---

Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill (Money) (No. 3)

New clause 98 provides for the counts beginning within four hours of the close of the poll. Everybody accepts that, when there is a requirement for a recount, the counting can be suspended until the following day, as is often the case. However, concern has been expressed in all parts of the House about a growing trend among returning officers to defer until the following day—for their own convenience and nobody else's—the counting of most of the constituencies which in the past have always been counted on the night of the election.