Change In Ministerial Responsibility For Local Elections

EDM number 202 in 2005-06, proposed by Oliver Heald on 25/05/2005.

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.

This motion has been signed by a total of 66 MPs.