A Bill to make provision for ensuring the secrecy of ballots cast in polling stations at elections; and for connected purposes.

A Bill to make provision for ensuring the secrecy of ballots cast in polling stations at elections; and for connected purposes.

Moved by

Baroness Scott of Bybrook

1: Leave out Clause 1, and insert the following new Clause—

“Amendment of the Representation of the People Act 1983

In the Representation of the People Act 1983, before section 63 insert—

“62C Influencing voters at polling booths

(1) A person who—

(a) is with another person at a polling booth,...

Moved by

Baroness Scott of Bybrook

1: Leave out Clause 1, and insert the following new Clause—

“Amendment of the Representation of the People Act 1983

In the Representation of the People Act 1983, before section 63 insert—

“62C Influencing voters at polling booths

(1) A person who—

(a) is with another person at a polling booth,...

My Lords, in moving Amendment 1, I shall speak also to my Amendments 2, 3 and 4. I am pleased to say that the Government are supporting the Bill introduced by my noble friend Lord Hayward. In doing so, we have tabled Amendments 1 to 4 to address issues with...

My Lords, in moving Amendment 1, I shall speak also to my Amendments 2, 3 and 4. I am pleased to say that the Government are supporting the Bill introduced by my noble friend Lord Hayward. In doing so, we have tabled Amendments 1 to 4 to address issues with...

My Lords, much has changed since we debated this Bill at Second Reading on 15 July. I pause initially to draw attention to the time as indicated on the annunciator—14:00 hours—as one of the things that has happened since Second Reading is that Sir David Butler died only a few...

My Lords, much has changed since we debated this Bill at Second Reading on 15 July. I pause initially to draw attention to the time as indicated on the annunciator—14:00 hours—as one of the things that has happened since Second Reading is that Sir David Butler died only a few...

My Lords, I spoke from these Benches in support of the principles of this Bill last July, and I do so again. Once again, I pay tribute to the great tenacity of the noble Lord, Lord Hayward, in pursuing this serious and important matter.

Like him, I would like to pay...

My Lords, I spoke from these Benches in support of the principles of this Bill last July, and I do so again. Once again, I pay tribute to the great tenacity of the noble Lord, Lord Hayward, in pursuing this serious and important matter.

Like him, I would like to pay...

My Lords, like other noble Lords, I spoke in the debate in July. I very much support the Bill.

I want to make my own tribute to Sir David. I met him many times. He was a wonderful man and will be missed by all of us. He shaped elections and...

My Lords, like other noble Lords, I spoke in the debate in July. I very much support the Bill.

I want to make my own tribute to Sir David. I met him many times. He was a wonderful man and will be missed by all of us. He shaped elections and...

My Lords, I too thank the noble Lord, Lord Hayward, for introducing this stage of the Bill. I will be brief. At earlier stages,

we debated the fact that standards matter and that they are particularly important in ensuring confidence in our voting system. Our laws need to be crystal...

My Lords, I too thank the noble Lord, Lord Hayward, for introducing this stage of the Bill. I will be brief. At earlier stages,

we debated the fact that standards matter and that they are particularly important in ensuring confidence in our voting system. Our laws need to be crystal...

I thank all noble Lords for their contributions but mainly for their support for what I consider a small but very important Bill. The noble Lord, Lord Rennard, was absolutely right: clarification is important in these matters. My amendments clarify and that is important. It is also important to ensure...

I thank all noble Lords for their contributions but mainly for their support for what I consider a small but very important Bill. The noble Lord, Lord Rennard, was absolutely right: clarification is important in these matters. My amendments clarify and that is important. It is also important to ensure...

Moved by

Baroness Scott of Bybrook

2: After Clause 1, insert the following new Clause—

“Amendment of Northern Ireland legislation

(1) In the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 (c. 14 (N.I.))—

(a) in section 111, in subsection (2A), after paragraph (c) insert—

“(ca) in the case of an offence under paragraph 26A of Schedule 9,...

Moved by

Baroness Scott of Bybrook

2: After Clause 1, insert the following new Clause—

“Amendment of Northern Ireland legislation

(1) In the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 (c. 14 (N.I.))—

(a) in section 111, in subsection (2A), after paragraph (c) insert—

“(ca) in the case of an offence under paragraph 26A of Schedule 9,...

