Skip to main content

'Confusion' over Tory MP Chris Davies's recall petition




Concerns have been raised about the procedure for managing a recall petition to decide if a Welsh Conservative MP will keep his seat.
An ex-clerk to the Commons and a former electoral commissioner said there was a degree of "public confusion" over the process and questioned its fairness.


Brecon and Radnorshire MP Chris Davies pleaded guilty to two charges of making a false expenses claim in March.


The Petition Officer said arrangements fully complied with legislation.


The petition has been opened and voters in the constituency will be able to sign the petition until 20 June in six different locations in the area.


Under the rules a maximum of 10 stations can be chosen within a constituency for signing in person.

A by-election will be held if 10% of the electorate - 5,303 voters in this case - sign.


Sir Paul Silk, an ex-clerk to the Commons, and Glyn Mathias, a former electoral commissioner, claim not enough provision has been made for voters to sign the petition.


They have written to the chief executive of Powys County Council and Petition Officer, Dr Caroline Turner, and Bob Posner, chief executive of the Electoral Commission, complaining about the procedure.


The letter highlights defects in the procedure for managing this recall petition and the degree of public confusion about how the electorate are supposed to sign".


Sir Paul and Mr Mathias say they are concerned by the decision to "nominate only six locations against a legal maximum of 10".


"Brecon and Radnorshire is a highly rural constituency - the largest geographically in England and Wales - and the distance many electors would have to travel is a significant deterrence to signing.


"We note that the maximum of 10 locations were provided at the previous recall petition at Peterborough [where former Labour MP Fiona Onasanya was removed from office about serving a prison sentence for lying about a driving offence], even though it is a much smaller constituency."


The letter also expresses concerns about the times the signing stations are open, claiming they are "very inconvenient for those who work".


It adds: "We are concerned that the combination of the lack of an adequate number of signing places and the hours at which they are open may call into question the fairness of this recall petition."


Petition Officer Dr Caroline Turner said: "All arrangements for the Recall Petition are in full 

 accordance with legislation under the provision of the Recall of MPs Act 2015. 
"Information about the allocated signing locations and opening times are available on our website."


A spokeswoman for the Electoral Commission said: "Responsibility for allocating the signing 

 places and times of opening for the recall petition lies with the Petition Officers for the constituency
.

"However, any electors unable to attend the signing places in person also have the option of signing by postal or proxy vote.

"They can find more information on how to apply for a postal or proxy vote on the Powys County Council website.

"The Commission has a statutory duty to report on the administration of the recall petition and we will consider the accessibility of signing places as part of that report."
Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

New Zealand Trade Deal Will Damage Rural Communities

Responding to the news that the UK Government has concluded the signing of a trade deal with New Zealand, removing trade barriers between the two countries, the Welsh Liberal Democrats have said the deal will cause damage to rural communities and the Welsh agricultural industry. Commenting Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader and Senedd Member for Mid & West Wales Jane Dodds said: "The UK Government has negotiated a trade agreement that will actively damage Welsh farming communities and will bring next to no tangible benefits to our local economies.   "The Conservatives have proven that they are utterly unable to negotiate trade deals that boost the UK economy and unfortunately this agreement is no exception. The economic benefits are a drop in the ocean, and they will do nothing to mitigate the damage from the red tape and paperwork caused by Boris Johnson's shambolic EU trade deal. "Instead of delivering Global Britain, this Government is selling Welsh farmers...
Post a Comment
Read more

,Lib Dems demand Cardiff Council removes Russian investments

Lib Dems demand Cardiff Council removes Russian investments Following the horrific news of Russia invading Ukraine, Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Rhys Taylor has written to Cardiff Council to ask that it’s pension fund sell any shares it may hold in companies that have invested in Russia. “Like so many other local people, I am sickened by what is happening on the streets of Ukraine and our own pension fund should make its feelings clear by divesting any assets it holds in companies with Russian investments. “I believe our council’s pension fund should also take a stand, and if it does hold any shares in Russian companies – or those who have invested in Russia - to divest without delay. “Others have taken action – the Church of England is divesting its £20 million in shareholdings in Russian companies and BP is selling its 19.75% stake in Russian oil giant Rosneft, and Shell is divesting from Gazprom. I encourage local government pension schemes to divest any shares they hol...
Post a Comment
Read more

Jane Dodds - Aberpergwm Coal Mine Expansion Must be Stopped

  he Welsh Liberal Democrats have reiterated their opposition to the expansion of Aberpergwm Coal Mine in Neath Port Talbot Council. Addressing a protest in front of the Senedd Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds stated that if we are to stand any hope of tackling climate change before it’s too late, the coal must be left in the ground.   The protest in front of the Senedd in Cardiff saw multiple Welsh climate groups attend.   The expansion of Aberpergwm Coal Mine has been at the centre of a row between the UK and Welsh Governments, with the Welsh Government claiming it does not have the legal authority to block the mine’s expansion, while the UK Coal Authority has insisted that the Welsh Government could in fact stop the development.   The new license, which was approved by the Coal Authority in January will allow Aberpergwm Mine to extract another forty million tonnes of coal. The development could release up to 1.17 million tonnes of very strong g...
Post a Comment
Read more