Parliamentary.ai

Overview

This bill establishes strict new criteria for referendums in the UK on constitutional or parliamentary changes. These criteria ensure high levels of parliamentary and public support before any such changes are implemented.

Description

This bill sets out four key requirements for any referendum on constitutional or parliamentary matters in the UK:

• Parliamentary Approval: Both the House of Commons and the House of Lords must pass a motion supporting the proposition. In each House, at least two-thirds of those voting must be in favor.
• Voter Turnout: At least 55% of those on the electoral register must vote in the referendum.
• Support Threshold: At least 60% of those voting in the referendum must vote in favor of the proposition.
• Legal Effect: If any of these criteria are not met, the proposition is deemed to be rejected, regardless of the wording on the ballot paper.

The bill applies to England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland and comes into effect immediately upon passing.

Government Spending

The bill itself does not directly involve any specific government spending. The costs associated with holding a referendum, including ballot papers, staffing, and advertising, would be covered by existing government budgets. Any potential costs associated with implementing referendum results would depend on the nature of the constitutional or parliamentary changes being proposed. No specific figures are provided in the bill.

Groups Affected

• The UK Parliament: The bill significantly increases the parliamentary threshold required to approve referendums on key constitutional matters.
• Voters: Voters will face stricter requirements for a referendum result to be considered valid, requiring high turnout and strong support for a given proposition.
• Advocacy Groups: Groups campaigning for constitutional or parliamentary change will face a much higher bar to achieving their objectives via referendum.
• Government: The government will need to secure significantly greater parliamentary support before triggering a referendum.