Representation of the People Act 1981 (Amendment) Bill

A Bill to amend the Representation of the People Act 1981 to amend the period of imprisonment which disqualifies a person from membership of the House of Commons; and for connected purposes.

Originating House

House of Commons

Last Updated

15 May 2014

In Plain English

AI-generated

This bill would change the rule in the Representation of the People Act 1981 about when a person loses their seat in the House of Commons because of imprisonment. It sets a new length of imprisonment that triggers disqualification, replacing the current threshold with a different one. The aim is to update the law so it reflects contemporary penalties and is clearer for people to understand.

Key Points

Amends the imprisonment threshold that disqualifies someone from being an MP under the Representation of the People Act 1981.
Introduces a new period of imprisonment that leads to disqualification (the exact length is defined in the bill).
Affects how eligibility for a seat in the House of Commons is determined and may influence related provisions.
Part of the Crime & Justice policy area, with implications for elections and representation.
Currently at the second reading in the House of Commons; if agreed, it will move to detailed scrutiny in committee.

Progress

The bill is currently at the second reading in the Commons. If it passes this stage, it will proceed to committee scrutiny for detailed examination.

Who is affected?

Current MPs and future parliamentary candidatesParliamentary staff and political partiesVoters in UK constituenciesElectoral administrators and returning officersPeople serving imprisonment who would be affected by the new threshold

Generated 21 February 2026

Updates & Documents

News (1)

News - Representation of the People Act 1981 (Amendment)

1 Jan 1970

This Bill was withdrawn and will not progress any further.

Parliamentary Votes (0)

No recorded votes for this bill yet.

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