Political Parties and Elections Bill

Well, my understanding is that this was certainly debated at Second Reading and at Third Reading. I want to touch on the key issues. The mechanism by which this came about—the way in which the House of Commons works in its procedures—may not be as elegant as the mechanism in your Lordships’ House, but none the less you can take the view that Dr Julian Lewis was fleet of foot. He was alert and aware of the rules and the opportunity that he had to introduce this clause. He rose and caught the Speaker’s eye at the right time, he made his point and the Speaker ruled in his favour. Therefore the clause stood. I offer three points as key elements of the debate, as I see it. First, candidates who are applying for election to the other place may not necessarily know where they will end up. They may stand as candidates, be elected to represent a constituency, reveal their home address and then be posted to the Northern Ireland Office or to a defence post. The relevant amendment does not propose that no candidate can disclose their address; it simply says that people can disclose their full address if they wish—voters at the polling station will give that due weight—or they can withhold it if they feel that disclosing it puts them at risk. Secondly, it could be suggested that such a process somehow represents a denial of local democracy. A candidate’s place of origin is often a material point of debate in by-elections and general elections. One can envisage publicity being given to such statements as, "I am a local person. I have lived in the local town all my life. My children attend school locally". My third point relates particularly to the Liberal Democrats, who tabled the relevant amendment but failed to recognise that we regarded this as a matter of conscience. The Government and the Official Opposition allowed their Members a free vote on the matter, whereas the Liberal Democrats applied a three-line Whip, which I understand was defied by six Members. However, there is another aspect to political debate. This may not apply to the Liberal Democrats but, as regards some of the other parties, people are voting for the local candidate and for a national Government. We need to bear in mind that material fact. I heard the remarks of my noble friend Lord Hodgson and recognise his expertise and knowledge in this area, but the Conservative Front Bench believes that this decision should be taken in the other place and that the other place has the authority and right to do so.