Contributions
731 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDElections Bill (Second sitting)Q Not to worry, we will pick that up later. Thank you so much for joining us. I turn now to Professor Fisher—welcome—and the notional expenditure part of the Bill. You have kindly…15 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Second sitting)Q Thank you. That is a very thoughtful reflection. I have always been struck by the need to continue to allow grassroots activists, volunteers and people who are not steeped in…15 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Second sitting)Q Thank you. I am sure there may be some other questions around that later on, perhaps bringing in our other guest who also has experience there. Sticking with you, Professor…15 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Second sitting)Q Thank you so much. I will turn to Darren. Thank you for giving your time this afternoon. I am going to adopt the tone of Professor Fisher about the need to consider how much…15 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Second sitting)Understood.15 Sept 2021HANSARD Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill (Instruction)indicated assent.13 Sept 2021HANSARD Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill (Instruction)rose —13 Sept 2021HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillYes, we believe that that is the case; that is the flexibility inherent within the constitutional arrangements that we seek to revive. That brings me back to the express purpose…13 Sept 2021HANSARD Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill (Instruction)How wonderful to be pre-empted on a core remark that I was going to make anyway. What I ought to say first, however, is that while there is some similarity between the concepts of…13 Sept 2021HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillOf course the Government and I acknowledge the existence of those principles; they are a historical fact in and of themselves. I refer my right hon. and learned Friend to the fact…13 Sept 2021HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillMay I initially seek your guidance, Chairman? Would you like me to cover all the clause stand parts and to respond, as it were, in advance to amendments? Or would you like me to…13 Sept 2021HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillI am grateful to my right hon. Friend. Some of what he refers to is not necessarily within a statutory scheme but within, for example, the processes of this House, but he makes a…13 Sept 2021HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillAbsolutely. This is a good opportunity to remind ourselves that we have not necessarily observed a 25 working day timetable. For example, the 2017 election, known to have been…13 Sept 2021HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillI am happy to confirm from this Dispatch Box that the Government’s position is to maintain the electoral timetable as it stands—I am not proposing an extension or reduction—but I…13 Sept 2021HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillYes, that is precisely the point, and that underlies a number of our considerations. In the place of a prescriptive statutory scheme, we can place our trust instead in the ability…13 Sept 2021HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillWith respect, that is not the right quiz question—the right quiz question is whether, under the hon. Gentleman’s amendment, the period would be five years plus 25 days. That…13 Sept 2021HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillThe hon. Gentleman makes precisely the point that goes to the new clause, which is that a Government would, I would have thought, want to assemble faster than 14 days, but there…13 Sept 2021HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillYes, that is right. I am grateful to my hon. Friend and to all hon. and right hon. Members who served on the Joint Committee and spent a considerable amount of time looking at…13 Sept 2021HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillIn that case, Mr Evans, I am going to carry on until you tell me otherwise. There is an amount to get through, but I hope to do so. The schedule provides for a number of changes…13 Sept 2021HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillAgain, some incredibly thoughtful points are being put. My hon. Friend is right to observe that the introduction of online registration has enormously sped up how people can…13 Sept 2021