By-elections and primary ballots Bill debated
14 October 2009 (updated on 22 April 2010)
Douglas Carswell, Conservative MP for Harwich, introduced a ten minute rule bill, the Parliamentary Elections (Recall and Primaries) Bill, on 13 October.
- Commons Hansard: Parliamentary Elections (Recall and Primaries) Bill
- Video and Audio: Parliamentary Elections (Recall and Primaries) Bill
- Bills before Parliament: Parliamentary Elections (Recall and Primaries) Bill
- About Parliament: Bill stages
- About Parliament: Private Members' Bills
The Bill would provide for a recall mechanism-that is, a way to trigger a by-election where an MP was guilty of serious wrongdoing. It would also allow local people to petition their returning officer to organise open primary ballots to elect a successor.
It is down for a Second Reading debate on 16 October.
Ten Minute Rule Bills are often a chance for MPs to voice an opinion on a subject or aspect of an existing law. Members make speeches of no more than ten minutes outlining their position, which another MP may oppose in a similar short statement.