Overview

The Race Relations (Election Candidates) Bill aims to amend the Race Relations Act 1976 and the Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997. It does this by excluding from these Acts the application of equality legislation to the selection of candidates by political parties, provided the selection process is designed to increase the representation of under-represented ethnic groups. This exemption is temporary, set to expire in 2023 unless extended.

Description

This bill modifies existing race relations legislation to permit political parties to implement candidate selection processes specifically aimed at improving the representation of minority ethnic groups. The changes apply to various elections, including parliamentary, European Parliament, Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly, and local government elections (excluding the Mayor of London). The bill adds a clause (section 34A) to the Race Relations Act 1976 and a similar article to the Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997. This clause states that the existing legislation will not apply to arrangements made by registered political parties to increase the representation of minority ethnic groups amongst their elected candidates. The bill will expire at the end of 2023 unless renewed by the Secretary of State.

Government Spending

The bill is not expected to have a significant direct impact on government spending. The cost of implementing and monitoring the changes would likely be minimal.

Groups Affected

• Political Parties: The bill directly affects registered political parties in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, enabling them to adopt affirmative action policies in candidate selection without fear of breaching existing race relations laws.
• Ethnic Minority Groups: The bill aims to benefit ethnic minority groups by increasing their representation in elected bodies.
• Potential Candidates: The bill may positively or negatively affect the candidacy opportunities of individuals from different ethnic backgrounds depending on how parties implement the new guidelines.

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