Moved by

Baroness Scott of Bybrook

3: Clause 2, page 1, line 15, leave out subsections (1) and (2) and insert—

“(1) Section (Amendment of the Representation of the People Act 1983), section (Amendment of Northern Ireland legislation)(2) and this section extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

(2) Section (Amendment of...

Moved by

Baroness Scott of Bybrook

3: Clause 2, page 1, line 15, leave out subsections (1) and (2) and insert—

“(1) Section (Amendment of the Representation of the People Act 1983), section (Amendment of Northern Ireland legislation)(2) and this section extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

(2) Section (Amendment of...

Moved by

Baroness Scott of Bybrook

4: In the title, line 2, leave out “to require the Secretary of State to publish related guidance;”

Member's explanatory statement

This amendment aligns the long title with the provision made by the Bill.

Moved by

Baroness Scott of Bybrook

4: In the title, line 2, leave out “to require the Secretary of State to publish related guidance;”

Member's explanatory statement

This amendment aligns the long title with the provision made by the Bill.

Lords committee stage. Clause 1, as amended, agreed to. New clause agreed to. Clause 2, as amended, agreed to. Title, as amended, agreed to. Bill reported with amendments. Bill, as amended, ordered to be printed (HL Bill 71).

Lords committee stage. Clause 1, as amended, agreed to. New clause agreed to. Clause 2, as amended, agreed to. Title, as amended, agreed to. Bill reported with amendments. Bill, as amended, ordered to be printed (HL Bill 71).

Lords second reading. Agreed to on question. Committed to a Committee of the Whole House.

Lords second reading. Agreed to on question. Committed to a Committee of the Whole House.

My Lords, on 18 July 1872, almost exactly 150 years ago to the day, what is now known as the Ballot Act received Royal Assent. On 15 August 1872, 150 years ago bar one month, a secret ballot was used for the first time in Pontefract in a by-election, which...

My Lords, on 18 July 1872, almost exactly 150 years ago to the day, what is now known as the Ballot Act received Royal Assent. On 15 August 1872, 150 years ago bar one month, a secret ballot was used for the first time in Pontefract in a by-election, which...

My Lords, I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Hayward, on securing his Private Member’s Bill and getting it so early in the ballot. I was not so successful but my Bill got out of the traps yesterday, so we are well away too. Many of us in this House have...

My Lords, I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Hayward, on securing his Private Member’s Bill and getting it so early in the ballot. I was not so successful but my Bill got out of the traps yesterday, so we are well away too. Many of us in this House have...

My Lords, the provisions in this Bill were debated during the passage of the Elections Act earlier this year, and the principles behind it have our strong support.

As the noble Lords, Lord Hayward and Lord Kennedy, both said, it was 150 years ago that the Ballot Act 1872 first required...

My Lords, the provisions in this Bill were debated during the passage of the Elections Act earlier this year, and the principles behind it have our strong support.

As the noble Lords, Lord Hayward and Lord Kennedy, both said, it was 150 years ago that the Ballot Act 1872 first required...

My Lords, I apologise to the House for speaking—briefly—in the gap, but there is more to this Private Member’s Bill than immediately

meets the eye. I speak in support of the essential need for the UK always to strive for gold standards, with clarity in guidance essential in these processes.

Also,...

My Lords, I apologise to the House for speaking—briefly—in the gap, but there is more to this Private Member’s Bill than immediately

meets the eye. I speak in support of the essential need for the UK always to strive for gold standards, with clarity in guidance essential in these processes.

Also,...

My Lords, I am also taking advantage of the gap to make a brief contribution. The Chartist demand for a secret ballot was one of the essential ingredients of today’s modern democracy and it is, as has been mentioned, 150 years since the Secret Ballot Act was passed, which is...

My Lords, I am also taking advantage of the gap to make a brief contribution. The Chartist demand for a secret ballot was one of the essential ingredients of today’s modern democracy and it is, as has been mentioned, 150 years since the Secret Ballot Act was passed, which is...

My Lords, I thank noble Lords for enabling me to say something in the gap. I welcome the clarity sought by the noble Lord, Lord Hayward, in seeking to make sure that the law applies fully and that people understand their obligations in the process of casting their ballot.

I will...

My Lords, I thank noble Lords for enabling me to say something in the gap. I welcome the clarity sought by the noble Lord, Lord Hayward, in seeking to make sure that the law applies fully and that people understand their obligations in the process of casting their ballot.

I will...