Clause 5
Political Parties and Elections Bill
10:45 am
Eleanor Laing (Shadow Minister, Justice; Epping Forest, Conservative)
I shall do so, and spare my remarks on the principle of the clause until later. Although it is not obvious on reading, the amendment would amend the clause, which would in turn amend a small part of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. The effect of the amendment would be to prevent someone who had been named as a donor to a political party within the preceding five years from becoming a commissioner proposed by any party. Set out in section 3 of the 2000 Act—the section to be amended by clause 5, which we are considering—are clearly stated rules about who can and cannot become a politically appointed commissioner. It seems logical that, if somebody has been a donor to a political party within the past five years, they should not hold the office of commissioner.
While supporting amendment No. 15, the Electoral Commission suggested that, if donors to political parties were to be prevented in such a way from being nominated for appointment as a commissioner, such practice should include people who have appeared as lenders on the register of loans to parties. That is an omission. I am sorry that I did not include such a provision in the amendment because, if we are considering the principle of donors, lenders also come within that principle. However, that does not alter the principle of my proposal.