Electoral Administration Bill

The Minister may be interested to learn that the Idle Toads are force to be reckoned with in South Ribble, where they have a group on the council. They are led by a very interesting gentleman who looks rather like an Old Testament prophet, so he would fit in here. When I knew him, he was the Labour Party’s chairman of leisure on Lancashire County Council, but he is now an Idle Toad and leads a very successful local party in that part of Lancashire, much to the regret of my party and no doubt others as well. I thought that the Minister would like to know that. I understand that there are lots of political parties nowadays—I am astonished that there are only 317—but consulting people in the age of computers and e-mail is not very difficult, so that is not an excuse. I am not suggesting that my list is the correct one, but the role of local government is more important than the Minister said. If the CORE schemes are to be successful, they will impact substantially on the electoral registration work and other work of the local authorities in the relevant areas. That matter needs further thought. The Minister said that the major political parties have a say because these matters come to Parliament. It is important to differentiate between the noble Lord, Lord Rennard, in his capacity as chief executive of the Liberal Democrats and my noble friend Lord Rennard in his capacity here. There is a difference. It is not true to say that parties are consulted because a matter comes to Parliament. The parties should be consulted directly, and not indirectly because they happen to have some representatives in the House of Commons or in your Lordships’ House. However, the most important case is Scotland. It has to be looked at again. Local government elections in Scotland are not a reserved matter; they are a matter for the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Executive, which is why they have been able to introduce the far-sighted and brilliant measure of single transferable votes for the next round of local elections. I do not think that that would have got through the Westminster Parliament. At the very least, consultation should take place with the body which is responsible for some of the elections in Scotland. I will read carefully what the Minister said. I may wish to bring back at least part of the amendment at a later stage. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. [Amendments Nos. 39 and 40 not moved.] Clause 6 agreed to. Clause 7 agreed to. Clause 8 [Interpretation of Part]: [Amendment No. 41 not moved.] Clause 8 agreed to.