Clause 6 - Personation: arrestable offence
European Parliamentary and Local Elections (Pilots) Bill
4:15 pm
Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath, Conservative)
My hon. Friend the Member for Rochford and Southend, East, will speak to his new clause 3. I certainly understand why he has tabled it, and I have no problem with it.
Amendment No. 10 would provide that anyone who is convicted of the offence of personation should be disqualified from voting for 10 years, in addition to
any other penalties that the court may impose. The offence is so serious that someone who has been involved in it should not have the right to vote that would normally follow. It seems entirely appropriate that someone who completely abuses the privilege of being an elector by taking part in, and being convicted of, personation should have the right to vote taken away for a substantial period—not for ever, because we believe in this country that people can return to the path of righteousness, having suffered their punishment. We have suggested that they should lose the right to vote for 10 years. We ought to debate this important matter and get the Government's view on the record.