MPs consider Lords amendments to the Recall of MPs Bill
24 March 2015 (updated on 24 March 2015)
MPs debated amendments made by the House of Lords to the Recall of MPs Bill on Tuesday 24 March 2015
The Commons agreed to Lords Amendments 1 to 32, with Commons financial privilege waived in respect of Lords Amendment 18. The Bill will now return to the House of Lords.
- Watch Parliament TV: MPs consider Lords amendments to the Recall of MPs Bill
- Read Commons Hansard: MPs consider Lords amendments to the Recall of MPs Bill
- Read Lords Amendments to the Recall of MPs Bill
- Catch up on Parliament News: Commons remaining stages of the Recall of MPs Bill
Related information
Summary of the Bill
The Bill provides for a recall petition to be triggered if a Member is sentenced to a prison term or is suspended from the House for at least 21 sitting days. If either occurred, the Speaker would give notice to a petition officer, who in turn would give notice to parliamentary electors in the constituency.
A petition would then be open for signing for eight weeks. If at the end of that period at least 10 per cent of eligible electors had signed the petition, the seat would be declared vacant and a by-election would follow. The Member who was recalled could stand in the by-election.
The Bill also introduces rules on the conduct of the recall petition, including campaign spending limits for those supporting and opposing recalling the Member.
Progress of the Bill
This Government Bill was presented to in the House of Commons on 11 September 2014. The Bill had its Commons second reading debate on 21 October 2014 and completed its remaining stages in the Commons on 24 November 2014.
The Bill was introduced into the Lords on 25 November 2014. The Bill had it Lords second reading debate on 17 December 2014 and completed its committee stage in the Lords on 19 January 2015. Lords report stage took place on 10 of February 2015, and third reading on 2 March 2015
Keep up to date with all the proceedings and documentation, including amendment papers, on the Recall of MPs Bill and find out how a bill becomes an Act of Parliament.
House of Commons Library analysis
The House of Commons Library produces briefing papers to inform MPs of key issues. The papers contain factual information and a range of opinions on each subject, and aim to be politically impartial.
- Read Library Briefing Paper: Recall of MPs Bill
- Read Library Briefing Paper: Recall of MPs Bill: Progress of the Bill
Lords Amendments
When a Bill has passed through third reading in both Houses it is returned to the first House (where it started) for the second House's amendments (proposals for change) to be considered.
Both Houses must agree on the exact wording of the Bill. There is no set time period between the third reading of a Bill and consideration of any Commons or Lords amendments.
What happens after consideration of amendments?
Once the Commons and Lords agree on the final version of the Bill, it can receive Royal Assent and become an Act of Parliament (the proposals of the Bill now become law).
Watching proceedings from the public gallery
UK residents and overseas visitors can watch proceedings in the House of Commons by visiting the public gallery.
This article was produced by the Commons Digital Outreach Team. Follow the @HouseofCommons on Twitter for updates on the UK House of Commons Chamber.