illustrates that, in the policy of development grants, we do have a system which provides for state funding. All the major...

As indicated at Second Reading, I agree with the principle of the amendment. I agree openly, and have done for some time, with the principle of limited state funding. The amendment illustrates that, in the policy of development grants, we do have a system which provides for state funding. All the major...