UK Parliament / Open data

European Union (Referendum) Bill

Proceeding contribution from Mike Gapes (Labour) in the House of Commons on Friday, 8 November 2013. It occurred during Debate on bills on European Union (Referendum) Bill.

I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend, and that is why I have tabled amendments that would apply either the local government franchise or the European Parliament franchise. That would meet his point about Scotland.

I was going to come to the question of prisoners later—not prisoners, Members of the House of Lords. [Interruption.] I said prisoners because, under our present law, Members of the House of Lords, lunatics and prisoners are excluded from voting in elections to the House of Commons. The Government propose to modify that to allow peers to vote in the referendum, but not lunatics or prisoners. I have tabled an amendment on prisoners—I was unable to get an amendment on lunatics on the amendment paper. My point is that the Government are making a constitutional change in the relationship between the Houses of Parliament and in the role of Members in the other place. Are the Government proposing that Members of the other place should vote in the referendum? I referred to the Government—I must apologise; I meant the part of the Government that is

putting forward the proposal. They need to clarify why they think that it is appropriate to change that long-standing relationship.

About this proceeding contribution

Reference

570 cc553-4 

Session

2013-14

Chamber / Committee

House of Commons chamber
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