Electoral Administration Bill

In subsection (2)(c) there are the words ““is obscene or offensive””. Does my noble friend know where the word ““offensive”” came from? Is it in previous legislation? If it is not, and if it is new and has to be introduced now, does that not suggest that subjective judgments, perhaps by the returning officer, will determine what phrase can be used to describe a candidate? I do not know what ““offensive”” means so maybe my noble friend can advise the Committee. I do not suggest for one moment that there should be an anti-immigration candidate, but if such a candidate described himself as anti-immigration, some might believe that to be an offensive reference. They may go to the returning officer and say, ““We feel offended. Therefore, that reference should be removed””. I want to make it absolutely clear that I am not suggesting that there should be a candidate who is anti-immigration, but we should have the position clarified during these proceedings. Someone describing themselves as ““pro-abortion”” might offend someone else. That person might go to the returning officer and say, ““Well, I find that offensive””. Someone might want to stand on an anti-Christian values ticket. I could not imagine who would want to do that, but there might be someone, in these times, who would want to challenge on that basis. Who is going to decide? If this is a new term introduced into the legislation, are we absolutely sure that we should have it in there in the way that it is? If not, would it not be better for it not to be there at all at the moment?