This Note provides background reading on the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill, which is due to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 22 October 2013.
Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill (HL Bill 50 of 2013–4) (538KB PDF)
This Note provides background reading on the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill, which is due to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 22 October 2013. It summarises the key provisions, background and proceedings in the House of Commons for each of the Bill’s three main parts, with a focus on report stage and third reading. Part 1 creates a statutory register of consultant lobbyists, and establishes the post of Registrar to enforce the registration requirements. Part 2 deals with non-party campaigning; it changes the legal requirements for people or organisations who campaign in relation to elections but are not standing as candidates or a registered political party. Part 3 changes the existing legal requirements in relation to trade unions’ obligations to keep their list of members up to date.
Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill (HL Bill 50 of 2013–4) (538KB PDF)
The House of Lords (Alternative Second Chamber Bill) [HL] is a private member’s bill introduced by Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru). It would require the secretary of state to carry out a consultation regarding proposals for replacing the House of Lords with an alternative second chamber. The bill specifies whom the secretary of state would be required to consult with and the timeframe of that consultation.
![House of Lords (Alternative Second Chamber) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 11 of 2026–27](https://lordslibrary-parliament.studio24.dev/content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/House-of-Lords-568x426.png)
The bill is a government bill that would make a range of changes to the legal framework concerning elections, including extending the franchise for UK parliamentary elections and other reserved elections to 16- and 17-year-olds. The bill was amended during both its committee and report stages in the House of Commons, with many of the government’s later amendments implementing recommendations from the Rycroft review on countering foreign financial influence and interference in UK politics.
Social media and other technologies have made it easier, quicker and cheaper for foreign powers to spread false information online aimed at undermining UK democracy. Such disinformation campaigns are one type of interference operation. In parallel, researchers have noted a link between declining public trust and societal polarisation, which can be exacerbated by online discourse. This briefing provides introductory reading to these issues, including recent reports and government announcements.
