That is an automatic disqualification—I understand and accept that. However, the situation is that the magistrate has discretion as to whether to fine someone or send them to prison. I do not know if the noble Lord, Lord Finkelstein, has been a magistrate; I have. That could be a political decision, which could decide whether to trigger the recall petition. Therefore if I was sitting in the court and a Conservative Member of Parliament appeared before me, I could say, “I’m not going to fine him £500—that would be pointless. I’m going to send him to prison for seven days and immediately trigger that recall petition”. Is that not correct?
Recall of MPs Bill
Proceeding contribution from
Lord Foulkes of Cumnock
(Labour)
in the House of Lords on Monday, 19 January 2015.
It occurred during Committee of the Whole House (HL)
and
Debate on bills on Recall of MPs Bill.
Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
758 c1133 
Session
2014-15
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Librarians' tools
Timestamp
2023-12-06 04:30:26 +0000
URI
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