Political Parties and Elections Bill

I thank the Minister for his last remark, in which he accepted that Clause 14 does not deal fundamentally with the problem. I appreciate that he has said that the solution is imperfect, but I believe that it could be improved. I do not particularly wish to dwell on Clause 14, but I must make some remarks in relation to Amendment 121. There is an almost universal consensus about the problem represented by the absence of the approach first introduced in the 1883 legislation of having a level playing field between constituencies for general elections. We recognise the problem. My arguments on Clause 14 and Amendment 121 reflect how we can best address it. Clause 14 does not deal with the problem properly. While the Minister suggests that it is based on the principle that we know the maximum length of a Parliament, it is fundamentally wrong because we cannot ever know the duration of a Parliament. However, we know the starting point of a Parliament, which is why, if it is logical to have a regulated period more than the immediate period between dissolution and polling day, the regulated period should be from day one of the general election campaign; that is, the day after polling day in the previous general election. The Minister, the noble Baroness, Lady Gould, and I have quoted from the Electoral Commission’s advice in relation to the relative merits and demerits of Clause 14 and Amendment 121. To be clear about what we are saying, the commission says that Clause 14 is not a ringing endorsement but that the proposals in Clause 14 are clearer and simpler than the triggering proposals. In other ways, it comes to the Minister’s defence in saying that the triggering does not work and that Clause 14 may be better. But I would again pray the commission in aid for my argument where it insists that a longer regulated period is required at the end of all Parliaments. If that applies to all Parliaments, it must apply from day one after the previous general election. If we talk about trying to do something over a four-month period, or after 24, 36, 48 or 51 months, where would we have been, for example, in 1974? My noble friend was elected in February but sadly not re-elected in October.