Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor Oliver Heald (Conservative), on Wednesday, 25 May 2005, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 66 members in total.

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CHANGE IN MINISTERIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS

That this House expresses its relief at the transfer of ministerial responsibility for local elections away from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to the Department for Constitutional Affairs; but observes that this is the fourth Whitehall department with responsibility for local election administration since 2001; following the labelling of the UK as a `banana republic' by an election court, believes that this move is a sign of no confidence in the ability of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to run elections in a safe, secure and efficient manner; regrets that the Government's constant fiddling with the constitution has undermined the UK's long-standing reputation as a beacon for democracy and fair play; and calls on the Lord Chancellor to use the opportunity which this change provides to make a statement in line with Electoral Commission recommendations abandoning all-postal balloting and accepting individual voter registration.

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Secondary information

Type

Early day motion

Reference

202 

Session

2005-06

Other sponsors

Bernard Jenkin

Lord Pickles

Lord Blencathra

Baroness May of Maidenhead

Caroline Spelman

Subjects

Departmental responsibilities Elections Local government Ministerial responsibility Department for Constitutional Affairs Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Link

View this Early day motion on www.parliament.uk