Electoral Administration Bill

Amendment No. 118A is grouped with the amendment that the noble Lord, Lord Rennard, has just moved. Ours is much more modest, but it would leave out the most restrictive element of the clause. As the Bill stands, no more than five candidates will be able to list their names on the nomination or ballot paper, which seems to us on these Benches to be an unnecessary restriction on the variety of candidates in elections—a bit along the lines that the noble Lord, Lord Rennard, was talking about. It is the right of an individual to stand as an independent to be selected and elected, as it is the right of any party to put forward a candidate. The Monster Raving Loony Party is well known, as are famous independent MPs, such as Martin Bell. An individual standing for a seat in Parliament, and especially winning one, faces an uphill struggle without party resources or a party whip. The contribution from those parties who perhaps enter electoral proceedings in a more light-hearted manner than regular politicians is perhaps unconventional, but it is not something we would want to remove—and why should they be dissuaded from participating in the democratic process? The amendment is partly probing in nature. Will the Minister say what the Government’s views are and why a restriction is necessary? I beg to move.