This bill seeks to set the number of constituencies used in UK general elections. It would also amend how boundaries are drawn and changes are implemented.
Parliamentary Constituencies Bill: Briefing for Lords Stages (324KB PDF)
The Parliamentary Constituencies Bill is a government bill that would amend the existing legislative framework governing the number of constituencies used in UK general elections and the periodic review of their boundaries. It would:
The Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011, passed under the Coalition Government, stipulated that the boundary commissions should conduct future boundary reviews based on there being 600 parliamentary constituencies. The commissions subsequently submitted recommendations for new boundaries in September 2018. The Government has yet to bring forward the order required to implement the recommended changes. The general election held in December 2019 took place based on 650 constituencies.
The Conservative Party manifesto at the election included a commitment to “ensure we have updated and equal parliamentary boundaries, making sure that every vote counts the same—a cornerstone of democracy”. In March 2020, the Government announced that it was “minded” to bring forward primary legislation to amend the framework for boundary reviews to implement this commitment. At the same time, the Government suggested that it would remove the statutory obligation to implement the 2018 boundary review recommendations and would seek to maintain 650 constituencies. It also indicated that the legislation would amend how often boundary reviews should be conducted and introduce a new ‘automatic’ system for implementing boundary changes recommended by the commissions. The latter measure would have the effect of removing Parliament’s role in approving any changes before they are made. This proved a controversial issue during MPs’ deliberations on the bill.
The bill was introduced in the House of Lords on 15 July 2020. The House is scheduled to debate the bill’s second reading on 27 July 2020.
Parliamentary Constituencies Bill: Briefing for Lords Stages (324KB 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.
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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.
