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Proceeding contribution from Lord Howarth of Newport (Labour) in the House of Lords on Wednesday, 15 December 2010. It occurred during Committee of the Whole House (HL) and Debate on bill on Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill.

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill

Does not this whole debate point up very clearly the absurdity of holding the referendum on the same day as other elections? It will be completely impossible to police the distinction which the Government seek to make between coverage that is referendum-related and coverage that is election-related. What if a programme or an article discusses both those topics together? It cannot conceivably work. My noble friend Lord Snape reminded us of how perplexing and confusing voters found it in 1975 when they found politicians of different parties on different sides of the argument. If I remember rightly, that referendum was not held on the same day as other elections; but it still caused people to scratch their heads. It will be completely impossible to sort this out if the two processes are carried forward on the same day. Will not the Government now accept that?

Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
723 c626 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Constituencies Alternative vote Broadcasting Costs Finance Expenditure Electoral Commission General elections Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Assembly National Assembly for Wales Political parties Newspaper press Referendums Loans Media Scotland Voting behaviour Voting methods Wales Scottish Parliament
Legislation
Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill 2010-12
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk