Disqualification for membership of the House of Commons

This note examines the history of disqualification provisions applicable to Members of the House of Commons. Apart from common and statute law exclusions of aliens and minors, and disqualification for electoral offences set out in the Representation of the People Act 1983, the main legislation is consolidated in the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975. It also summarises recent changes, such as developments in the law of bankruptcy and mental health and the removal of the prohibition on non-Commonwealth legislators.

This note is no longer being updated. Current details of the disqualification provisions that apply to Members of the House of Commons can be found in chapter 3 of Erskine May (25th edition).