Clause 25 - Use of candidates' common names
Electoral Administration Bill
6:30 pm
Harriet Harman (Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs; Camberwell and Peckham, Labour)
The Roman alphabet must be used—so no squiggles or any letters from other languages.
Clause 25 allows candidates to use their common name on a ballot paper instead of their official name, so long as that is given to and accepted by the returning officer at nomination. The important point is about common names and common usage, which is what I would ask hon. Members to focus on.
If somebody is known in a particular way, letting the description by which they are commonly known in their area go on the ballot paper is fair enough. For example, they might be known by a single name—I hesitate to mention the example appearing in my briefing note, which is Sting—or a shortened version name of a forename like Bob, instead of Robert. If somebody has been known all their life as Bob, or as Tony rather than Anthony, then people will recognise them more easily as such.
People could have a different name that they always used as their professional or stage name. That name might have nothing to do with the name on their birth certificate. I will not use any more of my examples, although we all know that Cliff Richard's name was not Cliff Richard—for those who are not old enough, his name was Harry Webb. The point is that nobody knows him as Harry Webb, except his mum.
There are names where initials are used, which some people are known by—for example, A. A. Milne, John H. Stracey or Malcolm X. I am using provocative examples, for which I apologise.