Private Members’ Bill ballot to be drawn on Thursday 5 September
3 September 2024
Backbench Members of Parliament will have the chance to introduce new laws if they are successful in Thursday’s Private Members’ Bill ballot.
Private Members’ Bills are public bills introduced by MPs who are not government ministers. MPs wishing to participate in the ballot enter their name against a number in the ballot book.
At 9am on Thursday 5 September, 20 numbered ballot balls will be drawn by the most senior Deputy Speaker, the Chairman of Ways and Means, Rt Hon Nusrat Ghani, with the names of the successful MPs read out.
The draw takes place in reverse order, meaning the last MP to be called will get the coveted place at the top of the ballot. Those drawn highest in the ballot have the best chance of making progress with their bill.
It is up to the MP to decide on the bill’s topic and thirteen Fridays in each Parliamentary session are usually allocated to debating these bills.
The ballot, which takes place at the start of every parliamentary session, will be held in Committee Room 8 in the House of Commons and will be streamed live on parliament.tv.
Chairman of Ways and Means, Rt Hon Nusrat Ghani MP said:
“Private Members’ Bills have led to many changes to the law in recent years on varied campaigns that impact our lives such as preventing pet theft, providing unpaid leave for carers and recognising British Sign Language as an official language in England, Wales and Scotland.
“Bills to ensure workers keep their tips, supporting those with Down’s syndrome and increasing the minimum age for marriage and civil partnerships to 18 have also become law through this route.
“All MPs, other than Ministers, can enter the ballot. MPs who are successful in the ballot have a brilliant opportunity to bring forward new legislation and raise awareness of issues of importance to them and their constituents.
“I look forward to presiding over the draw and wish my colleagues the very best of luck and success in the ballot.”
Results of Ballot
Chairman of Ways and Means, Rt Hon Nusrat Ghani MP, drew 20 numbered ballot balls and read out the names of the successful MPs.
The MP drawn at the top of the ballot has the first choice of a Private Members' Bill Friday to debate their Bill.
The 20 MPs successful in this year’s ballot were:
- Kim Leadbeater, Labour (Spen Valley)
- Max Wilkinson, Liberal Democrats (Cheltenham)
- Dr Roz Savage, Liberal Democrats (South Cotswolds)
- Clive Lewis, Labour (Norwich South)
- Josh MacAlister, Labour (Whitehaven and Workington)
- Dr Scott Arthur, Labour (Edinburgh South West)
- Jim Allister, Traditional Unionist Voice (North Antrim)
- Peter Lamb, Labour (Crawley)
- Alex McIntyre, Labour (Gloucester)
- Andrew Ranger, Labour (Wrexham)
- Jake Richards, Labour (Rother Valley)
- Tracy Gilbert, Labour (Edinburgh North and Leith)
- Linsey Farnsworth, Labour (Amber Valley)
- John Grady, Labour (Glasgow East)
- Rachael Maskell, Labour (Co-op), (York Central)
- Ruth Jones, Labour (Newport West and Islwyn),
- Dr Danny Chambers, Liberal Democrats (Winchester)
- Sarah Owen, Labour (Luton North)
- Wendy Chamberlain, Liberal Democrats (North East Fife)
- Dr Rupa Huq, Labour (Ealing Central and Acton)
The successful MPs will introduce their chosen bills to the House of Commons on Wednesday 16 October.
What are Private Members' Bills?
Private Members' Bills are public bills introduced by MPs and Lords who are not government ministers. As with other public bills their purpose is to change the law as it applies to the general population. A minority of Private Members' Bills become law.
There are three ways in which an MP can table a Private Members' Bill, but ballot bills have the best chance of becoming law, as they get priority for the limited amount of debating time available.
The names of MPs applying for a bill are drawn in a ballot held at the beginning of the parliamentary session. Normally, the first seven ballot bills get a day's debate.