Overview

This bill sets new, stricter criteria for referendums in the UK concerning constitutional or parliamentary changes. It requires supermajorities in both Houses of Parliament to approve a referendum question, a high turnout rate, and a significant "yes" vote for the proposition to pass.

Description

This bill establishes the following conditions for a referendum on constitutional or parliamentary changes to be considered valid:

• Parliamentary Approval: Both the House of Commons and the House of Lords must pass motions agreeing to the proposition. A supermajority of at least two-thirds of those voting in each House must support the motion.
• Voter Turnout: The turnout must be at least 55% of those registered to vote.
• Majority Vote: The "yes" votes must be at least 60% of those who participated in the referendum.

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

Government Spending

The bill itself does not directly allocate or specify any government spending. The cost implications would depend on the administration of future referendums held under the new criteria. No figures are provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

This bill would affect the following groups:

• Parliamentarians: They will need to secure a higher threshold of support for initiating a referendum.
• Voters: The stricter criteria might make passing referendums more difficult, potentially leading to increased political polarization or frustration if referendums fail to reach the required thresholds.
• Campaigners: Groups campaigning for constitutional or parliamentary change will face a more demanding process to achieve their goals.
• Government: The government will have to manage the new procedures for holding referendums.

Powered by nyModel